Father Figures

Middle-aged twin brothers (Owen Wilson, Ed Helms) learn from their mother (Glenn Close) that the stories they grew up with about their “late father” were just that—stories; they set out to find their real father. What starts out as a routine, mildly amusing road movie for likable stars grows in the telling, getting better by the minute, and winds up as one of 2017’s more pleasant surprises. Wilson and Helms have terrific (and believably sibling) chemistry; Justin Malen’s script is surprisingly unpredictable and loaded with healthy (if sometimes raunchy) laughs; and the supporting cast (Terry Bradshaw, Ving Rhames, J.K. Simmons, June Squibb, Katt Williams, Christopher Walken) is chock full of talent. Lawrence Sher’s direction may be no more than workmanlike, but at least he stays out of everyone’s way.