Searching For Atticus

The first instalment in the series of stories featuring Gru and his Minions is a silly, rollicking ride. Steve Carell, Russell Brand, Jason Segal and Julie Andrews lend their voices to the tale of a super-villain whose heart is touched by three orphan sisters he adopts as part of a plot to steal the moon.
Kofi, Blake & Rich laugh plenty in chatting about this movie. We discuss about how our own children have affected our personalities, our ambitions and our careers. We debate whether Gru's mother's putdowns can be interpreted as some form of effective "villain-raising." And we consider whether the characters surround Gru - Dr. Nefario, the Minions and the sisters themselves - actually represent the various tensions any new father is caught between.

As mentioned in the podcast, here are a few resources on adoption:

https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/canada/ (Canada)

https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/ (United States)

Dave Thomas, as in Wendy's Restaurants.  He was adopted as a child, so he kind of believes in it. 4 out of 4 stars on charitynavigator.org

You can also consult:

https://www.canadaadopts.com/adopting-in-canada/adopting-canada-faqs/ (Canada)

https://adoptuskids.org/ (United States)

An article in Maclean's about the foster system:

https://www.macleans.ca/society/life-after-foster-care-in-canada/

And finally, a list of resources from the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada:
https://cafdn.org/how-to-help/be-an-ally/

Clips in this podcast are ©Universal Pictures.

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Blake, Kofi & Rich take a look at one of the most popular British films in history.
Directed by Stephen Daldry, "Billy Elliott" follows an 11 year-old boy (Jamie Bell) from a working-class family who discovers a talent and passion for ballet while his father (Gary Lewis) and older brother (Jamie Draven) struggle through the historic 1984-85 UK miners strike. Under the direction of a local dance teacher (Julie Walters), Billy's talent develops to the point where he earns an audition with the National Ballet School.
As a young dancer, dance grad and one-time professional, Blake identifies with much of what Billy goes through. Blake shares his own stories of scorn and misunderstanding related to gender conformity. 
We also look at the profound love and grief experienced by Billy's dad Jackie - and consider the importance (and challenge) of seeing your children for who they really are. 

#fatherhood #billyelliottmovie #parenthood #raisingyoungmen #raisingstrongchildren #movies #growingup

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Kofi, Blake & Rich dive into the New Zealand bush for director/writer Taika Waititi's coming-of-age film about a nationwide manhunt for a boy (Julian Dennison) and his foster father (Sam Neill). 
"Wilderpeople" is a cheeky film that plays with the perspective of young Ricky and his relationship with old Hec - two people who are emotionally broken and stumbling towards healing with each other. 
Ricky's foster mother (Rima Te Wiata) inspires us to discuss how we find family and home outside of our bloodlines. A child welfare worker (Rachel House) provokes conversation about how the foster care and penal systems can intersect. And a ridiculous eulogy (from Waititi himself) has us spellbound with thoughts of a heavenly path lined with burger rings, Fanta and "the yummiest treats you can imagine."
Clips in this podcast are ©Defender Films/Piki Films

#fatherhood #motherhood #parenting #dadlife #parenthood #family #dad #love #father #fathersday #dadsofinstagram #kids #fatherandson #daddy #fathers #dads #familytime #parents #children #parentlife #friendship #marriage #fatherdaughter #fatherson #fatheranddaughter #parentingtips

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Viggo Mortensen in his Oscar-nominated turn as Ben Ross - a father raising his family in the American wilderness, hoping desperately that the isolation from society - and a greater connection to nature - will cure his wife's mental illness. When his wife passes away, the family travels to Arizona for her funeral. A clash of cultures ensues - raising challenging questions about how Ben has been raising his kids and what Western society values as well. 
Matt Ross wrote and directed this provocative film, which also stars George MacKay as the oldest of a remarkable cast of young actors who play Ben's children. 
For Blake, Kofi and Rich, Captain Fantastic raises a number of questions surrounding what we value in raising our own kids, the advice we hope to impart to them and what it means to educate them.
Clips in this podcast are ©Electric City Entertainment and ShivHans Pictures

#viggomortensen #captainfantasticmovie #mattross

#fatherhood #motherhood #parenting #dadlife #parenthood #family #dad #love #father #fathersday #dadsofinstagram #kids #fatherandson #daddy #fathers #dads #familytime #parents #children #parentlife #friendship #marriage #fatherdaughter #fatherson #fatheranddaughter #parentingtips

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Really that should read "Jaws!!!"  Blake, Kofi & Rich enthusiastically sink their teeth into Steven Spielberg's early masterwork,  based on the novel by Peter Benchley.

We talk about what makes the movie timeless and what separates it from so many thrillers.
It's far more than a scary movie, mostly because of the trio of heroes played by Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw. They're a motley crew - each displaying flaws or fears but also some admirable and familiar qualities.

