In a movie with everyone being a progressive shirt-lifter it only took one man to show that there's nothing wrong with being a traditional alpha male and in fact he kept the group together and stronger without needing thanks or love.
I hope the children that see this film use him as a means of aspiration in their lives.
Was a nice way for him to rehabilitate his image...
It's interesting that his only "flaw" in the movie was his inability to express his love for his son...
It seems odd, when all of the other characters have bigger flaws... Pehaps the filmmakers assumed we'd find his woman chasing a character flaw... the guy is single... chase away!
But yes, it was refreshing to see a positive representation of masculinity... old school "man up" advice!
Agreed!
Gibson was awesome, as he always is. I was glad to see him cast in this film. It wouldn't surprise me if Wahlberg had something to do with that; he seems like the kind of guy who'd want to work with Mel.
I saw some people critizing the producers for hiring Mel, as if he should forevermore be banished from Hollywood and unable to work again. Fuck those people.
I also imagined that Wahlberg who has had a difficult past wanted Mel for the role and honestly he was the highlight in the film. Plus Mel's still pretty hot too.
shareI agree that a single man trying to meet women isn't wrong/bad but where I'd draw the line on where he does go bad is that there is a time and place for things. When you are spending time with family and bonding after not seeing his son for a long time....that isn't the time to bail on your son and family to go chase a woman for casual sex. When you are at your child's function you don't leave your son's play/recital/concert/whatever to go chase a woman.
He was abandoning his family and his son to chase the women, he wasn't doing it on his own time.
Also, his advice to his grandson was to kiss without consent and to slap her on the ass. Genius advice, grandpa, on how break laws.
I had trouble believing him as a former astronaut. They go through rigorous psychological tests that Mel's character would never pass (he takes particular vindictive glee seeing others suffer more). But since the movie was so silly, you just let the astronaut backstory go.