The 5 Best Christmas Movie Fathers
One of the best parts of the holiday season has to be Christmas movies. There are hundreds of them and a few dozen classics among them. As a father of two, I’m always interested to see how popular films portray dads, so it makes sense to find the best papas in favorite Christmas flicks who can teach us all how to be better parents.
Let’s focus on five who would make Father Christmas proud.
5. Clark Griswold, The Do-Whatever-It-Takes Father
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is the third film in a series following the hilarious Griswolds. The family patriarch is the lovable goof Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), whose greatest desire is for his family to have the perfect Christmas. How many dads can relate to a guy with Christmas cheer who can’t catch a break in trying to make the season bright? Clark’s frustrations abound as he just tries to give his family a “good old-fashioned family Christmas.” Clark forgets the saw when finding the perfect Christmas tree, he can’t figure out how to get his million lights to light up (been there), he can’t make annoying in-laws happy (won’t say I’ve been there), and he buys a huge gift for his family and then doesn’t receive his Christmas bonus to pay for it. He struggles and fails, but he keeps on fighting for that wonderful family Christmas.
Time rightfully put Clark in their top ten list of perfect movie dads. They praised him as the ultimate example of “determination.” He was always willing to go the extra mile to provide experiences his family would never forget.
Clark makes our list for doing whatever it takes to bring joy and special memories to his family for Christmas. Yes, he fails and sometimes fails miserably, but his heart is in the right place. While many men may ignore Christmas or leave it to others in the family, Clark takes the lead to bring his family the joys of the holiday. I can relate to that and so can countless other fathers. We are kids at heart and want our families to experience the wonders of the holiday season.
What a great list! It’s always good to see pictures of good fathering in entertainment. Merry Christmas!
A list like this must include John Walton from The Homecoming (the christmas movie that introduced the Walton tv series)
Thanks for sharing this list of examples of great fathers—(I liked that you included the adoptive father, Joseph as an example, although not on film). We all need to be reminded how important fathers are to children as they grow up. Thanks for the insight.
Really? The father from A Christmas Story is not there (played perfectly by Darren McGavin)? I know Jimmy Stewart gets a rave, but he was planning on committing suicide. He doesn’t get a pass because an angel saves him from the ultimate selfish act.
+1 for the ‘old man’
2+ for the ‘Old Man.’
And the funniest – anybody that would buy their 10 year old son a Red Rider BB gun gets top dibs in my book.
+3 for the “Old Man” who worked in profanity like other artists worked in oils or clay.
“Now, I had heard that word at least ten times a day from my old man. He worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium; a master. But, I chickened out and said the first name that came to mind.”
Cheers -
I agree with Cliff. I think it’s borderline insulting to forget about Mr. Parker. While Christmas Vacation is funny, it is mostly fascicle, compared to A Christmas Story which is funny but genuine.
You missed The Three Godfathers, the Western allegory referring to the Three Wise Men of the Bible. The John Ford 1948 film starred John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz, and Harry Carey as three men who find a live baby among a massacred family. The men, outlaws, sacrifice their lives to save the baby by bringing it to civilization. Best line in the movie, spoken by the dying character played by Mr. Armendariz:
“Hey, Bob… I just remembered what tomorrow is. Feliz Navidad.”
And Feliz Navidad to readers of PJMedia.com.
+1,000 for The Old Man.
Even now, Mr. Cooper, he is cursing you, working “in profanity the way other artists work in oil or clay.” Clearly, you are a Baptist or a Catholic and not an Oldsmobile man.
Clark Griswold? Good Lord, it’s not even a Christmas movie, it’s the Christmas-setting version of a tired franchise.
That cracked me up Jake! And yes, I am a Baptist:) A Christmas Story is my second favorite Christmas movie, and the dad is super awesome at the end.
The Old Man is a classic. From the excitement in following Ralphie loading the BBs to the ultimate frustration at the Bumpes’ hounds, yet not letting it ruin his family’s day.
I was happy to see Clark there, as I always smile at the end, his entire family singing, dancing and making merriment, and hending with a satisfied smile and…”I did it.”
John McLane, the protective father!
Best Christmas movie? White Christmas. It’s perfect fluff. It’s a musical about doing a musical, where the guy gets the girl and the forgotten retired general gets recognition. Heck even the gay guy gets the girl in White Christmas.
He wove a taspesty of obscenity that’s still hnging out over lake Michigan…
I still like Christmas Vacation the best. It didn’t have much of a point, but it was the funniest Christmas movie ever. Anyone who has had to deal with fighting relatives and holiday hassles can relate to it. Clark Griswold is the classic well-intentioned and idealistic, too idealistic father.
Also, Jingle All the Way is a good Christmas movie, although it had a father who was more of a bad example than a good one. Arnold Schwarzenegger neglected his son all year, then tried really hard to make up for it on Christmas Eve. Sometimes too hard.