Dad is the kind of well-meaning family drama that was everywhere in the late '80s: earnest, emotionally heavy, and determined to teach you a lesson about what really matters in life. The bones are solid—caregiving, reconciliation, a workaholic learning to be present—but the execution is deeply dated.

With a 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 43 on Metacritic, and only one parent review on Common Sense Media, this isn't a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered. It's a 117-minute slog through 1989 pacing and melodrama that modern families will struggle to sit through, even if the themes are worthwhile.

If you're looking for a conversation starter about family priorities or aging parents, you're better off with something more engaging. This one's for nostalgic adults or film studies completists only.