We also make mention of the fact that Jaws essentially started the myth of sharks as bad actors. For a scientific and heartfelt counterpoint, consider watching Rob Stewart's documentary Sharkwater.
Watch on Vimeo

Clips in this podcast are ©Universal Pictures

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With Serena Williams announcing that she'll retire after this year's US Open, we thought it a good time to revisit our look at "King Richard." 
The movie features outstanding performances by Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton (as Venus and Serena Williams) and Aunjanue Ellis (as the girls mother, Oracene Price) - and Will Smith in his Oscar-winning turn as their ambitious father Richard Williams. 
(No matter what you think of "The Slap" Smith's performance is undeniably great.) 

Clips in this podcast are ©Warner Bros. Pictures

#fatherhood #motherhood #parenting #dadlife #parenthood #family #dad #love #father #fathersday #dadsofinstagram #kids #fatherandson #daddy #fathers #dads #familytime #parents #children #parentlife #friendship #marriage #fatherdaughter #fatherson #fatheranddaughter #parentingtips

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Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, Martin Mull and Ann Jillian star in 1983's "Mr. Mom." Keaton plays Jack Butler, a Detroit auto engineer who's laid off from his job at the height of a recession. When Jack's wife (Garr) takes a job at an ad agency, Jack takes over the homemaking duties. 
We're not gonna lie: this is the WORST movie we've discussed so far - in spite of the fact that it's first screenplay written by John Hughes!
While Rich and Kofi argue that the themes and tropes of the film are tired and outdated, Blake challenges that assumption with academic research suggesting we're not as far removed from the hardened gender roles of the 1980's as we might otherwise think.

#fatherhood #motherhood #parenting #dadlife #parenthood #family #dad #love #father #fathersday #dadsofinstagram #kids #fatherandson #daddy #fathers #dads #familytime #parents #children #parentlife #friendship #marriage #fatherdaughter #fatherson #fatheranddaughter #parentingtips

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Michael B. Jordan stars as a US Army soldier who writes a journal of advice for his infant son while stationed in Iraq during the American invasion of Iraq. At least that's what the official description of this film says. In fact, Chanté Adams stars in the real-life story of Dana Canedy, a New York Times journalist who falls for that same soldier, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King. The movie follows the both the romance between the couple and Dana's attempts to tell their son Jordan about their life together and the legacy of advice that King leaves for him.

Directed by Denzel Washington, with a screenplay by Virgil Williams, A Journal for Jordan provokes Blake, Kofi & Rich to discuss the value of a good man's patience, the challenges of balancing powerful responsibilities with the demands of a committed relationship and just how many pushups it would take to look as fit at Michael B. Jordan.

The film is based on A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Honor and Love by Dana Canedy

Kofi mentions two influential books:
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker, M.D.
The Power of Blessing by Kerry Kirkwood

Clips in this podcast are © Sony Pictures Entertainment

#fatherhood #parenthood #ajournalforjordan #michaelbjordan #raisingstrongchildren #love #relationships #romance #strongrelationships

#fatherhood #motherhood #parenting #dadlife #parenthood #family #dad #love #father #fathersday #dadsofinstagram #kids #fatherandson #daddy #fathers #dads #familytime #parents #children #parentlife #friendship #marriage #fatherdaughter #fatherson #fatheranddaughter #parentingtips

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Blake, Kofi & Rich follow up on our look at 1986's "Top Gun" with a look at the long-awaited - and remarkably well-executed sequel that has been dominating the 2022 box office. 

"Top Gun: Maverick" sees Tom Cruise reprise his role as the hot-shot fighter pilot - this time recruited to train a group of Top Gun graduates for an impossible strike mission on yet another nebulous but nefarious nation. 

Under the deft direction of Joseph Kosinski, we see a well-worn Maverick coming to terms with many of the things that he has missed in life - respect and advancement in his career; family and deep, abiding love. Miles Teller stars as Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son and spitting image of Mav's late partner Goose; Glen Powell plays Rooster's nemesis, call sign: Hangman; and Jennifer Connelly shines as Mav's last, best chance at true love, Penny Benjamin.

#topgun #topgunmaverick #tomcruise #milesteller #usnavy #rcaf #figtherjets #growingup #raisingyoungmen #fatherhood 
 

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With "Top Gun: Maverick" topping the box office, we're taking a look at the original - the movie that became a phenomenon.

Rich, Kofi & Blake discuss the appeal of Tom Cruise, the talents and flaws of his character Maverick, and the difference between rivals and adversaries. We also share some trivia about the film,  unpack the mystique of fighter pilots' code names and share a little relevant wisdom from Billy Joel.

Movie clips are ©Paramount Pictures

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#manhood #parenting #dadlife #parenthood #family #dad #love #father #fathersday  #fatherandson #daddy #fathers #dads #familytime #parents #children

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