The text “Lad flicks: Discursive reconstructions of masculinity in popular film” by Professor Rosalind Gill employs a thorough analysis of the “lad flick” film genre which can be perceived as a an integration of buddy movies, romantic comedies, and chick flicks that focus on the misfortunes and trials of young men as they come to age and make their way in the world. These texts often have masculinity itself as a central object, focusing on the “interpersonal difficulties facing contemporary masculinity.” Additionally, lad flick texts also rely on humor in order to convey the “juvenile nature of culturally identifiable masculine values and ideals”, hence they often take form in a comedic film or television series.
The ABC family comedy Baby Daddy clearly depicts the fundamental characteristics of a classic lad flick beginning in its pilot episode. The series follows bachelor Ben Wheeler who works as a bartender in a local pub and lives with his best friend Tucker and older brother Danny. Ben is a player who enjoys flirting with the women who come into his bar and passing time doing typical masculine activities, such as drinking and watching sports, with his roommates. His life gets turned upside down however when a baby girl gets dropped off at his doorstep with nothing but a note. It turns out that this surprise delivery is his daughter Emma. Emma’s mother, one of Ben’s countless one-night stands, said that she was no longer able to care for her and she was Ben’s responsibility now.
Throughout the series, Ben must rise up and overcome his immaturity to become a better man and father to his daughter. Ben’s character is a prime example of the classic “lad” male lead as he is a “young white heterosexual male who finds himself in a situation where he is reluctantly compelled to examine his present lifestyle.” Clearly, Ben’s days of womanizing and late nights at the bar will not align with his new fatherly responsibilities. The female characters in the series, his childhood friend Riley and his mother, encourage Ben to become more mature and responsible in order to be a good father, hence exemplifying the article’s claim that female characters are often the ones to demand a change in lifestyle or behavior. Although Ben strives to do this, he often faces temptation, which results in comical scenario that demonstrates his incompetence. Ben’s guy friends often tempt him to fall back into his old habits and despite making many humorous mistakes along the way, Ben eventually does rise up to take care of his daughter who he realizes is his life’s greatest gift and priority.
Resources:
“ABC Family- ‘Baby Daddy’- Series Promo Season 1”. Online video clip. Youtube. 27, April, 2012. Web. 9 March, 2016
Hansen-Miller, D & Gill, R. (2011) “Lad flicks”: Discursive Reconstructions of masculinity in film” in Radner, H. & Stringer, R. (eds.) Feminism at the Movies. New York: Routledge
GWSS 3307 Feminist Film Studies 