The American dad is doing well, even if he is not what he used to be. Despite the lasting effects of the Great Recession on the U.S. economy and all the other bad stuff that undermines the morale of American males, he is still around — you'll see the evidence in "Wish I Was Here."
You know this man: nice to his wife, affable to the world and loves his kids. Aidan Bloom (played by Zach Braff) is just such a dad in "Wish I Was Here," but he is also an out-of-work actor who relies on his wife, Sarah (Kate Hudson), to bring home the bacon — and expects her to be understanding, supportive and sexy, too. Clearly, this particular American dad wants to have his cake (with extra frosting) and scarf it down, too. That sense of entitlement is so American dad. It's endearing but also infuriating — a trait Aidan shares with the film itself.
Aidan is likable mostly because the director and co-writer of this film also happen to be Braff. He plays Aidan as a dreamer and semi-drifter, but his sincerity shines through in every scene. While he stays home to take care of his kids, Tucker (Pierce Gagnon) and Grace (Joey King), Sarah is hard at work for the Los Angeles water department, where she struggles against a Californian drought and sexual harassment. Quitting is not an option — she is the sole wage earner. Aidan's dad, Gabe (Mandy Patinkin), helps foot the bill for the kids' education at a Jewish school, but after discovering that he's dying from cancer, Gabe can no longer afford to pay tuition.