An updated version of the 1983 comedy film Mr. Mom, The Breadwinner is a clean family movie that manages to hold your attention despite being based on a tired cliché.
Co-written by Nate Bargatze and Dan Lagana, The Breadwinner follows Nate Wilcox (Bargatze), a top car salesman who becomes a stay-at-home dad after his wife (Mandy Moore) finds success on Shark Tank and goes on an extended business trip.
The story of the clueless father, failing miserably to step up and take care of his home and children, is nothing new, but for this premise to still ring true in 2026 certainly says a lot about our patriarchal society—especially as the film pokes fun at situations like Nate being so checked out that he doesn’t even know the names of his children’s schools. That said, for what it’s worth, The Breadwinner adds just enough drama to keep things somewhat interesting throughout.
The cast features several established comedians who’ve crossed over into acting, including Colin Jost and Martin Herlihy of Saturday Night Live as a needy stay-at-home dad and an awkward delivery driver, respectively, Kumail Nanjiani as Nate’s rival salesman, and Zach Cherry as a resentful dealership manager. Like Bargartze’s, all of their jokes are inoffensive and mild-mannered, catering to their target audience.
Stealing the show in performances, however, are the young actresses who play Nate’s three daughters: Stella Fitzgerald as Gracie, the beauty-conscious eldest; Birdie Borria as Hadley, the spelling bee enthusiast middle; and Charlotte Tucker as Sam, the pony-obsessed youngest. From the film’s beginning to end, each actress stands out in their own right.
Also of note is how the film lands with its depiction of social media. In an era when so many movies and TV shows get social media wrong, The Breadwinner does a relatively good job of accurately portraying how apps like TikTok function in real life. It also accurately depicts how parents use technology today, including small details like Nate using his index finger rather than his thumb to text on his phone.
Overall, though it fails to take any risks, The Breadwinner contains a polite humor good enough for the whole family to enjoy.
Featured Photo Credit: Frank Masi | Sony Pictures
Taylor Graham is a student at Columbia University, majoring in Film and Media Studies with a minor in Political Science. She has reported for numerous publications, including the Valencia Voice, Glitter Magazine, and Heritage Radio Network, and is currently the 150th Arts and Culture Editor for the Columbia Daily Spectator, one of the oldest college newspapers in the nation. With a passion for storytelling in the digital age, Taylor covers all things entertainment, from film and television to media and pop culture, interviewing professional actors, musicians, and content creators alike. When she’s not writing her next film review or feature story on an emerging artist, Taylor can be found playing tennis, reading literary fiction, or thrift shopping in NYC.