Quick Snaps: Goldthwait and Sabara at 'World's Greatest Dad'

Last week, almost at the last minute, my husband and I decided to catch a special screening of Bobcat Goldthwait's latest film, World's Greatest Dad, at Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. We had toyed with the idea of watching the movie at home through Amazon Video on Demand ... but Goldthwait would be attending the Alamo screening, so we couldn't resist. We both enjoyed his previous film, Sleeping Dogs Lie, and I was interested to hear him in person.

It was an evening of surprises. First, Goldthwait said he wanted to show his latest work in progress before the film. Before I could get excited about the possibility of a huge scoop, however, the footage appeared onscreen and I was laughing too hard to care. It was a short film from the 1930s that, as Goldthwait explained afterward, is called a "Barkie" because the cast is all dogs who are dressed as people, trained to walk on their hind legs and dubbed with human voices. Barkies are primarily old-fashioned melodramas or gangster films. Jules White, who directed many Three Stooges shorts, also directed a lot of Barkies. I love learning film history in the most unexpected places. (Felt sorry for the dogs, though -- there were no agencies for humane animal care monitoring moviemaking in the Thirties.)

After that bizarre beginning, Goldthwait introduced the film he actually did direct, World's Greatest Dad. Slackerwood will review the movie when it officially opens in Austin on September 4, and you can read about why I liked it then.

Another surprise was in store after the film ended -- Goldthwait pulled actor Daryl Sabara onstage for the Q&A. Sabara plays the teenage son in the film. You might remember Sabara from his starring role in the Spy Kids movies. Alamo programmer Zack Carlson moderated the Q&A, which was one of the funniest I've experienced. I had trouble holding the camera steady, I swear. But don't take my word for it, check out Anne Heller's video from the evening. Warning: some of the discussion in the video reveals spoilers in the film.

I have one more photo to share -- after the Q&A, Alamo staffer Devin Steuerwald asked me if I'd take his picture with Goldthwait. If you've seen the film, notice the button that Devin is wearing -- very appropriate.