Nate Bargatze's 'The Breadwinner' Falls Flat, Drawing Comparisons to 'Mr. Mom'

Nate Bargatze's new film, 'The Breadwinner,' now available on Netflix, has been met with a critical reception that questions its comedic effectiveness and originality. The movie, which stars Bargatze as a salesman who takes on primary caregiver duties when his wife's entrepreneurial venture takes off, has been widely compared to the 1980s comedy 'Mr. Mom.'

Despite Bargatze's success as a standup comedian, 'The Breadwinner' grossed only $20 million theatrically, suggesting audiences were content to wait for its streaming release. Critics note that the film's premise, featuring a father struggling with basic household chores and childcare, treads familiar territory. The narrative centers on Nate Wilcox (Bargatze), a car salesman whose family life is upended when his wife, Katie (Mandy Moore), gains traction on 'Shark Tank.' This forces Nate into a role he is ill-equipped to handle, leading to predictable scenarios involving laundry mishaps, cooking failures, and general domestic chaos.

The film's humor is described as lazy and uninspired, relying on gross approximations of human behavior and emotions rather than fresh insights. Recurring gags about Nate's inability to manage domestic tasks, such as his struggles with laundry or cooking, are cited as examples of the movie's reliance on easy jokes. Even a particularly surreal moment involving a laundry pile is noted as a rare instance of successful physical comedy, overshadowed by numerous weaker jokes.

Supporting performances, including Will Forte as an incompetent roofer, have been mentioned as occasional bright spots, but they are not enough to elevate the overall quality of the film. The movie also features prominent product placement from brands like Toyota, Nike, and KFC, which some reviewers suggest was necessary to offset the film's poor box office performance.

In essence, 'The Breadwinner' is characterized as a retrogressive comedy that, while aiming for relatable domestic struggles, ultimately fails to deliver a laugh-out-loud experience. The film's predictable plot and dated comedic approach have led to a general consensus to "skip it."