Kevin Hart is known for making us laugh, but his latest film, “Fatherhood,” currently streaming on Netflix, delves into his dramatic side. A change from his hyper persona as a man who built an entire career telling jokes. Debuting June 18, the one-hour and forty-nine-minute dramedy shows more than a serious side to Hart as he helps lift the stigma of black dads. Here are three reasons why.
Fathers, good black ones, exist, but what we like about the film is that Hart shows that even if dads do not have all the answers or things figured out, they are human and are willing to be there no matter what.
Sacrifice is often associated with motherhood, and rightfully so in many instances. Still, plenty of black men in the world take on what they know is their responsibility for raising a child(ren) solo. Remembering that dedicated dads have to rearrange schedules, hold off on great job opportunities, or learn to comb their daughter’s hair is a real thing.
A bond is a beautiful thing between a parent and a child. Black fathers who make it their priority to be in their children’s lives, whether perfect or not, should be given a chance to form loving relationships with their children. But, unfortunately, no one male or female is given a handbook on parenthood. Mother’s tend to get more favor their way versus fathers, especially black fathers, but there is nothing like a dad willing to be around whether they are in the household, picking the kids up on the weekends, or sliding into dance recitals and sports events not to miss out on those moments too.
Kevin Hart’s character (Matthew Logelin) didn’t know how he would get from day one when his wife unexpectedly passed away the day after their daughter was born. Suddenly thrust into being the only parent to raise their newborn, Maddy, played by the young actress Melody Hurd, left no time for long decision-making. With hesitant relatives judging his ability to parent, like the mother-in-law in the film (Alfre Woodard), “Matthew” had to prove to himself that his love for his child would see him through anything fear might have him to question. For that, you see a beautiful black man and his beautiful black daughter as a family sans any stereotypes or negativity. For laughs, the hair-combing scene is a real struggle for lots of dads, which makes “Fatherhood” more relatable to audiences, and it’s a break for Hart to show fans he can turn off the funny when he wants to for roles that show more of his acting range to show black men in a positive light.
In what ways to you celebrate the good about dads beyond Father’s Day? Comment @bsm_mag
Photo Credit: Philippe Bosse/Netflix
