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PRESCHOOL

Preschool captures exactly how stressful the preschool application process can feel for parents. The plot is constantly amusing, with twists and turns at every moment, and as you start to understand more of the story, it just gets funnier. Josh Duhamel both directs and stars in the film, and somehow manages to pull off both roles without missing a beat.

The story centers on two families competing to get their kids into the top preschool in the area, with only one spot remaining. Alan Williams (Josh Duhamel) and his wife Lauren (Charity Wakefield) are convinced their daughter deserves that spot, but so are Brian Young (Michael Socha) and his wife Sarah (Antonia Thomas). Both families want this preschool badly, which leads to some hilarious hijinks including a broken finger, a wrestling fail, and so much more.

The main message of Preschool is that both dads are so focused on winning the preschool spot that they completely lose sight of their actual kids. In one scene, Alan leaves his daughter inside an indoor skydiving machine -- she is clearly calling for his help, but he is too distracted talking to Brian to notice. The physical comedy lands well throughout, especially in the final fight scene where a window gets broken and someone gets clotheslined. Michael Socha brings wild energy as Brian, and James Cosmo as Brian's father adds grit and a grounded dose of reality that keeps things from feeling too over the top. The music perfectly fits the film's childlike and humorous tone -- it feels playful and a little chaotic, just like the dads themselves. The locations are also a highlight, with each family's home and neighborhood painting a clear picture of whom they are and who they want to be seen as. Alan's world looks polished and put-together, while Brian's has a rougher, more working-class feel, and that contrast adds a lot to the comedy.

The film's message is about not losing sight of your parenting goals by over-focusing on things like securing the coveted preschool slot. It is such a natural part of parenting to worry about your child's future, but worrying about it as early as preschool creates unnecessary anxiety - the film definitely mines that anxiety for lots of laughs. Be aware that the film includes themes of anger and there are a few scenes where the dads come to blows, but the film consistently finds a way to keep even those moments funny.

I give Preschool 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. The film is available on VOD starting March 17, 2025.

By Jackson N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

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In London, two dads (Josh Duhamel & Michael Socha) set their sights on the last open spot at an ultra-posh preschool. What begins as a simple application snowballs into a wildly escalating rivalry packed with big-hearted laughs, outrageous one-upmanship, and surprising consequences. As schemes spiral and families get pulled into the madness, both fathers discover what they're really willing to do for their kids--and what it means to be a parent.