Comedian Nate Bargatze makes his feature film debut in “The Breadwinner,” a new family-friendly comedy from director Eric Appel. Bargatze stars as a car salesman who must become a ‘stay-at-home dad’ after his wife (Mandy Moore) gets the opportunity of a lifetime after her invention is featured on “Shark Tank.” Needless to say, he’s totally unprepared for the task of playing homemaker and raising three daughters on his own, which leads to tons of jolly comedy.
Director Eric Appel cut his teeth as an improv comedian before moving onto directing shows like “The Office,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and “NTSF: SD: SUV” before making his feature film directorial debut with “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” His work thus far has proven Appel’s versatility. He can handle raunchy sass, absurdist sensibility, and kid-friendly antics with equal skill.
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Overall, “The Breadwinner” is a delightful and breezy watch anchored by a surprisingly natural performance from Bargatze, whose “aw, shucks” everyman charm translates tremendously well from stand-up comedian to Hollywood leading man. Throw in scene-stealing turns from a stacked roster of comedy heavyweights (Will Forte, Zach Cherry, Kumail Nanjiani, Colin Jost), and the result is a true family film that anyone can enjoy.
I had the opportunity to chat with Appel about his work on the film and his greater career. He talks about his trajectory as a comedian and filmmaker, and the wide variety of projects he’s tackled during his career thus far. He also discusses the tricky task of casting of the young actors playing the trio of daughters who make up the true heart of the story. You can check out the whole 20-minute interview below.
“The Breadwinner” releases only in theaters on May 29.
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