Tomorrow is Father’s Day. To commemorate the day, Entertainment Weekly posted their list of ten funniest movie dads, as follows.
- Eugene Levy, "American Pie"
- Sean Connery, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"
- Robin Williams and Nathan Lane "The Birdcage"
- Chevy Chase, "National Lampoon's Vacation"
- Adam Sandler, "Big Daddy"
- Gene Hackman, "The Royal Tenenbaums"
- Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, "The Inlaws"
- Steve Martin, "Parenthood"
- Alec Baldwin, "Outside Providence"
- Dustin Hoffman, "Meet The Fockers"
Check out their reasons for picking these fathers.
In situational comedy, father’s are often relegated to reacting to events, or over-reacting in a goofy way that brings smiles. That’s what makes comedy...well, comedy. I prefer the dramatic roles, however, in which events trigger transformations, either for the better or worse. Here are just a few of my favorite fatherly roles in all the genres of film: comedy, drama, thriller, horror, etc. (Not in any order.) Jack Nicholson, "The Shining"
Jack Nicholson plays one of the his greatest roles of his illustrious career! Jack Torrence is a struggling author who is tormented that he’s not able to support his family. His young son’s introverted behavior also weighs on his mind because he can’t afford needed counseling or therapy. But he lands a dream job as the caretaker for a resort hotel in the Rockies. Goals of writing a best-seller are destroyed as the isolation of the hotel slowly drive him mad.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: F
Kevin Spacey, "American Beauty"
Lester Burnham’s life, job, and family have dictated his path for so long that he has lost all sense of self-worth and motivation. His wife is disgusted with him and plays the field; and his daughter hates his guts and wants him dead. The storm front of a huge mid-life crisis prepares to strike when Lester becomes attracted to his daughter’s best friend, Angela Hayes, played by Mena Suvari. He starts working out and running in the mornings. He grows back a spine, not letting co-workers or his wife boss him around un-needlessly. The redeeming quality in Lester’s final transformation comes when he has Angela Hayes in his grasp. In a poignant moment, he comes to his moral senses and turns her away.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: D Chevy Chase, "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation"
Clark Griswald is expecting a Christmas bonus that would allow him to put a swimming pool in their back yard. With his wonderfully odd extended family camped out in the Griswald house for the holidays, everything comes unscrewed at the hinges, including the promise of the bonus. Clark does his best to hold it all together, despite the strain of the family’s needs, the in-laws’ dislike for him, and a squirrel chase with a mad dog that leaves the house in ruins. But when he doesn’t get the bonus, he snaps, and what transpires is a classic silly ending that makes the film a Christmas season must-see.
Film Grade: B
Father Grade: C
Mel Gibson, "Signs"
Graham Hess has a deep struggle of faith. He used to be a minister, but after the tragic death of his wife, he gave it up. The reasons for doing so are kept deep inside him and we only sense the faint shadows of them like we see only the shadow of the cross on his bedroom wall. But as is normal in times of hard trials or imminent doom, in this case the arrival of an alien race intent on destroying the world, Graham finds the meaning of life. And this is where the real story of "Signs" is, and it is a good one.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: A
Tom Hanks, "Road to Perdition"
Perdition is about the father and son relationship of Mike Sullivan (Tom Hanks) to his god-father John Rooney (Paul Newman) and then his relationship with his own son Michael Sullivan. Mike had no family growing up. John Rooney (Paul Newman), the father of the mob, took him in under his wings. Mike ended up working for him. Now, Mike has a family. The oldest son, the 12-year-old Michael, has no idea what his father "really" does for a living and he wants to know. He's been told the usual story—Mr. Rooney took him in; he goes on important and sometimes dangerous assignments for him; etc.
Michael is too old for these vague answers. When he is around the mob family, he sees and hears things that lead him to believe that his father is a hit man. When his father announces that he can't attend his younger brother’s concert at school because he has to work, Michael hides in the car so that he can see for himself what his dad does. What Michael sees will change the landscape of his life forever. And in order to save what family Mike, the father, has left to him, he must decide where his loyalty will lie – with his son or his god-father. What results is a thrilling journey to try to win back his life away from the mob, and win a decent future for his boys.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: B Tom Hanks, "Sleepless In Seattle"
Sam Baldwin is recently widowed. His son, Jonah, takes it upon himself to find him the perfect soul-mate. Enter stage left, Annie Reed. When Sam discovers what Jonah has done, he delivers one of the greatest exchanges in film:
Sam Baldwin: Didn't you see Fatal Attraction?
