Sporting an unstoppable slew of passive-aggressive, allegedly improvised, humour and a refreshing spin on man-child comedies, Dad & Step-Dad is one of the funniest films ever made. Don’t believe me? How about if I told you I’ve watched Dad & Step-Dad four times, and have doubled over with hearty laughs with each viewing? How about if I told you I’m worried that my fifth viewing will put me in the hospital?

The titular father figures are Jim (Colin Burgess) and Dave (Anthony Oberbeck), and their dynamic is complicated. While they’re stuck-up and conversationally combative, constantly tying to one-up the other with knowledge and experience, they also want to impress each other. This clash is always simmering, which builds a tense atmosphere for Jim’s 13-year-old son Branson (played, inexplicably and hilariously, by adult actor Brian Fiddyment). The hostility inflates over the course of a three-day weekend vacation at an Airbnb as both Jim and Dave fight for Branson’s attention. However, they also forget about him. When the dads are yelling at Branson to stay out of the mud, it’s more about who can save the day first and convince the bewildered teen to move. However, they’re both stammering messes when they mutually discover new things about Branson, like the kid’s fascination with a “sexy fox”. But despite what they think of each other, the dads stay as civil as possible…until Branson wanders off into the woods.

Dad & Step-Dad is anchored by razor-sharp, expressive performances from Burgess and Oberbeck, and they feed off of each other well. Adding to their repertoire is Fiddyment’s awkwardness, which transcends the kooky casting by creating big laughs out of Branson’s naive confusion. Director Tynan DeLong, giving the Duplass Brothers a run for their mumblecore money, is fearless when converting his characters’ frustration for comedy. The pacing requires DeLong to stick with Jim and Dave through extended periods of obnoxious debating and then as lead editor, with Burgess and Oberbeck as co-editors, the filmmaker flawlessly finds the shape of a scene. Nobody breaks a sweat when Jim’s ex-wife/Dave’s wife Suzie (Clare O’Kane) enters the story late into the movie, providing a different type of special sincerity to the story.

Dad & Step-Dad isn’t a comedy about winning and losing but, rather, about providing consideration and support. Jim and Dave may be wildly wrongheaded, but they learn they shouldn’t be looking for approval or kudos. The film demonstrates that the power of effective listening is a necessity to maintaining social sanity. This disarms the men and, during a rest while searching for Branson, allows an open airway for catharsis and empathy. The movie does this without going mushy or compromising the characters’ integrity – a huge plus for movie goers who prefer authenticity with dialogue-driven goofs.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie