3 Reasons Families Will Love ‘The Breadwinner,’ Nate Bargatze’s Debut Film

2. It's a Rare Live-Action Family Comedy

Critics of The Breadwinner will point to similar films such as Mr. Mom and Daddy Day Care and say there’s nothing new here. But those films were not nearly as family-friendly as The Breadwinner, and besides, this newest movie has plenty to set it apart. 

The film opens with Nate Wilcox cruising through life as a successful car salesman—he's a six-time Salesman of the Year—while his wife, Katie, happily manages the household and cares for their three daughters. The story takes a turn when Katie's simple invention, a children's organizational tool called the “Star Minder,” catches the attention of friends who encourage her to market it and see if it has potential. Her dream quickly gains momentum when she lands a Shark Tank deal with Lori Greiner, sending her to South Korea for two weeks to find a manufacturer.

The film features Bargatze's trademark humor (“Dad, are you Mom now?” the kids ask, prompting him to reply with a deadpan, “Yes, I am your mother”). But it also includes several laugh-out-loud moments seemingly inspired by stories from his stand-up routines. He accidentally hires a roofer whom his wife specifically opposed. He buys his youngest daughter a horse in a misguided attempt to improve her behavior at school. Later, he discovers that the same horse is apparently dead in the backyard—a scenario drawn from one of his most famous comedy bits.

Admittedly, the film gets off to a somewhat generic start before finding its rhythm midway through. It culminates with Nate attempting an impossible balancing act: attending his tween daughter's spelling bee while simultaneously trying to accept his latest Salesman of the Year award back at the dealership.

(Comedians Colin Jost, Kumail Nanjiani, and Zach Cherry also have roles.) 

There's also this: live-action comedies suitable for the entire family are becoming increasingly rare in Hollywood. In an era dominated by PG-13 fare, The Breadwinner offers something refreshingly different—a genuinely funny PG movie parents, children, and grandparents can enjoy together. We need more films like The Breadwinner, not fewer.

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3. It Offers More Than Just Laughs

The Breadwinner offers several worthwhile takeaways amid all the laughs. It affirms the role of stay-at-home moms (and dads), particularly early in the film, when Katie is shown embracing the daily responsibilities of motherhood not with frustration but with joy and purpose, knowing her work is making a lifelong difference. (Bargatze told media members he wanted the film to highlight the value of full-time moms.)

At the same time, the film offers a gentle reminder to parents: You can't be everywhere at once. Nate learns that lesson the hard way when he misses the final moments of his daughter's competition. Katie's overseas work, while necessary for a brief season, was likely not sustainable long-term. (This point is driven home when one of the children complains: “Our lives were fine before.”) 

“We finally found the right work-life balance,” Nate says in the film’s closing scene. “We’re in this together now, which is how families should be.”

From a family content standpoint, The Breadwinner has only a few minor speed bumps. The teen daughter skirts Nate's rules by wearing midriff-baring tops to school (hidden beneath a sweater)—a rebellion that Nate counters by buying her a stack of turtlenecks. Nate himself attempts to conceal the house's deteriorating state from Katie, but he comes clean in the film's final moments and asks for her forgiveness.

Fans of Bargatze's humor will, no doubt, enjoy The Breadwinner—but I suspect the film’s appeal will extend far beyond his fan base. 

Rated PG for some mild suggestive references. Coarse language: possibly two OMGs, heard in the background

Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Family-friendly rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Photo credit: ©WonderProject