Top Ten Dads, 1 – 5

I was originally going to make this one post, but I did not want it to be too long.  So here are my top five fictional television and movie Fathers.

5. Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) – Rocky Balboa

Honestly, Rocky became a Dad in the Rocky II, the second movie of the franchise.  The focus of him being a Dad really did not come to the forefront until Rocky V, more than likely the least watched and liked of the franchise.  It was in the fifth installment where he put Tommy Gunn ahead of his son as Rocky was trying to get his money back by training and getting Tommy a title shot.  As he did so, he lost sight of the fact his son was losing his way. However, Rocky redeems himself in Rocky Balboa. After being retired and losing Adrian to cancer, Rocky tries to be there for his son.  And it is the beginning of the movie when Rocky decides he wants to fight again and his son is opposed to the idea Rocky drops his second-most quoted quote:

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

4. Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) – Coach Carter

This is definitely my second favorite Samuel L. Jackson starring role.  Ken Carter returns to his high school, Richmond, to become the head basketball coach.  This leads to his son, Damien, wanting to leave his high school to play for his Dad. This despite his reservations, Coach Carter reluctantly decides to allow Damien to join the team.  But to convince his father to allow him to do so, Damien raises the stakes for himself by upping the contract requirements Coach has established for the rest of the team. And in the end, is this not what we want for our children, them to do more than others and to do better than we ourselves?

Damien’s Contract Agreement 

3. Chris Gardner (Will Smith) – The Pursuit of Happyness

I am not one who easily cries, but when I watch this movie I get something in my eye every time.  When his wife leaves him, Chris does everything to keep his son with him despite being broke, evicted, and having to live in a homeless shelter.  In the beginning, Chris is fighting for his family, by the end he is fighting for his son. He works tirelessly working as an unpaid intern while trying to sell the last piece of medical equipment he originally sunk his savings into trying to get rich.  Despite it all, Chris finds his success and keeps his son. “You gotta dream, you gotta protect it!”

The Pursuit of Happyness

2. Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown) – This Is Us

Hard for me separate this two from each other, since they are the odd father-son combination.  I say that in the sense of Randall not being Jack’s biological son. Somehow, though he struggled with it, Jack tried his hardest to raise Randall as one of his own and influence his life without always thinking about the challenges of race.  And when the challenges did present themselves, Jack attempted to accept those for what they were without insulted or hurt. Combined, Jack and Randall both have their demons they need to overcome and they are both aware of those demons. At the same time, they both have huge hearts for their families and those around them and are constantly trying to make the world a better place for their families.

 

1. Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) – To Kill A Mockingbird

Quiet, hard working, industrious, stern, and fair.  Atticus did not do what was popular, but he did do was right.  And that is what he tried to teach his children, Jem and Scout to treat everyone fairly and to think independently.  When most of think about quotes regarding Atticus from the book or the movie we think about his telling Scout not to mockingbirds followed by Miss Maude saying because of the beautiful music they make.  However, the best quote we should carry with us from Atticus is this, “Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself.”

Happy Father’s Day!