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Though it began streaming on Father’s Day, the movie Fatherhood is still a top choice of tearjerkers to watch on Netflix now. Starring Kevin Hart, it is the story of love and rebuilding, distilled down to a father who loses his wife just hours after she delivers a baby girl.
Though the story is indeed uplifting and substantial, pulling Hart into the role of leading man instead of pure funny guy, it is also directed by another comically inclined director, Paul Weitz, known for his career-launching movie American Pie. Together, they create a more complex Mr. Mom-type story which in turn is based on the true story of Matt Logelin, and his 2011 memoir, Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love.
Though it began, as so many good things do, as a blog, Logelin went on to appear on Oprah and then a best-selling book—the proceeds of which benefited a charity organization titled the Liz Logelin Foundation, dedicated to helping grief-stricken families with young children.
According to Decider’s Anna Menta, while Fatherhood is based on Logelin’s story, many details of his life have been changed. Logelin, who is white, said in an interview for the film’s press notes that he is perfectly OK with being played by Kevin Hart, along with all of the other changes in the film. “What’s important about this movie is that there are universal themes,” Logelin said. “There’s love and happiness, and sadness and death, and that’s what remains. You can change everything about this movie as long as you keep those sentiments.”
Want to read the book that inspired this sad yet uplifting story of hope, fatherhood and change? You can grab Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love on Amazon, starting at just $4 for the Kindle edition (buy now and get $1 credit for your next Kindle order) and $12.10 for the paperback.
