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Comic and actor Kevin Hart is known for making people laugh—whether he’s doing stand-up or teaming up with Dwayne Johnson for some kind of wild and crazy adventure. But fans get to see a very different side of him in the Netflix dramedy Fatherhood.
Fatherhood stars Hart as Matt, a new dad who suddenly finds himself struggling to make it as a single father after his wife dies following the birth of their daughter, Maddy. Though his mother-in-law, Marian (Alfre Woodard), believes that Matt should leave Boston and return home to Minnesota—or send the newborn home with her—he decides to fight for his new little family. And as he deals with the grief of losing his wife, he also faces the challenges of being a new parent on his own, never really sure that he’s doing the right thing for his daughter.
Based on the memoir Two Kisses for Maddy, Fatherhood follows Matt as he sets out to make his late wife proud by single-handedly taking on the roles of both mom and dad. As you might imagine, this leads to plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. After all, parenting means long nights, a lot of crying, and a constant cycle of feedings and diaper changes—and this dad quickly discovers some of the challenges that women so often face as they try to juggle life, careers, and parenting. Suddenly, Matt doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere—but, with some help from a couple of misfit friends, the advice of some moms, and even the encouragement of a few clients, he finds his way through. And it’s no surprise that Hart—a father of four—seems perfectly at home tackling the comedy of being a parent.
What might be more surprising, though, is the star’s skillful handling of the film’s many emotional moments. The deep, moving drama of Matt’s story might throw viewers off-guard, but Hart seems equally comfortable with both the comedy and the drama. Matt isn’t your typical dad—he tends to do things his own, quirky ways. But he’s also struggling to figure out what’s truly best for his daughter—and whether that involves letting her go. And the challenges and fears that this unprepared single dad faces will bring tears to your eyes.
Of course, there’s a decent chance that watching a Kevin Hart movie has, at some point, brought tears to your eyes—just because you were laughing so hard. But this one will make audiences cry for a very different reason. It’s a heartfelt film about a couple of lovable characters trying to navigate family life together.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
