Being Frank (2018) User Reviews (32)

Great movie with a major flaw

[brandonssmith2 · 5/10 · 1 January 2020]

The casting and acting were nearly perfect in this film. If you could take the first 90 prevent of it and stick a new ending on it then it probably would have been one of the best movies of the year. Unfortunately the ending falls completely flat. The viewer gets no reward for the time invested in these characters.

I can't even really recommend it to anyone because even though the vast majority of the movie is wonderful it ultimately falls short. Completely and utterly.

Not a bad movie, not that funny though.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 6 July 2020]

Being Frank or You Can Choose Your Family, two tiles for one movie. It's not the first time I see that and I honestly don't get the point of that. Just choose one title and that's it. That said it wasn't a bad movie. First of all I love Jim Gaffigan as a stand-up comedian so I was a bit curious about his acting skills. It wasn't bad but even if this movie is supposed to be a comedy (there are some funny moments but I've seen better) his stand-up comedies are just much funnier. The cast was good, the story is entertaining with some good moments, so overall it's a movie worth watching.

Frankly my Dear, I did give a damn

[jonbadart · 7/10 · 4 January 2020]

This film was a bit of a mess. An enjoyable mess, but a mess nonetheless. And as often is the case with messes, the director (Miranda Bailey) was trying to do too much. At times this was a coming of age film. At other times, a family drama. For awhile, it was all about a father and son bonding. Then towards the end, it turned into a screwball comedy. (they wound up sharing the same table, really?) Look, I don't mind a little mixing of the genres, it can be great when it's done well, but maybe next time, consider limiting it to just a couple.

Logan Miller (Philip) was very good here, though at times, thought his witty comebacks were a little too good and came a little too easily for a 17 year old. Jim Gaffigan (Frank), best known for his stand up comedy, got better as the film went along. He didn't sell me in the early part of the movie as the distant, demanding father, but as we got to know him better, his performance grew on me. Isabelle Phillips, had a fairly big role for a first timer. And while story-wise, she didn't have much to do, she did offer up a good deal of on-screen charm.

The film worked best when after the secret was out, Philip and Frank shared a scene. There was some genuineness to Frank after that. Perhaps because for the first time in 20 years, he didn't have to lie. And it was during this part of the film that I found myself starting to care. Imperfect as he was, Frank wasn't a monster and with the curtain down, Philip was, at long last, finally getting to know his father. When was the movie at its worst? When the Kramer-like stoner uncle was injected into things. I know it was done for laughs, but because it was so much less clever than the rest of the film's humor, it wound up being painful. (and where did he get the speedboat?) I was, however, pleased by the story's ending. For awhile there, it was looking as though Frank might not face any consequences for his actions, but ultimately, there was a piper to pay. There had to be or the film's wild premise would have lost all touch with reality.

On the overall, some good laughs, plenty of wit, nice scenery, and a story that kept moving. Frankly, you could do a lot worse.

Comedy to talk about hard things

[stretchfoofight · 6/10 · 29 August 2020]

The film isn't really that funny, it's not particularly well acted and quite Frankly, no pun intended, its a middle of the road film. However having watched a lot of these so called serious films, on subjects that tackle some of the same themes in this film. I would much rather be entertained in this manner, than force fed misery from a serious film.

All in all, the film covers some harsh concepts but in a light easy to see all sides of a perspective way. Life isn't binary people. Worth a lazy day easy watch.

it works, it's fun and funny

[Rob-O-Cop · 7/10 · 12 September 2019]

I was worried by the 5.6 rating but that's not the reality of this movie. It's well put together, complex, funny and fun. Jim Gaffigan is perfect as the two timing dad, he pulls it off with believable self unawareness, clumsily but surely getting himself into and out of tight spots. All the cast were good and it was a clever and complicated set up to pull off. Writing, editing and directing this piece wouldn't have been easy so full credit for a well executed end product. The film ending was the least strong part of the story but really where could it have gone and remained believable? It was left a little open ended, and that's probably for the best, although the happy ending junkies that we are would have hoped for a tidy finish, the one they chose left you to think a little after the movie finished.

