American Pie Dad claims ‘Most Embarrassing’ title
Eugene Levy from classic teen comedy American Pie has seen off tough competition from a host of farcical fathers to be named the Most Embarrassing On-Screen Dad.
To celebrate Fathers’ Day, LOVEFiLM, Europe’s largest subscription service streaming movies and TV episodes over the Internet and sending DVDs by post, asked over 1,200 film fans to identify the most cringe-worthy Dad in film. Screen veteran Eugene Levy Dad-danced his way into first place ahead of National Lampoon’s Chevy Chase and Springfield’s finest father figure, Homer Simpson.
Commandeering a whopping 40 per cent of the votes, Levy’s performance as Jim’s Dad (also known as Mr. Levenstein) will go down in history as one of the most embarrassing of all time and stands testament to the fact that father-son openness is not always a good thing – especially not when there is apple pie involved.
In second place is Chevy Chases’ famed National Lampoon protagonist, Clark Griswold (20 per cent). The usually laid back and mild mannered head of the Griswold family in National Lampoon’s Vacation secured the runner-up medal for his insane outbursts when pushed over the edge by his unappreciative family.
Next up is the incompetent yet lovable yellow patriarch Homer Simpson (13 per cent); whose antics with his beloved pet ‘Spider Pig’ in The Simpsons Movie earned him a place in the top three.
Hot on his heels is Robin Williams’ cross-dressing nanny Mrs. Doubtfire (eight per cent) who places fourth. With a whole host of embarrassing moments in her portfolio, perhaps it was the babysitter’s flaming bosom due to a too-close-for-comfort encounter with a gas cooker which edged her ahead of the competition.
Robert De Niro’s human lie detector and ex-CIA agent Jack Barnes of Meet the Parents fame claims the final place in the top five with seven per cent of the votes.
In sixth place is Honey I Shrunk the Kids’ nutty scientist Rick Moranis (four per cent) whose experiments saw him shrink not only his two children, but also the two kids next door.
Steve Martin’s attempt to tackle estranged relatives, eccentrics and rebellious teens in Parenthood (three per cent) earns him joint seventh place with Jim Carrey and his inability to lie in Liar Liar (three per cent).
Completing the top ten is Eddie Murphy in Daddy Day Care and Shrek in Shrek Forever After, both of whom secured one per cent of the votes stranding them in joint ninth place.
The top ten most embarrassing on-screen dads are:
1. Eugene Levy – American Pie (40 per cent)
2. Chevy Chase – National Lampoon’s Vacation (20 per cent)
3. Homer Simpson – The Simpsons Movie (13 per cent)
4. Robin Williams – Mrs. Doubtfire (eight per cent)
5. Robert De Niro – Meet the Parents (seven per cent)
6. Rick Moranis – Honey I Shrunk the Kids (four per cent)
7. Steve Martin – Parenthood (three per cent)
=7. Jim Carrey – Liar Liar (three per cent)
9. Eddie Murphy – Daddy Day Care (one per cent)
=9. Shrek – Shrek Forever After (one per cent)
Helen Cowley, Editor of LOVEFiLM, commented:
“On the day we show our appreciation to the father-figures in our lives it seemed only fitting that we remember those hilarious and often cringe-worthy Dads in film who make us laugh at the expense and embarrassment of their kids.
“LOVEFiLM lets film fans enjoy their favourite embarrassing Dad moments with over 70,000 DVD titles and the daddy of all instant Watch Online services.”
