RebelDad

Evolution of Dad: A Review

Posted on 19. May, 2010 by Brian Reid in at-home dads, gender wars, playgroups, research, television

So now that the kick-ass documentary Evolution of Dad officially shipping, I would like to tell you all, officially, to see the movie. In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that I was massive predisposed to like the films, since it delves deep into a topic near to my heart: the impact that active fathers play in the family. When I say it like that (“the role active fathers play in the family”), it seems utterly pedestrian. Yet the role of dad is really under-developed in pop culture and academia. To make a film on this topic really is radical.

As for the review: it’s one heck of a piece of work. Filmmaker Dana Glazer talks to absolutely everyone. Kyle Pruett, granddaddy of the study-dads movement? Check. Jeremy Adam Smith, eloquent defender of caretaking dads? Check. Joan Williams, the law’s best work-life defender? Check. And on and on.

The result is a hugely comprehensive look at modern fatherhood, touching on everything. It hits the history of dads (noting the idea that dads should be distant breadwinners is a recent social construction, not a biological imperative). It nails some of the key stats on why involved dads matter. It profiles Maryland state trooper Kevin Knussman, who sued (and won) after he was fired for putting family first. It follows NYC superdad Dallas Hayes around. Dana talks to working dads. He talks to college kids. Every angle gets covered.

But if you don’t need every angle covered, buy it for two things: the first is the opening montage of still photos and voiceovers, illustrating the range of different ways that fathers have touched the lives of their children. Powerful stuff.

The second reason to see the film is the moment that Dana busts an NYC Mommy and Me class (on film) for keeping him out for being a dad. I’ve said many times that I don’t think that daddy discrimination is as bad as some people make it out to be. Moms, in general, are not an insular clique looking to exclude men. But — even saying that — there are still places where dads are made to feel unwelcome, and anything that can be done to make those places seem petty and silly is a great victory for gender-neutral parenting. So that was a nice surprise.

If the film falls short anywhere, it’s that it tries to cover too much ground. You could take almost any topic that appears in EvoDad — divorced dads, non-dad father figures, the scientific literature — and blow that out into its own compelling feature. My hope, of course, is that other filmmaking (and writing) dads will realize that, and Dana’s work will spur even more guys (and women) to pay that kind of attention to dads.

As Dana’s film makes clear, we’ve come a long way. But there may even be more evolving to do. I look forward to the sequel.