Parents' Guide to Waltzing with Brando

This offbeat film—which is well-intentioned but tonally confusing—is still worth watching for Zane's performance as Brando. With the assistance of a brilliant hair and makeup team, Zane becomes the legendary star with such accuracy that it's almost jarring. Clips of Brando's movies and televised interviews are woven throughout Waltzing with Brando, and it's sometimes unclear whether we're seeing Brando or Zane-as-Brando. And it's more than just Zane's appearance: His manner of speech, his physical mannerisms ... it's so uncanny that it falls into the uncanny valley. Classic movie fans—or even just fans of The Godfather—won't be able to stop thinking about it while they're watching.

The movie's uneven tone—which feels set by the signature goofiness of star Jon Heder—is also distracting. At one point, there's a map, and it feels straight out of Dora the Explorer. Heder's character gives off strong sitcom dad energy, and much of the movie feels like it could be on a kids' cable channel. Which makes it all the weirder when the characters are naked, eating pot brownies, and tossing F-bombs around. It's odd. But, then, so was Brando—perhaps this is actually the perfect way to honor his legacy. It's also worth noting that Zane's portrayal of Brando counters the eccentric personality traits he's typically remembered for. He's shown in all his complexity, including the fact that he was a highly intelligent philosopher, civil rights activist, and home scientist who was deeply committed to exploring how humankind could relish nature without upsetting it.