WANT TO GO?

Bobcat Goldthwait

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30

WHERE: The Funny Bone, Pullman Square, Huntington

TICKETS: $22

INFO: www.wvfunnybone.com or 304-781-1000

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait says if he'd ever actually planned to write and direct a movie for Robin Williams, he probably wouldn't have made the lead character a poetry teacher.

"I think he did an OK job of playing that before," Goldthwait laughed.

Williams, of course, memorably played a poetry teacher who inspired a group of young men at a 1950s prep school in "Dead Poet's Society." He was nominated for an Academy Award for the performance.

Goldthwait, of course, isn't always remembered as a director, though his behind the scenes credits are nearly as lengthy as his roles in front of the camera. He's best known for scathing dark humor and an awkward, glowering delivery sometimes reminiscent of Tourette's syndrome.

People will have a chance to see Goldthwait's stand-up next Thursday at the Funny Bone in Huntington for a special one-night only show. Goldthwait is currently touring again after a substantial hiatus from stand-up.

"I stopped for almost six years because I was directing," he said. "Lately, I've been back on the road in between making movies."

Goldthwait's latest film, "World's Greatest Dad," starring Robin Williams, is due out this fall, though it may not be coming to a theater near you. It's a small and very dark indie comedy that just happens to have a big name star attached.

Goldthwait says getting Robin Williams involved was kind of accidental. He and Williams have known each other for years, and Williams really liked Goldthwait's last film, "Sleeping Dogs Lie." The two were talking and Goldthwait mentioned "World's Greatest Dad." Williams asked to read it and signed on.

"I wasn't really trying to pimp him," he said. "I didn't have him in mind when I wrote it, but once he came on, it changed everything. I don't think it's news, but he's just a great actor."

What didn't change was the tone of the film. Like his stand-up, Goldthwait's movies aren't really designed for family audiences. "Sleeping Dogs Lie" was a cringe-inducing comedy about relationships and the healthy limits of honesty.

"If you only heard about the bestiality in the movie, that's all you'd think it was about - when it's really about something else," he said.

"World's Greatest Dad," he promises, isn't a wacky, silly comedy. The movie is dark and funny, but it's also thought provoking.

"It has the same tone as 'Sleeping Dogs,'" he said. "I probably upped the amount of cringe."

Goldthwait says he hopes people give his films a chance, but they're not going to be for everybody. He doesn't do major studio films and really has no interest in going that route. After "Sleeping Dogs Lie" was screened at Sundance a couple of years ago, he says a few people expressed an interest in getting him on to major studio projects but he shied away from them.

"After my career as an actor, I had no interest to be involved with studio movies as a writer/director."

Anyway, the chances of him being offered the chance to helm the next "Harry Potter" film are probably pretty slim, he acknowledges.

Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5195.