Dusty’s father, a macho, old-school astronaut who views Brad’s sensitive parenting style with utter contempt.

Brad’s father, who is just as overly affectionate and "airy-fairy" as his son.

The sequel, , takes the "unequal" theme even further by introducing the grandfathers. This adds a generational layer to the conflict:

It pokes fun at the extremes of masculinity. Brad is often mocked for his sensitivity, while Dusty’s hyper-masculinity is shown to be a barrier to genuine emotional connection.