Robin Williams will probably be able to make films as long as he wants to. Why? Because he used to be one of the funniest men in movies. However, what kind of movies is the question. His newest film happens to be the dark, edgy World’s Greatest Dad.

When Lance Clayton (Williams) gets done talking to the only two students in his high school poetry class  and stealing kisses between classes with fellow teacher Clare (Alexie Gilmore), his highlight of the day is heading home to the mailbox. Lance, a frustrated writer, hopes one of the gold envelopes in the mail will contain the words “we want to buy” in the enclosed letter.

It’s never good news, and if that deflation isn’t enough, there’s his teenage son Kyle (Daryl Sabara). Lance tries to engage his son in some meaningful father/son experience, but Kyle isn’t having it. He hates everything -- music, girls, movies -- and by the way he acts, his dad. He does like his computer, where he can watch porn and perform sexual acts on himself in the bedroom. Mom is MIA in the story without an explanation.

Maybe Kyle is so obnoxious because everyone at his school treats the doorstep better than him. They berate him, make fun of him and bully him until it gets physical, and he ends up in the principal’s office, followed by Lance being summoned as well.

As displayed in his other films -- Sleeping Dogs Lie, Stay, Shakes the Clown -- writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait is attempting to set his own style. He tackles opaque themes such as the human circumstance and what happens when you have to reinvent yourself.

That’s exactly what Lance has to do when a major twist in the movie talks place. He must change his entire persona. Kyle’s best friend, Andrew (Evan Martin), keeps throwing road blocks at Lance’s plan, but he hurdles them like a pro. Williams succeeds in making us wonder if he’s really buying his own sales pitch or hanging on for his life, but the love relationship with Clare never works. Lance appears too old -- and let’s face it -- too out of shape for the younger lovely and trim Clare. Their constant giddy dialogue, consisting of calling each other names such as Cup Cake and Moon Pie, is a turn off. Further evidence of their nonworking relationship takes place when another teacher, the good-looking Mike (Henry Simmons), takes a shine to Clare.

Sabara (Keeping Up With the Steins) does a good job opposite Williams as his totally repulsive teenage son. Lorraine Nicholson (Princess Diaries 2) offers up a great performance as Heather, a Goth-looking teen who is relentlessly cruel to Kyle.

World's Greatest Dad, billed as a comedy, contains a few laughs. Still, because the material seems more soul-searching and at times quite startling, I don’t recommend it for general audiences.

(Released by Magnolia Pictures and rated "R" for  language, crude and sexual content, some drug use and disturbing images.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com .