Chris Pine’s Dad on What He Envies About ‘Wonderful’ Son (Exclusive)

Robert Pine couldn’t be prouder of his son, Chris Pine.

While speaking to PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere of Chris’ directorial debut, Poolman, on Wednesday, April 24, Robert, 82, revealed what he envies most when it comes to his son’s acting ability.

“He memorizes dialogue. I’m ADD, and it takes me a long time to do it,” the CHiPs star, who shares Chris with wife Gwynne Gilford, 77, tells PEOPLE at the event, held at Hollywood’s Vista Theater.

“He can go off script and get right back on it when he feels something that’s good or right, he can do that. I can’t do that. And, of course, I’d like to ad-lib the whole thing, but…” Robert laughs.

Robert, who has also starred in series including The Bold and the Beautiful, and All My Children makes a surprise cameo in Chris’ new film.

“My voice does. So you’re going to have to watch it and see where my voice comes up,” he says of whether he makes an appearance in the film, which Chris, 43, co-wrote, stars in and directs.

Admitting Chris “never mentioned” acting while growing up, Robert recalls him realizing that’s what he wanted to do. “He graduated from high school. He did one act for his English class of Waiting for Godot. He was very good in it… Then he went to Berkeley as an English major, and he wanted to meet people. And somebody said, ‘Why don’t you come and try out for this play?’ So we did,” Robert tells PEOPLE.

“My wife and I went up to see it, and within five minutes we’re going, ‘Holy, he’s really good.’ And then he did about four or five plays up there, all wonderful. And then he said afterward, ‘I think maybe I’d like to try this.’ I said, ‘Go for it,’ ” Robert adds.

In Poolman, Chris plays “a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live,” a synopsis states of the actor’s character Darren Barrenman.

“When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer,” the synopsis continues. “His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.  

PEOPLE exclusively revealed the Poolman trailer earlier this month. While speaking about his new movie, Chris previously told PEOPLE of directing himself: “It was so joyful and the most creative I’ve ever gotten to be on set.”

He added, “We hope you leave the theater with a smile, feeling a little bit lighter than when you came in. Just a moment to escape the day-to-day with a story that delights.”

Poolman, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival back in September, hits theaters May 10.