June 1, 2026 · Watch the official trailer
Comedian Nate Bargatze has been on a quest to make an affordable, family-friendly trip to the theater happen nationwide this summer.
His big-screen debut, "The Breadwinner," released in theaters this past weekend, and Bargatze has spent weeks negotiating with theater chains to offer audiences the so-called "Nate Rate" for tickets, making what can often be an exorbitant family outing a bit more cost-effective. It is a noble proposition, and one that large families may be well-positioned to take advantage of, though the film they are seeing does not necessarily hold quite the candle to its clear inspiration, the 1983 Michael Keaton comedy "Mr. Mom."
Co-written by Bargatze, "The Breadwinner" follows the Nashville comedian-turned-actor as a successful Toyota salesman who is forced to become a stay-at-home dad when his wife becomes a budding entrepreneur after an appearance on "Shark Tank."
The fish-out-of-water hijinks that ensue as Nate manages family life with three daughters take large inspiration from his own stand-up routines, as audiences can see during the film's closing credits.
It is clear throughout how at ease Bargatze is in the role, as much of the dialogue is written in the cadence of his stand-up material. It accentuates the everyday family-man persona he is clearly aiming for both within the narrative and as a performer.
It is easy to find Bargatze relatable and humorous in the sort of way that makes audiences put a hand to their face in slightly embarrassed laughter, and it is obvious throughout that what viewers get in "The Breadwinner" is exactly what Bargatze intended when penning the screenplay.
"This Is Us" star Mandy Moore appears in and out of the narrative as Nate's wife, Katie, and while her character has far more heart than the away-from-home parent is often afforded in similar family comedies, audiences simply do not get enough time with Moore to become invested in her absence. The film largely assumes that not having her character around is a bad thing rather than showing it, outside of Nate's struggles to live up to the expectations his daughters have for their parents.
"Saturday Night Live" star Colin Jost and comedian Kumail Nanjiani provide solid supporting turns as a fellow stay-at-home dad and Nate's rival Toyota salesman, respectively. While both seem at home within the film's lighthearted humor, "The Breadwinner" plays things far too safely with either character, and both performances lean just a touch too far toward caricature.
"The Breadwinner" goes beyond being heavily inspired by much better-written family comedies of the 1980s. At times, it becomes a series of direct lifts from the premises of "Mr. Mom" and the Tom Hanks screwball comedy "The Money Pit" in an effort to flesh out its dated central concept. While there are moments where the idea of a home being gradually destroyed by circumstance while mom is away generates moderate humor, much of "The Breadwinner" is a flat and uninspiring experience.
The comedy is often remarkably safe, even by PG standards, and feels more in keeping with something parents might have tossed into a VCR to placate young children in the 1990s than a family comedy designed for modern audiences.
Additionally, "The Breadwinner" frequently leans too heavily into product placement. The use of the "Shark Tank" franchise as the catalyst for the film's premise feels unnecessary, while Toyota branding is placed far more front and center than would typically be expected in a traditional studio comedy.
For very casual audiences seeking lightweight escapism for younger children and large families, "The Breadwinner" may hold moderate appeal, particularly for children who insist on a trip to the movies rather than settling for something at home. However, try as he might, Bargatze has not made a film memorable enough to move the needle beyond the goodwill generated by his desire to provide a more affordable option for families at the theater this summer.
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