Usually, film families are written to be fairly dysfunctional. Sometimes it’s for comic effect, and others for pure drama. However some movie families buck this trend by being as wholesome as possible.
When one such family unit comes along, it’s hard not to feel an odd sense of belonging. These families seem warm and inviting, and all we want is to count ourselves among them. It’s not a comment on our real families – they’re okay, we guess – but something about these particular clans makes us want to change our name and hop into their lives.
As much as this list would be a therapist’s dream, don’t read too much into it. We’re not actually saying we want to be part of these movie families, we’re just saying that they’re super wholesome. And, to be honest, who wouldn’t want to trade their mundane existence for a movie family? Surely it’s not just us.
7. The Griswold Family – National Lampoon’s Vacation Series
You know who’s great? The Griswolds. Granted, their children change faces every couple of years, but they’re always trying to have shared family experiences and make beautiful memories together. Okay, so it doesn’t always pan out – we certainly can’t blame them for trying, though.
The Vacation franchise spans five movies and follows two generations of Griswolds, and the most consistent idea is that they just want to have fun together. Sometimes the dog might die or the cat might get electrocuted, but nothing like that is going to get in the way of the Griswolds’ good time. It’s a testament to their dedication to family, when you really think about it.
They might be one of the most dysfunctional families on this list, but they’re still incredibly sweet. All Clark Griswold wants is to give his family the best memories possible, and that’s certainly commendable. What’s more, he seems to have instilled the same trait in his son, who tries to do the same thing (with essentially the same results). Though the Griswolds aren’t perfect, they get a 10/10 for effort.