Why Him?

Stephanie Fleming is dating Laird Mayhew, a brash, wildly successful tech entrepreneur, and her dad Ned goes out to meet him and judge whether he's right for his daughter. What begins as a civil introduction quickly turns into a full-on generational showdown, with Ned's old-school sensibilities rubbing up against Laird's outrageous humor and unabashed confidence. As barbs are exchanged and social situations become increasingly awkward, the family splits into awkward alliances and second-guessing. Ned tries awkward tests, causing public missteps and forcing relatives to pick sides, keeping the film funny not grim.

John Hamburg directed the 2016 comedy, which grew from an original idea by Jonah Hill and Ian Helfer. It stars Bryan Cranston, James Franco, Zoey Deutch, Megan Mullally and Griffin Gluck, and includes a Silicon Valley setting and satire.

The movie attracted mainstream audiences and made a healthy return, earning more than its production budget worldwide despite critics giving it mixed marks, and audiences turned out for its raunchy humor widely overseas.

James Franco's loud, unpredictable Laird became a recognizable comic foil for modern tech-bro stereotypes, and certain confrontational scenes, especially the awkward family dinners, have been replayed in clips and social conversations as examples of culture and class clash. It fueled conversations about boundaries in comedies and the tech elite caricature.

Critics were divided, with audiences responding more warmly, reflected in a middling to positive average rating. The movie plays on themes of parenting, masculinity, class differences, and how money and confidence can unsettle traditional family expectations. Viewers praised the cast chemistry while criticizing uneven tone and reliance on broad jokes.