Happy Father’s Day, readers.
It should come as no surprise that there are countless depictions of fatherhood among movies of various ages and genres, and in tribute to some of the most memorable of those depictions, I’ve compiled the entries for Rich Reviews’s first “Top 10” list. Keep in mind that, as with future lists on this site, the entries are more subjective and will consist primarily of films I’ve seen as of the writing. As such, personal entries or recommendations I might have missed are welcome and open for comments and discussion. In addition, a spoiler warning is warranted for this list, since I’ll be discussing each of these dad’s actions in fair amounts of detail. Still, any sort of father (biological, adoptive or otherwise) is fair game here. All of that said, this one’s a list of the most dedicated, determined, or otherwise intriguing dads that I’ve thus far encountered on the big and small screens. Starting with…
10. Bryan Mills (Taken)
One could hardly accuse this movie of being the brightest or most original action movie out there, but fewer people could accuse Bryan Mills’s fight to save his daughter to be free of emotional investment and thrills. This retired CIA operative might be actively looking to avoid his old line of work, but that desire erodes completely when his daughter is kidnapped to be sold by sex traffickers. Mills’s determination and dedication to his daughter’s rescue is visible through every bone-crunching scuffle he’s forced into, and the result manages to be quite touching at times. He warned the kidnappers he’d find and kill them, and he meant it.
9. Mr. Incredible/Robert Parr (The Incredibles/The Incredibles 2) 
This superhero-turned-family man lands a bit lower on the list for letting his mid-life crisis get the better of his judgement during some of the film’s length, but still makes it for nonetheless demonstrating a genuine dedication to his family through all of those struggles. When he’s not guarding the city from harm with his inhuman strength and durability, he’s raising his kids with a mix of pride, sternness and humor that one could probably expect of a super-heroic dad. While he does go in over his head at times, Mr. Incredible cemented himself onto this list for being as approachable as he was as a father to Dash and Violet, and there’s proof enough of his commendable parenting in the unbridled rage he holds for the villainous Syndrome for threatening his family in the third act. Best of all the sequel seems to lean more heavily on the family dynamic, and I can’t wait to see how he keeps it up.
8. Kumatetsu (The Boy and the Beast)
Movies don’t always acknowledge it, but fathers are seldom perfect. Oftentimes, mistakes are made for the sake of children, and the underrated anime film The Boy and the Beast shows that it’s especially tough in an adoptive family dynamic. In spite of his roughness with his adoptive son Kyuta/Ren, however, Kumatetsu still had enough compassion in his heart to care for the boy after the death of his mother and teach him the values of courage and determination in a hidden world populated by beast-people. At once a Rocky-esque coming-of-age story and a commentary on the nature of father-son dynamics, The Boy and the Beast is a thrilling and heartwarming story of an adoptive father’s eventual acceptance of a son he might have considered weak, and their dynamic is so wonderfully memorable that I’m glad this list allowed me to recommend seeing it for yourself. And speaking of imperfect fathers…
7. Yondu Udonta (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1/2)
One might think it’s a stretch, but no. Yondu very much is an adoptive father to Peter Quill/Star-Lord, and a terribly flawed one at that. In fact, most of the appeal of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies is seeing the evolution of a makeshift family firsthand. Don’t let the science-fiction setting detract from the drama, because Yondu’s increased understanding of his relationship with Peter is very much reminiscent of more prickly parental dynamics in real-life. So, how does the borderline abusive space pirate make this list? By proving himself at the very end of the second film, in which he finally admits that he views the Guardians’ leader as his son and acts on that sentiment in the most meaningful way possible. Lineage be damned, Yondu really is Peter’s “daddy”.
6. Henry Jones Sr. (Indiana Jones)
Redemption and overcoming parental flaws seems to be a pattern with this list, but the first Dr. Jones is a much more lighthearted example of this. In spite of a brief disappearance, the father of “Indiana” Jones would later reveal himself to be a resourceful partner and loving father to his son in his older age, and Sean Connery’s performance is a ceaselessly entertaining one to watch, especially with fictional father and son on screen together. If this were a list of the most entertaining dads, Papa Jones would probably land higher, but alas, there’s much more where he came from. Speaking of which…
5. Every Steve Martin Dad (Father of the Bride, Parenthood, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, etc.)
I’m aware that it borders on cheating, but I just couldn’t chose between all of them. Regardless of the film in question, Steve Martin is just perfect when it comes to his ability to portray fathers in movies. It’s difficult to nail down, but the key to Martin’s success is a welcome and accurate balance between exhaustion, tenderness, and occasional clumsiness that perfectly encapsulate the trials and joys of parenthood. Numerous as the examples are, none are better for illustrating my point than his performances in Father of the Bride, Parenthood, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, all of which are sure to make you laugh and cry in equal measure, thanks in no small part to Steve Martin’s mastery of parental nuance.
4. Man (The Road)
Of all the movies mentioned on this list, The Road is undeniably the hardest to watch. Bleak and draining as this story of post-apocalyptic survival is, however, there’s no denying the true strength of the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s classic: Viggo Mortenson’s turn as the nameless father. Uncompromising as he is in trying to keep himself and his son alive, the dedication to his son is so palpable that the most questionable of his decisions could be forgotten. Though the tone of the movie is consistent to a fault in this regard, it probably won’t stop audiences from drowning in their tears seeing how father and son’s travels play out until the end.
3. Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars)
The reveal of this Star Wars villain’s ultimate identity is a surprise to few at this point, but what struck me as truly fascinating in hindsight is how Anakin’s (pre-prequel) depth of character often goes unexamined. As relentless as the Empire’s most terrifying leader is with the conquest of Rebel systems, he makes every effort imaginable to spare and convert his son Luke in spite of his son’s determination to end the Dark Side of the Force. Given this, it’s only perfect that Return of the Jedi ended the way it did, with father and son fighting with all their mights to reason with one another. Despicable? Maybe. But never let it be said that Darth Vader didn’t prove himself as a father in the end.
2. Marlin (Finding Nemo/Finding Dory)
Oh, how I debated internally about Marlin taking the number one spot. After all, Finding Nemo is arguably one of the most famous animated films with a message directed at parents, rather than the typical audience for mainstream cartoon movies. That message in mind, Marlin’s development as a father and his eventual acknowledgement of his own trauma-born neuroses is a joy to behold as he meets more and more colorful and insightful characters in his search across the seas for his son. This spot-on replication of an overprotective father’s meditation on his mistakes and relationship with his son might have certainly made it to the top, had it not been for…
1. Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Was there any doubt? Print and film alike have depicted the dedication and love that Atticus Finch has for his children in spite of the troubling climate of the era in which To Kill a Mockingbird was written. Say what you will about the actual conviction behind his defense of an unfairly accused black man, and the coldness that he demonstrates with the people that surround him. Both are true, and Mr. Finch is far from the nicest guy, but this list is about neither of those. Rather, it’s all about these characters’ strengths as fathers, and memorable as everyone else on this list is, you can’t get much better than the tender-hearted, protective man in the shell of an unfeeling lawyer. For imparting what lessons he does to Scout throughout the story, and for Gregory Peck’s spot-on performance, the number one spot goes to Atticus Finch.
Rich Reviews 