It would be hard not to be moved by the raw emotion each man brings to telling his story of becoming not just a father, but a dad. Perhaps it’s fitting that the daughter of Ron Howard, co-star of that seminal TV portrayal of fatherhood, The Andy Griffith Showwould be behind the documentary about Dads. Director Bryce Dallas Howard certainly seems to have found inspiration in her own paternal role models, including dad Ron and grandpa Rance, and she incorporates home movies and testimonies from her family members into her film. She is also dedicated Dads Rance, who passed away in 2017, but not before she was able to capture him on film. Her personal connection to the material and apparent friendship with the celebrities she interviews add warmth and sincerity to Howard’s direction, helping to offset the reality that celebrities may not be the most typical experiences.

Howard has also collected some interesting case studies of different non-celebrity fathers from different backgrounds. These stories are further supplemented with clips from home videos of various parents – some touching and some hilarious, especially when it comes to teenagers. The film can sometimes feel like it’s advocating a certain enlightened model of parenting, or serving as a pep talk for new or expecting dads (including her brother). That essence is contained in the tagline of the documentary: “You have this. Even when you don’t.”