Fairly amusing

[franklindf · 7/10 · 12 September 2019]

I wouldn't say this movie primarily is a comedy. The subject matter is approached with enough clarity and depth that you sense the emotional situation family members find themselves in when they find out their father/husband is leading a double life. If it were purely a comedy, they would gloss over the emotions and drama. The delivery nevertheless is entertaining and there are some laughs along the way. The main actor who plays the father mostly carries the movie, with help from the son character - the other actors are mostly just filler or placeholders and don't really add much. The movie introduces the premise in a fairly amusing way, nicely setting up the plot. But then it drifts for quite a while and really you're only watching at that point to see how it ends. Not a great movie but I haven't seen anything else tackle some of the subject matter quite the same way and so it gets some points for originality.

Comedy Polygamy

[dgrenaud · 7/10 · 12 September 2019]

Wanting to despise Frank, the polygamist, but fascinated by his incredible ability to secretly juggle two families successfully, this movie made me feel uncomfortable, but I couldn't stop watching the movie nd laughing despite the tension. When one of his sons confronts him with the truth, Frank claims to love both his families. Can it be true? Will he lose the love of both families, as he predicts, if the secret is revealed? The ending of this high comedy is satisfying and even heart warming. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and thought the acting was excellent and the story believable.

Dreadful message and packed no punch

[christopheranders-63049 · 1/10 · 6 November 2019]

Some funny moments but too much pressure was put on the son when the father is the person completely in the wrong. Some funny moments but overall message is dreadful and who ever wrote the film is heartless.

"I don't even recognize you. It's like you're two different people."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 20 January 2020]

In real life, this would be almost impossible to pull off, especially with two families in near proximity to each other, although I'll end this review with a personal insight. I like Jim Gaffigan as a stand-up comic but I've never seen his television series. I think he's incredibly funny, however this picture's attempt to make a terrible concept laughable sadly misses it's mark. Some fairly clever writing allows his character to rationalize the decision to marry two different women to son Philip (Logan Miller), but the effort is lost when it comes to the grand finale and Frank has to face up to the horror he created for separate families. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters here, and Uncle Ross (Alex Karpovsky) appeared to be the worst kind of caricature the film makers could have come up with for a bong addicted stoner recruited for the job of Frank's alter ego. And if one needs further proof that Hollywood enables and promotes a gay agenda, the tent scene with Eddie (Gage Banister) and Troy (Thomas Mulzac) pretty much confirms it.

But you know, strange things do happen. My wife's grandmother was married to a man in New York State, who raised a family with a son and four daughters. At a certain point, he called it quits and left the family unannounced and went to Canada. There he remarried with no divorce from the first wife, and raised another family in the same order, a boy and four girls. The families were raised about two decades apart, and eventually learned of each other's existence. By then everyone was mature, the cheating husband had passed on, and members of the family eventually got together with each other in Nova Scotia, without fireworks I might add. I always thought they should have gone on Jerry Springer.

Frankly, This Comedy About Bigamy Was Not Funny!

[lavatch · 1/10 · 11 October 2019]

In the bonus track of the DVD of "Being Frank" (a.k.a., "You Can Choose Your Family"), there was a set of deleted scenes with one that was particularly revealing. In the deleted scene, Frank was reading about the philandering of President Bill Clinton and made a critical remark about the President's conduct. The film needed more of this kind of satirical content if it wanted to be a comedy with any backbone or indeed any humor.

The time is 1992, and Frank's family is gearing up for the Starling Festival, which brings back memories for the time when Frank was courting his life Laura. The film has overtones of a sit com as a potentially heartwarming family film with light comic overtones. The film could have easily moved in the direction of a Hallmark film. Unfortunately, "Being Frank" was at heart a disturbing drama of bigamy in which Frank leads two lives with two separate families.

