Keep Calm and Father On

Is there any doubt that June is one of the best months of the year? Summer is at its peak with longer days and warmer temperatures. Great movies are working their magic in every movie theatre. And we take a special time out to celebrate the most important men in our lives—fathers.

My favorite way to celebrate summer is to bring all of these things together to make one bodacious bash by hosting a Father’s Day barbecue with a special movie showing. I try to choose a movie that recognizes all of the fathers for the important role they play in our lives. Here are some great options:

BEST FATHER-DAUGHTER MOVIES

1. Father of the Bride
   Keep it classic with the Spencer Tracy version from 1950 or go with a more updated version starring Steve Martin (1991). Both are classic films about a man struggling to come to terms with the fact that his baby girl is all grown up.
2. Fly Away Home
   What happens when a thirteen-year-old girl moves from New Zealand to Canada to live with her father? They embark on a complex path of finding a way to connect that leaves them flying by the seat of their pants.

BEST FATHER-SON MOVIES

1. Finding Nemo
   Especially appropriate for younger viewers, this animated film follows Marlin as he travels far and wide to find and protect his son Nemo.
2. Big Fish
   With his father dying in the hospital, Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) attempts to determine where his father’s stories leave the realm of fact and enter the realm of fiction. In the interim, he begins to understand his father on a deeper level.

BEST DAD DRAMAS

1. To Kill a Mockingbird
   This classic film stars Gregory Peck who sets a great example for his daughter by demonstrating the importance of being just and treating people fairly.

BEST DAD COMEDIES

1. Mrs. Doubtfire
   After separating from his wife, Daniel (Robin Williams) is determined to remain a part of his children’s lives, so he dresses up as a woman to take the job as their nanny after school.
2. Mr. Mom
   Michael Keaton stars as a father who becomes a stay-at-home dad after losing his job.

For a real outdoor film festival feel, setup a projector to play on the side of your house or a white sheet. Then everyone can grab a blanket and experience the movie together. Don’t forget the popcorn!