Father of Invention

An Anchor Bay Entertainment discharge of a Pangea Media presentation of the Sunrise Films, Jonathan Krane Film Organization, Pangea Media, Horizon Entertainment production in colaboration with Trigger Street Prods. Created by Ken Barbet, Jason Sciavicco, Dana Brunetti, Kevin Spacey, Kia Jam, Jonathan D. Krane. Executive producers, Stefan Jacobs, Simon M. J. Horsman, D. Scott Lumpkin, Sergei Bespalov, Mark Manuel, Jordan Yospe, Gary Raskin, Jared Ian Goldman, Rita Benson LeBlanc, Brendan McDonald, David Bergstein, Ron Tutor. Directed by Trent Cooper. Script, Jonathan D. Krane, Cooper.With: Kevin Spacey, Camilla Belle, Louise Graham, Virginia Madsen, Johnny Knoxville, John Stamos, Anna Anissimova, Craig Robinson.Without color exposition and deficiencies in imagination or wit stall "Father of Invention" in the beginning gate. The would-be comedy stars Kevin Spacey like a charming fabricator of dual-purpose devices who emerges from an eight-year prison stint sans millions, home, vehicle, wife or daughter. Louise Graham sparks some welcome flashes of humor and genuine interaction, however the pic never shakes off its creaky buildup until late in your home stretch. Anchor Bay release opens March. 14 and appears unlikely to increase its limited run. Pic opens having a revved-up infomercial by which Robert Axel (Spacey) pitches items to some extremely passionate audience in the high-rise corporate headquarters. However the film's comic tone appears off, the grandiosity from the spiel neither ingenious enough to appear clever nor absurd enough to create laughs. Indeed, throughout, helmer Trent Cooper ("Ray the Cable Guy: Health Inspector") waffles between heroic and comic visions of his protagonist soon after the scene of his triumphant reign come images of his subsequent fall, as Axel exits the slammer searching just like a lengthy-haired bum. If your brontosaurus-formed nightlight/humidifier or perhaps a combined camera/pepper-sprayer made Axel a beloved household title, his ab-cruncher/funnel-surfer/accidental finger-chopper switched it right into a synonym for infamy. Following his release, Axel visits his ex-wife (Virginia Madsen), a would-be chanteuse whose dependence on fame is matched up with a singular insufficient talent. She ranks as only the first inside a lengthy line of people that have are making money from his fall. Such isn't the situation together with his daughter, Claire (an attractive but somewhat bland Camilla Belle), whose love he sacrificed to his workaholic megalomania. Axel's route to redemption soon becomes obvious: He or she must restore the affection of his daughter and re-establish the value of his work -- for the reason that order, natch. As Axel struggles to rebuild his daughter's trust and the brilliant career, he ropes in old and new acquaintances, all whom are reborn through their interactions with him. His daughter's two roomies (Graham and Anna Anissimova) are amazingly "healed" of lesbianism and insecurity, correspondingly, and a number of used little people reach stretch their wings and assume their rightful places in society. Axel themself seems poised to restore his kingdom, until an egregious little bit of moral rug-tugging. Pic really gathers some momentum, if little credibility, because it sweeps toward its conclusion, its awkwardly established elements finally coalescing having a way of measuring technical ease.Camera (color, widescreen), Steve Yedlin editor, Louise Persons music, Nick Urata music supervisor, Mary Ramos production designer, Frederick T. Garrity costume designers, Johanna Argan, Molly Elizabeth Grundman seem (Dolby Digital), Gabriel J. Serrano supervisory seem editor, Javier Bennasssar seem designer, Bennassar re-recording mixer, Chris David casting, Mary Vernieu, Venus Kanani. Examined on DVD, NY, March. 10, 2011. (This Year Berlin Film Festival -- Panorama.) Running time: 93 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com