Spacey plays Robert Axle an arrogant infomercial tycoon who's built a billion dollar empire by not really inventing products - he fabricates them. The guy's a genius at taking things others have successfully made and COMBINING them with other products...like the combo weed-eater-sand-wedge, digital camera-pepper spray protection device...and too many more to count.
His meteoric success is derailed when one of his products - a combo ab-cruncher-remote-control - is caught up in a product safety suit (the device works, but it inadvertently chops off fingers) and he's sent to federal prison. Time passes and 10 years later he's released and back on the streets.
Axle's only problem is that his wife (Sideways' Virginia Madsen) has divorced him, taken his fortune and remarried to Craig Robinson (The Office). Oh, and his daughter (Camilla Belle) hates him enough to change her name and move into a rent house with a man-hating lesbian (Heather Graham).
His crime, other than making a product that deletes digits, is that he destroyed his family by spending so much time building his business. Axle was an absentee father and after 10 years in the slammer, they'd just as soon he didn't reappear.
Spacey's mission, should he decide to accept it, is to reconnect with his estranged family, rebuild his career and reinvent himself to the business world. In the hands of lesser talent, this could easily turn into a clichéd mess, but two-time Oscar winner Spacey strikes just the right balance with humor and honesty.
His road to redemption is a lot of fun to watch as it sprints (it clocks in at a tidy 93 minutes) to its almost-Hollywood finish. A supporting cast that includes John Stamos and Johnny Knoxville (Spoiler Alert - he doesn't get hit in the nuts one time) is just the icing on the infomercial.
At its core, Father of Invention is a funny, slightly sweet story about the power of forgiveness - which is arguably the greatest invention of all.
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
Follow us on Twitter: @BoomerBrief
and @CharlotteBoomer
Know someone battling cancer? Baylor Health Care System's Sammons Says... cancer blog is a great place to go for help. Here, you'll find information, resources, physicians, support groups and just about everything you need to help you navigate your way through this illness.
Senior Forums is a great place to get the news and share views on everything from hobbies and healthcare, to food, family & travel.
Matt Drudge gets the goods and his site ain't bad either.
You don't have to live in Dallas to enjoy D Magazine.
