As much as we love our own fathers, these film and TV dads are a close second. From a soap opera star to a burger-flipping cook, here are the Time Out KL team’s favourite film and TV dads. Happy Father’s Day!
Rogelio de la Vega from ‘Jane the Virgin’
Who wouldn't want international telenovela star, ladies' man, lavender-loving and big-hearted Rogelio de la Vega to be their father? He's loving (Rogelio puts Jane, his daughter, first in everything he does), he's witty (on casting his love interest: 'Emma Stone? I've heard she can play any race!') and he believes in leprechauns. Everything you'd want in a father, really! Melissa Mazlan
Mr Chu from ‘Eat Drink Man Woman’
Ang Lee’s Mr Chu in ‘Eat Drink Man Woman’ wins by virtue of a) how much the film’s family dinners, which play out with strained politeness at best, remind me of my own, b) how much I love ’90s fashion (the least important aspect of the film, but still); and also c) there’s a pseudo-intellect boyfriend character in there that quotes Dostoevsky. Ng Su Ann
Ramesh from ‘Master of None’
Fun fact: This really is Dev aka Aziz Ansari’s real-life father, Dr Shoukath Ansari. In ‘Master of None’, Ramesh is just like any other father; he cracks dad jokes, doesn’t understand how an iPad works and gets into comical exchanges with the lady of the house, just like my own parents. The episode ‘Parents’ lets you dive in on the sacrifices parents make so that their child can have a better life. If that doesn’t show you what real parent love is, then I don’t know what else will. Alison Khong
Bob Belcher from ‘Bob’s Burgers’
Bob is an ace dad. He’s cool but not ‘out there’ cool; he’s responsible but he pretends that he isn’t; and he still makes dad jokes. One of my favourite episodes is the ‘Hawk and Chick’ episode from season six, in which his relationship with his youngest (and most mischievous) daughter Louise is mirrored in the form of an old Japanese TV show that they both watched. Speaking of Louise, Bob really deserves a pat on the back for not disowning her yet, considering the amount of trouble she has gotten him into. Like who glues their dad to the toilet seat? Also, he makes great burgers. Nadia Rosli
Mufasa from 'The Lion King'
That scene where he plunged to his death in the valley of stampeding wildebeest to save Simba; the pinnacle of fatherly love in cinematic history. Joyce Koh
Homer Simpson from 'The Simpsons'
Though often considered a useless dad, Homer does have his moments. Remember the time he sold his ride on a blimp to get Lisa into a beauty pageant to improve her self-esteem? Or when he was trying to make up with Bart, ignoring conventional apologies and instead letting him hold the bomb (‘The man knows me’ says Bart in response; and okay yes not the best example of World’s Greatest Dad, but whatever)? And who could forget his spruced-up ‘demotivational plaque’ (that originally read ‘Don’t forget: You’re here forever’) with strategically placed pictures of Maggie, turning the demotivational plaque into a motivational one with the words ‘Do it for her’. See? He isn’t so bad after all. Chai Tze Yuen
Red Forman from ‘That '70s Show’
The ill-tempered father of the FOX period sitcom’s protagonist Eric Forman is a US war veteran who knows a thing or two about being a ‘real man’ – something that his only son apparently isn’t (Red once described Eric as being too ‘twitchy’). He may be feared by all (even the Point Place police are afraid of him), but Red’s no-nonsense, tough-as-nails personality has created some of the show’s best one-liners involving ‘dumbass’ and/or ‘my foot in your ass’. Plus, deep down inside Red can be a softie. Syarifah Syazana
Treat dad this Father's Day to these meals and food promotions in town.