For children and their parents Comedy for the whole family “Daddy on duty” starring Eddie Murphy spent on its creation $ 60 million, plus another 30 were invested in marketing. Probably, without these 30, the film would hardly pay off at the global box office, but with the help of marketing, it earned a total of more than 160 million. And this despite the fact that by 2003, when “Daddy on duty” was released, Murphy’s career began to give noticeable slippages and failed films alternated with more or less successful ones. But it is to the latter and not only, because at the box office the tape has paid for itself, and also for the general sympathy of the audience, you can include the “Dad on duty”. Fortunately, this time Murphy was not allowed to show several characters at once, otherwise he would have played all the roles, including children’s and animals, with his desire to demonstrate himself. Good company Murphy was Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn and Regina King.
The script for "Daddy on duty" was written with the hand and imagination of Jeff Rodkey. In general, in his own way, he is a non-standard screenwriter: he wrote plots for the animated series Beavis and Butt Head and, you will agree that not every parent will decide to show this cartoon to his child until he is a certain age. But when Jeff Rodkey decides to work for the movie, he has only family comedies: “Daddy on duty” was first on this list, then there were “Fraud Dad”, “Dud on Wheels” and “Hold on Charlie, it’s Christmas!”. And in his debut work, Jeff Rodkey told the story of how two friends are fired from a company dedicated to creating and promoting food products for children. For a month they were looking for a new job, the money was running out and now they will have to take their children from kindergarten. Sadiq, I must say, was too abstruse - the children, instead of playing entertainment and educational games, were engaged in learning languages, reading poetry, mathematics, in general, not a kindergarten, but already school, middle classes. This garden is run by a long-legged, self-centered and arrogant lady, Mrs. Herridan. And now unlucky friends come to the idea of creating a garden in the house of one of them.
But the kindergarten is not one or even two children, it is a bunch of constantly running, screaming and squashing troublemakers and you need to keep an eye on each of them. Kindergarten turns into a madhouse, friends can hardly cope, until another comrade comes to their aid, who in his worldview has not left the children. And then everything seemed to be getting better, but only Mrs. Herridan does not tolerate competition and the new babysitters will have to fight off constant checks and tricks from Mrs. Herridan. Here in this guise is the whole action of the film “Daddy on duty” and this look will be kind, cute, funny, purely entertaining, without vulgarity, so you can safely watch the tape with the kids who, quite possibly, want to be in the same kindergarten, which was opened by the heroes of Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin and Steve Zahn. For children, some fragments of the film, by the way, may seem very funny and funny, but we, adults, can only condescendingly smile. More to demand from the “Daddy on duty” is not worth it, but perhaps together with the child will have to review it several times. Be prepared for this, the target audience here is clear and the creators of the film with the concept for it guessed.
Eddie Murphy, as mentioned above, is pleased that he does not play several characters at once, does not try to behave like the last vulgar. The role of a caring and resourceful husband and family man suits him. Somehow it unobtrusively came out of him, naturally, apparently, because he himself is the father of five children and then, at the time of filming “Daddy on duty”, no one knew about his adventures, and, in general, this is irrelevant, the main thing is that Murphy showed himself to be a wonderful father and teacher, as well as a friend. So it turned out because of this, a good screen friendly tandem from Murphy and Jeff Garlin, who appeared in the image of a good-natured slob, who himself does not like his soul in children. Steve Zahn, who played the role of a Star Trek fan who knows how to get along with children, has the same attractive power and feeling, and his unpretentiousness and sincerity cannot but impress. Angelica Huston, who played Mrs. Harridan's bully, literally plays herself, so she went this role. And I really want to highlight among the children Hamani Griffin, who for years showed a wonderful game of a loving son with the makings of a very wise and charming boy. And then there is Elle Fanning, who now promises to become a very strong actress.
If you want to relax and watch a simple-minded film for the whole family, which you can call your children even if they are of kindergarten age - this film is for them, well, you yourself may be happy to watch it.
7 out of 10