Was this supposed to be a comedy about a man who could face jail time for his misconduct? The film's snappy dialogue was played with so much understatement that it rarely felt like a comedy. The character of the pothead named Uncle Ross, who impersonates Richie, the fictitious father of Frank's son Phillip, was really the only character who rang true as a comic figure.

There is a lengthy build-up to the declaration of truth of Frank to his two devoted and long-suffering wives, Laura and Bonnie. But the key character in enabling the father's despicable conduct was his young son Phillip. So, in addition to polygamy, Frank was inflicting emotional trauma on his teenage son.

What will Hollywood think of next as a subject for a film comedy? It would be difficult to stoop to any lower depth than the disgusting subject matter of this film.

quite a pleasure

[ops-52535 · 8/10 · 10 September 2019]

Infidelity and adultry, siblings and halfsiblings, a wife here and a wife there, never mind it tastes good, the bitter taste comes in the end whatever you do

its a comedy with a bit seriousity, alot of hide and seek, some teenage festival humour, and a whole lot of family-business. its the story about the man that has made himself two families, and have lived that life successsfully for nearly 20 years till the day he is being disclosed by one of his somns, and so the blackmailing and the whole charade starts.

its quite an original turn on the idea, and the sort of filmgenre that is hard to make a good ending on, but i think they do it well, and the acting are allover pretty good and you really feel the desperation at times. some may feel the makers are just scratching the surface of the topic , but its meant to be a comedy, and they have made a good one too( i skiped dinner to end the film)

so the grumpy old man recommends a view of this family bundle, its good and its fun...

What a feat

[Gordon-11 · 14 September 2019]

This film tells the story of a young man who discovers that his father has another family.

The plot may sound sad and offensive, but the film is actually quite funny. Even though the father has committed such an act, the film portrays him sympathetically and makes you feel for him. It is quite a feat to turn a monstrous life of lie into a comedy.

Horrible soundtrack ruins good premise

[abwetman-1-817328 · 6/10 · 8 December 2020]

This Gaffigan vechicle had good casting and clever premise but terrible sound mixing ruins this film. It chooses to blend non reliable sound volume . It very good acting about a terrible situation turned for laughs Making Gaffighan an asshole is smart counter point

worth watching on Netflix

Frank is a bad man

[dar0417 · 5/10 · 23 September 2019]

Had some laughs but the story was bad and unbelievable. I am not sure why his son felt sorry for his father by the end of the film.

Not too bad

[sweetartcat · 7/10 · 4 March 2022]

I thought this movie was pretty good. The production quality and cinematography is what we expect in American movies. Jim Gaffigan and all the other actors did a fine job and the dialogue was very natural and well written. There were some things you had to suspend your disbelief over and the most glaring one is the guy recruited to be the nonexistent best friend of Frank. That was kind of weird. However, the main litmus test of whether I like a movie is whether it keeps my attention. And this one did.

Interesting ..............

[thejdrage · 7/10 · 19 May 2023]

This movie garnered a lot of interesting reviews from people who were unhappy about the story line (then why did you watch it?). They were also unhappy about the way it ended. But I liked it - a lot.

I am a huge Jim Gaffigan fan. He was perfect for this, I thought.

The story was interesting - very different from other "one guy and two family" shows I've watched. This one was much sweeter, if that's possible.

The kids were great, as were the moms.

So, if you want to see an old story told in a new light, give this one a go. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

And now we hit on the dreaded 600 character limit. ARGH!!

The usual web of lies, but with some heart

[mikefox-04778 · 6/10 · 6 November 2022]

Hollywood for decades has been thinking that a web of lies and a build-up of more and more ridiculous contortions to save those lies from being exposed before everything comes crashing down makes for a good story line. I'm utterly tired of it. But this movie actually succeeds in making us half-believe that the lies have not sprung from complete idiocy, but had some strong coercion. It's almost believable that he thinks he was doing the right thing. I particularly enjoy that there is no wholesome forgiveness waiting for the protagonist, just a partial one. So yeah, it's not a funny movie, the bong-smoking uncle is unnecessarily graphically gross, but it has some unexpected heart.

