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Selfie Dad

Selfie Dad

2020

PG

Director

Brad J. Silverman

Runtime

97 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Spiraling into a mid-life crisis and feeling disconnected from his family, Ben Marcus, a reality-TV editor, thinks he can only be happy by fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional comedian. Ben posts his stand-up routines to YouTube, and the videos fall flat. Then his tweener son posts Ben miserably failing on a home improvement project, and much to his teenage daughter’s dismay, it goes viral, launching Ben's social-media career as Selfie Dad. Although he quickly becomes an award-winning phenom, no amount of success brings Ben satisfaction. Through his friendship with a young coworker, Mickey, Ben finds the secret to a happy family . . . with his Bible in one hand, and his phone in the other.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

2.0/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks visibility for LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities. The story centers on a traditional nuclear family, offering no critique of heteronormativity.

Gender Representation

Limited

The narrative follows traditional gendered dynamics and a male-centric perspective. While Ben undergoes a mid-life crisis, the plot focuses on restoring domestic stability rather than subverting hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

There is no mention of a diverse cast or intersectional identities. The focus remains on a singular family unit that adheres to a homogeneous demographic norm.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Minimal

The film strongly aligns with traditional Western and religious institutions. It promotes religious morality and family cohesion as the primary sources of stability and satisfaction.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The synopsis contains no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Strengths

  • Provides a clear, moralistic framework centered on faith and family values.
  • Offers a cohesive narrative arc focused on traditional social stability.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities and non-cisnormative gender expressions.
  • Shows minimal racial and ethnic diversity within the central family unit.
  • Fails to include characters with visible or invisible disabilities.
  • Relies on traditional gender roles rather than exploring diverse perspectives.

AI Analysis

Selfie Dad functions as a restorative narrative designed to reinforce conventional social and religious hierarchies. The protagonist's journey is not one of social disruption, but of returning to established pillars like faith and the nuclear family. The film prioritizes moral clarity and the preservation of traditional Western values. This focus results in a narrative that lacks progressive intersectional representation, favoring a homogeneous and traditional worldview. Ultimately, the story uses a mid-life crisis to drive a character back toward religious and domestic stability, reinforcing existing social structures rather than challenging them.

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