Father of Invention

Robert Axle built a fortune from his own inventions and became a celebrity of sorts in the process. That ended when one of his products injured large numbers of customers, costing him both his company and his freedom. After roughly eight years in prison, he leaves with nothing and sets out to repair his name and rebuild his wealth. The first obstacle is practical: he needs somewhere to live, which means persuading his estranged daughter, now in her early twenties, to take him in. His new circumstances also bring a roommate and a job far removed from his former life.

Father of Invention is a 2010 American comedy-drama directed by Trent Cooper, who wrote the screenplay with Jonathan D. Krane. It runs 93 minutes. Kevin Spacey plays Robert Axle and also produced; Camilla Belle plays his daughter Claire, with Heather Graham, Virginia Madsen, John Stamos and Johnny Knoxville in supporting roles. Twenty cast members and 57 crew are credited.

The film drew a 3.8 out of 10 from 16 critics' reviews, while audiences gave it 6.1 on IMDb from 130 votes and 5.4 on TMDB from 183 votes. Both audience figures sit above the critics' average, though all three point to a modest reception, and the vote counts indicate a small viewership. It was Cooper's second feature as director, following his earlier comedy.