Clever and creative until a disappointing ending

[bk753 · 6/10 · 24 September 2023]

I was more than a bit suspect coming into this film, having seen the trailer and having a general idea of the plot. That said, a fairly bizarre story unfolds in a unique and somewhat creative way, and so I have to give the filmmaker a bit of credit for that.

To me, it goes a bit off the rails near the end... that's not completely fair, it's amusingly off the rails almost from the start. But while I appreciated the creativity of the first 2/3 of the film, much of the last 40 minutes becomes contrived and dopey.. Too bad; there really was a fair amount of witty dialogue and uncomfortably awkward humor to carry the story, and I had hopes that this might turn into a hidden gem. But where it eventually goes was, to me, disappointing. I really wish they had written this a better ending. So we'll say "I liked it, but it wasted its truest potential and settled for slightly above average." So it gets a 6.

Meh the least

[dummy-15 · 4/10 · 6 May 2020]

It was a bit of a disappointment for an independent film. The story and the premise is good, very clever but it fall short on the delivery. Actually the first half is pretty boring and dull but the second half is a bit better. Do not expect any laughing moments not even a few chuckles. The way it delivers the story is not perfect and you get the feeling that this cannot be happening, the characters could not react in this way cause this is obviously wrong. It super simplify the things and gives very awkward moments of ethics. The ending is no good or satisfiable

Title and revenue problems

[4friedchickensandacoke · 7/10 · 15 September 2019]

First of all this title should be Being Frank ' period! No 'you can /can't choose your family., terrible terrible title not to say the title also gives away the plot instead of being surprised 15 ministers in. Also what's with this $67,000 box office revenue ? Typo or extremely poor marketing? This title and movie should have gone straight to Netflix ( do not pass Go) . I hope the marketing team was fired for this stupid idea of spending close to a year to get it in the theatres. When streaming is the new media for 2 star movies.

Overly high jinksie

[djrizz-358-844795 · 1/10 · 12 April 2021]

I kept waiting for it to stop being so much like a sitcom episode. It refused to do so. That thing you learned about in the trailer, the father and son spend 60% of the runtime trying to prevent the fallout from it from happening. Would not recommend.

Quite Clever & Funny

[larrys3 · 8/10 · 11 September 2019]

I thought this movie was quite clever and funny. Logan Miller portrays Philip, a teenager who decides on spring break to deceive his parents and head up to the lakeside Starling Festival with his best friend.

However, upon arrival, he will get the shock pf his life when he discovers his father (Jim Gaffigan) has a complete second family. Of course, from there things will get very, very complicated.

All in all, this type of movie is not easy to get all the pieces to fit together. But I thought director Amanda Bailey and writer Glen Lakin did well here to get the elements to gel nicely. Although the movie can be sad and cutting at times, I did find myself laughing a lot and I really enjoyed the film.

Funny but bad ending

[lloyd150 · 5/10 · 30 August 2020]

If you go out your way to take offensive at the subject matter this film is not for you. I thought it was funny but let down by the last ten minutes hence only a five.

Dumb as hell

[idhp-40552 · 2/10 · 16 October 2023]

Not to undermine the acting ability of the leading cast. I feel this was just a cash grab of a film for a monthly paycheck. The premises is horrible. The entire concept of this movie is uncomfortable and disturbing. How are you could ask this way about The overall topic if you were to be in the same life situation is beyond me.

The set up, the story, the dragging on of such an unnecessary situation, followed by an on exciting ending that just lead some more and more poor and weak and tired writing. I understand we are out of things to discover, but this was a far reach, even for someone like me.

Thought this was going to be better

[Draysan-Jennings · 5/10 · 20 September 2019]

Wasn't really funny. Laughed a few times but ya nothing special about this film. The Ross character was the best.