Fatherhood

Matthew's wife dies of a pulmonary embolism just after giving birth, and he has to raise their newborn daughter alone. Everyone around him assumes he cannot. The source is Matthew Logelin's 2011 memoir, with a screenplay by Paul Weitz and Dana Stevens, directed by Weitz. The road was long. It was developed as a Lifetime television adaptation in 2012, optioned as a feature in 2015 with Channing Tatum attached, and Kevin Hart replaced him in January 2019. This is Hart tested outside comedy. Sony had it scheduled for April 2020, the pandemic pushed it repeatedly, and Netflix acquired it and released it digitally on 18 June 2021. It was Netflix's most-watched title that opening weekend and reportedly reached 61 million households in its first month. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 67 percent and Metacritic at 53. Critics praised Hart's confidently laid-back dramatic work and called it both an effective star vehicle and a tender tearjerker. Who it is for: viewers who like emotional drama about fatherhood and grief. Who it is not for: anyone who resents being worked on. The second half presses the emotional buttons in order.