2361. Delivery Man (2013)

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Britt Robertson

Director: Ken Scott

Running Time: 104 mins

Delivery Man is an American film about a man who, years after donating his sperm, finds out that he has sired over 500 children, and finds himself caught in a dilemma between maintaining his anonymity to all of them and wanting to connect.

Vince Vaughn movies often attract a lot of unfair criticism, and although he’s not an actor that’s known for starring in the best films of all time, Vaughn is always a likable and entertaining lead, and so he proves again in Delivery Man, a film that’s both enjoyable as well as surprisingly heartfelt throughout, going beyond what you would expect from its rather preposterous premise to provide a story that really made me smile.

Let’s start off on that note, because although you may expect a more light-hearted affair given the cast and premise, the thing that I really liked about Delivery Man was just how strong its emotional core was, telling a story that’s not too cheesy or preachy, but just right in terms of tugging at your heartstrings and illiciting a genuine emotional response.

The story follows a man who discovers that he is the biological father of over 500 men and women due to a mishap at the sperm donor clinic in the past, and although he aims to keep his anonymity from being broken, and thereby having 500 people knocking the door down asking for care, he cannot help himself from becoming more and more drawn into the lives of the people who are indeed his own children.

In that, we see Vaughn’s character transform brilliantly throughout, as he grows into a deeply thoughtful and caring individual beyond any normal expectations, going to great lengths to help out and effectively act as a guardian angel to his many children. Of course, he keeps a certain distance in maintaining his anonymity, but the natural desire of a father to take care of his children is something that’s portrayed really rather beautifully in this movie, and his selfless actions throughout make him an immensely endearing lead in an all-round delightful film.

Now, you may be feeling that I’m really overthinking things here, because, after all, this is just a Vince Vaughn movie. However, I really do feel that this film has a pleasant and genuine heart to it that few other mainstream comedies at least really lack, and although it may seem a little much to praise the movie’s dramatic side to such an extent, I think it’s something that’s definitely worth noting, because I’d love to see it portrayed more often in Hollywood cinema.

On the flipside, if you are watching Delivery Man just for laughs, you might not be quite as endeared. On the one hand, the movie is an entertaining watch, and with a couple of great performances from the likes of Vince Vaughn and Chris Pratt, there are laughs to be had. Also, its premise is, for want of a better word, somewhat ridiculous, and as a result can be taken in a more light-hearted manner, and the situations that we see Vaughn get himself into do make for some good fun.

On the other hand, there is a case to be said that the film isn’t quite as funny as it thinks it is, and particualrly when playing alongside the far superior emotional element, the comedy doesn’t really work too well, which means it may disappoint those looking for a simpler, throwaway comedy.

Overall, though, I found Delivery Man a surprisingly sweet and heartfelt film. It’s not perfect, and maybe not the greatest comedy ever made, but it manages to tell a heartwarming and emotionally genuine story in riveting fashion throughout, leaving a wonderful impression come the end, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.5.