Separated at Birth Cinema is an every-other-Friday feature
here on Shrink Blog that pairs two similar movies for a compelling double
feature. I write these blogs with my buddy, J2, but he’s on paternity leave this weekend as he welcomes his first child into
the world (Hooray for Dusti, Josh, and Everest!). To mark this special
occasion, and to forewarn J2 what he’s in for (I’ve got three sons
of my own), here is a fatherhood-inspired double feature.
Three Men and
a Baby (1987) was directed by Leonard Nimoy and was about three Peter Pans
who find a baby at the door of their swank NYC apartment one day. Peter
(Tom Selleck) and Michael (Steve Guttenberg) take the lead in caring for the
little girl because the father, Jack (Ted Danson) is filming on location and
out of contact (no cell phones back in the 80’s). Hijinks ensue.
Peter is hapless trying to buy baby food at a local grocery store.
Michael swaths their pool table in baby powder. And all three (once Jack
returns) learn to put baby to sleep by singing R & B tunes in 3-part
harmony.
Mr. Mom
(1983) was directed by Stan Dragoti and starred Michael Keaton as Jack, a
hot-shot auto company executive in Detroit. When he gets laid off his
wife, Caroline (Teri Garr), returns to the workforce leaving Jack to care for
their young children. Hijinks ensue. Jack has to duel with the
family’s ferocious vacuum cleaner, “Jaws.” And he almost has to call in a
hazmat team after feeding their baby some chili.
All four of these movie dads overcome early obstacles and
ultimately get their game on. I’m certain J2 will have
everything under control from the get go.
