Review: A Family Man (aka The Headhunter's Calling)

There was a time when Gerard Butler showed tremendous promise as an actor rather than a bellowing action star or boorish romantic lead. He was more than fine as a recovering alcoholic serving as a juror on a murder case in the excellent British drama, The Jury, and affecting as a stranger pretending to be a boy's father in Dear Frankie. It bears reminding because his latest role as a Chicago-based corporate headhunter in A Family Man (originally titled The Headhunter's Calling) seems a stab at something more substantial than most of the roles he's taken on during his Hollywood career.

Unfortunately, his portrayal of cocky son-of-a-bitch Dane Jensen is limited at best, playing so much in one register that he flounders to make the transition required in the later stages of the film. Part of the issue is that, as written, the character is so off-putting and borderline loathsome that it's virtually impossible to engender any sympathy or interest in his situation. Dane is a ruthless, egomaniacal workaholic made even more determined to work harder when boss Ed Blackridge (Willem Dafoe) dangles the promise of a promotion to whichever team leader brings in the highest commission in the final months of the year.

Dane has no compunction being cutthroat in his mission to win the promotion over equally crass and callous-hearted competitor, Lynn Vogel (Alison Brie, severely underused). Dane will do everything in his power to bolster his commissions, even using 59-year-old unemployable engineer (Alfred Molina) as a "tracer bullet," essentially sending him out on interviews to gather information Dane can give to much younger applicants as an advantage. Naturally, this Gordon Gekko-wannabe is bound to learn a very tough and important lesson and that lesson is, to paraphrase Blackridge, it's not about how much money you make but the kind of life you lead.

Dane's macho swagger and 24/7 dedication may be admired in the workplace, but it's a completely different story on the homefront. Wife Elise (Gretchen Mol) keeps reminding him that he's missing his kids' lives. When his eldest son Ryan (Max Jenkins) is diagnosed with cancer, Dane must reluctantly balance his professional and personal duties. On the one hand, Dane's seeming resistance to resembling an actual human being has a certain admirable quality. Yet, his eventual redemption is so predictable, clumsily handled, and gooped with cheesiness. It also requires the utmost patience and obliviousness from Elise and Ryan, who are both so badly treated by Dane that it's no small surprise that they still allow him in their lives.

Mol can't quite sell Elise's loyalty to her husband (to be fair, no actress could), but her performance is otherwise imbued with grace and dignity. Molina is excellent in his few scenes, and especially superb in one moment where his character is overwhelmed with relief and elation. Mark Williams' first-time outing as director displays a talent for the generic and pedestrian.

A Family Man (aka The Headhunter's Calling)

Directed by: Mark Williams

Written by: Bill Dubuque

Starring: Gerard Butler, Willem Dafoe, Gretchen Mol, Alison Brie, Alfred Molina, Maxwell Jenkins, Dustin Milligan