Educating Father: A quaint, if predictable, slice of family life

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for those mid-30s suburban sitcom-style movies, sure, give it a go. It’s light, quick, and features the kind of domestic squabbling that feels like a comfort blanket.

But if you hate seeing characters make the same mistakes for eighty minutes straight, skip it. You will probably want to shake the father by the shoulders about halfway through.

The whole thing hangs on the dynamic between the dad, who thinks being a druggist is the pinnacle of human achievement, and the son, who just wants to be up in the clouds. It’s a classic tug-of-war, really. The writing isn't trying to reinvent the wheel, and honestly, that’s fine. It feels like one of those comfy films you'd find nestled between Dress Parade and other studio-era staples.

There is this one scene in the pharmacy where the shelves look suspiciously empty. Maybe they ran out of props that day? The way the actors shuffle around the counter feels a bit like a stage play that didn't quite make the jump to film properly.

Spring Byington is, as always, the glue holding the chaos together. Without her, the movie might have just drifted away entirely.

• The father’s stubbornness is almost impressive.
• The flying sequences are… well, they are definitely from the 1930s.
• The pacing moves at the speed of a brisk walk.

I found myself zoning out during the long speeches about duty. Then, suddenly, there’s a crisis, and the son’s plane skills actually matter. The pivot is jarring, but it’s the only time the movie feels like it has a pulse. It’s not quite as intense as the drama you’d find in Blind Chance, but it gets the job done for a rainy afternoon.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even trying to be one. It’s just a snapshot of a family that is way too worried about what the neighbors think. Sometimes, that’s enough. ✈️