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Dad is a heartwarming and emotional drama film from 1989 that follows the poignant story of John Tremont (played by Ted Danson) a successful executive who faces a difficult decision when he learns that his father, Jake (played by Jack Lemmon) is suffering from a terminal illness. John must put his career on hold and return to his childhood home to take care of his father during his last days.

As John spends time with Jake, he begins to discover parts of his father's life and personality that he never knew existed. He learns about Jake's past struggles, his hopes, dreams, and fears, and slowly begins to gain a better understanding of the kind of person his father truly is. Along the way, John also rekindles his relationship with his mother (played by Olympia Dukakis), who has been estranged from Jake for many years.

Through the film, we see the father-son relationship between Jake and John develop, as Jake's health deteriorates, and John must come to terms with the idea of losing his father. The movie perfectly balances moments of heartwarming humor and poignant drama as it explores the themes of family, love, and sacrifice.

Jack Lemmon's performance as Jake is truly remarkable, and he delivers an emotional and nuanced portrayal of a father who has been hit hard by life. His performance is perfectly complemented by Ted Danson's portrayal of John, who is initially distant and cold, but gradually becomes more and more attached to his father as the story progresses.

In addition to the central performances, the supporting cast of the film is also exceptional, with Olympia Dukakis delivering a strong performance as the mother who has to come to terms with the past she left behind. Kevin Spacey also features in a supporting role, in one of his early film appearances.

The movie is directed by Gary David Goldberg, who is primarily known for his work on popular television series such as Family Ties and Brooklyn Bridge. Despite this being his feature-length directorial debut, Gary does an excellent job of capturing the emotional depth of the story, and he handles the delicate balancing act between humor and drama with finesse.

The screenplay, based on a novel by William Wharton, is also exceptional, and it captures the essence of the father-son relationship with sensitivity and depth. The film's score, composed by James Horner, perfectly complements the story's emotional beats, and it adds an extra layer of depth to the story.

Dad was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was praised for its honest and heartfelt portrayal of the father-son relationship, as well as its ability to balance humor and drama with grace. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Jack Lemmon, and it won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

In conclusion, Dad is a beautiful and emotional film that explores the themes of family, love, and sacrifice with sensitivity and depth. The performances are top-notch, the direction is stellar, and the screenplay is exceptional. If you are looking for a film that will tug at your heartstrings and make you appreciate the importance of family, then Dad is a film that you won't want to miss.

Dad is a 1989 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 57 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 43.