Entertainment

Kyle Chandler, Liam Neeson, and Other Movie/TV Dads I Have Complicated Feelings for

If I see 'World War Z' next week, it'll be for one reason and one reason alone: Brad Pitt. Watching Pitt play a loving, protective dad gives me complicated, therapy-ready feelings. I find him incredibly attractive, but I also want him as my father. These feelings are confusing, and they make me uncomfortable. Read on for more movie/TV dads that give me emotions I'd rather not explain. [Image: Plan B/Skydance]

by Rachel Simon

Movie/TV Dads That Give Me Feelings

If I see 'World War Z' next week, it'll be for one reason and one reason alone: Brad Pitt. Watching Pitt play a loving, protective dad gives me complicated, therapy-ready feelings. I find him incredibly attractive, but I also want him as my father. These feelings are confusing, and they make me uncomfortable. Read on for more movie/TV dads that give me emotions I'd rather not explain. [Image: Plan B/Skydance]

Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights)

Oh, man. I could talk for days about my love for Eric Taylor, the best/sexiest husband/father/football coach/human being in TV history. He is PERFECT. He's a great husband to his wife, Tami, a loving father to both obnoxious Julie and large forehead-ed Gracie Bell, and a role model to the boys of the Dillon Panthers/East Dillon Lions. Every episode of 'Friday Night Lights' makes me feel deeply uncomfortable, because I both want Eric to be my father/marry me. [Image: NBC]

Rupert Giles (Anthony Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Rupert Giles isn't technically Buffy's father, but he's the closest to one she's ever had. As her watcher, he teaches her everything she needs to know about being a slayer, while also imparting life lessons like "be loyal to your friends" and "don't have sex with vampires." He's smart, British, and attractive, and did I mention he can sing? Well, he can, and if you had platonic, fatherly feelings towards Giles before, they won't be so simple for much longer. [Image: the WB]

Graham (Jude Law, The Holiday)

Some remember 2006's 'The Holiday' for the humor; others, for the Nancy Meyers' house porn. I remember it for Jude Law being hot dad to the cutest kids of all time. Law's character is a widower and doting father to two adorable little girls. He cares so much about them that he doesn't often date, because he's afraid to take time away from them. Enter Cameron Diaz, and suddenly, dating is a-okay. It's a tired role, but man, does Law make cliche look good. [Image: Columbia]

Liam Neeson (anything)

Liam Neeson is the best movie dad ever. Whether he's hunting down kidnappers to save his daughter in 'Taken' or re-enacting 'Titanic' to cheer up his heartbroken stepson in 'Love Actually,' Neeson is the film father to beat. The fact that he's 61 years old doesn't make my crush on him any less strong, just slightly more creepy. [Image: Universal]

Adam Braverman (Peter Krause, Parenthood)

Adam Braverman may not be the coolest dad on 'Parenthood' (that would be Dax Shepard's Crosby), but he's the best. As father to Haddie, Max, and Nora, he's tough but not mean, wise but not arrogant, and funny but not embarrassing... usually. On top of this, he's a loving husband to Kristina and a supportive brother to his three siblings. Adam makes mistakes, but he's a great dad, and a good looking one at that. I'd go to Funkytown with him anytime. [Image: NBC]

Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher, The O.C.)

As the father to Seth and a surrogate dad to Ryan, Sandy Cohen never meets a problem he can't solve. He's the best at giving advice, a dependable shoulder for support, and just generally nice to look at. [Image: Fox]

Jim Halpert (John Krasinski, The Office)

Jim Halpert may not be as conventionally attractive as the other dads on this list, but after watching nine seasons of him bending backwards for Pam, any doubts I had about my feelings for him evaporated. He's a loving father and husband, and any kid would be lucky to have someone as funny, smart, and good at pranks as him as their dad. [Image: NBC]

Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos, Full House)

To think these complicated feelings began when I was young enough to be watching 'Full House' regularly is more disturbing than I'd like to think about, so we'll just ignore that and talk about John Stamos. As uncle to DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle and then dad to twins Nicky and Alex, Jesse Katsopolis is caring, attentive, and fair. His perfect hair and rock-and-roll skills may be made fun of in the Tanner house, but if it were up to me, I'd be telling Jesse to "have mercy" every time he walks into the room. [Image: ABC]

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