Jonah Baldwin: You wouldn't let me!
Sam Baldwin: Well I saw it and it scared the shit out of me. It scared the shit out of every man in America.
In a move that gives nightmares to every parent, Jonah runs away to New York City to find Annie by himself. Sam follows. Sam finds Jonah. Sam and Annie meet. They smile that good-ole "could this be real" smiles at each other for far too long but we eat it up anyway because it is a happy ending and love triumphs.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: B+
Tom Cruise, "War of the Worlds"
Ray Ferrier is a dead-beat dad, so much so that his kids don’t consider him their dad. They definitely don’t call him dad. In a most telling scene, Ray is trying to play catch with his teenage son, Robbie. The verbal exchange between them is sharp as knives. It proves that Ray isn't interested in getting to know his son, rather just to lay down the rules of his house. As their verbal blows become more cutting, their throws increase in velocity. Inevitably, Ray returns a pitch that is obviously meant to hurt Robbie. But Robbie steps aside and lets the ball pass by. It shatters the kitchen window. After Robbie walks into the house, the camera captures Ray through the shattered window. It's the image of a man whose life is empty: there are no lasting relationships. He’s as shattered as the window. The long journey to Boston amidst the seemingly inevitable destruction transforms him as he is forced to protect his kids the best way that he can.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: C
Don Cheadle, "Hotel Rwanda"
Paul Rusesabagina is a hotel manager (and Hutu) during the genocide that ravaged Rwanda in 1994, in which over one million Tutsis were slaughtered. Rusesabagina took in and eventually saved 1,286 Tutsis refugees (including his own wife and children) from being slaughtered by the Hutu militia.
Cheadle is nothing more than exceptional as Rusesabagina, a man whose career of styling ambassadors, generals, and diplomats allows him the leverage to save lives. It's a highly dynamic, stirring, and emotionally-charged performance. Some people step forward in the only way they know how , or out of the basic need to survive, and by this act take upon them the salvation of many. In an industry that is becoming saturated with films about super heros, its refreshing to see one devoted to someone who is flesh and blood real.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: A Christopher Plummer, "The Sound of Music"
Georg von Trapp is more a captain to his brood of kids than a father, ordering them around the house to the varying sounds of a whistle, communicating to them as he would a unit of soldiers standing in attention. All of this changes when the new nanny from the local convent, Maria, comes into their life. Her love of music and fun softens Georg’s heart. One of the most memorable scenes of the film occurs when Georg returns home from officer’s duty. Maria and kids are practicing the song they have prepared just for his return, (specifically, "The Hills Are Alive"). As he enters the house and hears his children singing for the first time in years, you can see his hard exterior melt away. Emotional. Magical. Unforgettable.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: A
Robert Benigni, "Life Is Beautiful"
Guido Orefice has a gift of humor, for making people happy. He is able to win the love of Dora because of it. When the Nazi’s invade Italy, and his family is sent to a concentration camp, he uses his humor to defuse his son's fears and literally keep them both alive. One of the most heartbreaking scenes in film occurs near the end of the film. Being chased by German soldiers, he hides his terrified son, telling him that they are going to play a game– the most quiet wins a tank. He then allows himself to be captured, a sacrifice to get the attention off of a search for his son.
Film Grade: A
Father Grade: A
Remembering Other Great Movie Roles Highlighting Fathers:
Nicolas Cage, "The Family Man"
Mel Gibson, "The Patriot"
Michael Keaton, "Mr. Mom"
Donald Sutherland, "Pride & Prejudice" and "Ordinary People"
Darren McGavin, "A Christmas Story"
Jimmy Stewart, "It’s A Wonderful Life"
Robin Williams, "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Hook"
Kevin Costner, "Field of Dreams"
Tom Wilkinson, "In the Bedroom"
Steve Martin, "Father of the Bride"
Viggo Mortenson, "The History of Violence"
Richard Dreyfuss, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
Richard Gere, "The Bee Season"
Dustin Hoffman, "Moonlight Mile"
Billy Bob Thornton, "Monster’s Ball"
Denzel Washington, "John Q"
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