Question of the Week: Mack Daddy

Sunday, June 17, is Father’s Day, begging the Question of the Week: Who is your favorite fictional father character from movies, TV, etc.?

For many people, the standard answer is Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and while he’s an unquestionably great character and performance, he sets such a high standard that I have trouble seeing him as a practical role model for my fathering strategies. I’m not likely to gun down a rabid dog in the street any time soon, for instance.Instead, my favorite screen dads tend to have relaxed relationships with their kids, such as Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) on the sitcom “Arrested Development” or the accessible, good-humored father in the Japanese animated film My Neighbor Totoro. The first dad who comes to mind, oddly enough, isn’t even a human being, but Crush the sea turtle from Finding Nemo. Despite the surfer patois, Crush proves to be a mellow but attentive parent, giving his offspring “Squirt” the chance to excel on his own, then providing enthusiastic praise. I totally want to be a dad like that.