"I liked it because you liked it"

My Dad and I went to the movies all the time. I've written about it before, but he's the reason I love movies -- all kinds of movies really.

Given that we're people, and enjoyment of things is subjective, we have our preferences when it comes to the movies we watch. I know my Dad was a big Western and James Bond guy.

Growing up, there were movies I wanted to see that I know he didn't. Horror movies and some early Chuck Norris (Dad was a Schwarzenegger guy). But he'd go with me anyway, because that's what dads do.

Coming out of those movies, I'd ask him what he thought. His response was usually "well, what did you think?" I would go on about all the things I enjoyed about the movie, and he'd answer "then I liked it because you liked it."

I never understood what he meant by that until today. My boy loves Angry Birds. He's played the game, has all the stuffies, and has watched the first film. Naturally, The Angry Birds Movie 2 was a priority watch for him.

So we went, and I'd rather of been anywhere else... until the movie start and my son laughed at the on-screen antics for the first time. The more he enjoyed the movie, the more my enjoyment of it grew. Soon I was laughing at all the parts he was, and was having a really good time.

On the way out, I asked him what he thought. He listed off the dozens of things he enjoyed about The Angry Birds Movie 2. Then he asked me if I liked it. I smiled, thought of my Dad, and replied "I liked it because you liked it."

And I'm better for it.