Cartoonist Aaron McGruder has a good riff going this week at The Boondocks, with Granddad Freeman intent on seeing a “manly” movie. Here’s an example:

Grandad Freeman: I feel like seeing a movie! What’s out?

Huey: 50 Cent, “Harry Potter,” “Syriana” …

Grandad: Naw … I want to see a man’s movie. How ’bout this “Brokeback Mountain”? What’s that about?

Huey: Um …

Grandad (reading newspaper): Let’s see here … Oh, it’s about cowboys! Well, that sounds very manly! Let’s go!

Things go quickly downhill from there.

Do your slightly homophobic granddad a favor and take him to see the film adaptation of Annie Proulx’s short story “Brokeback Mountain” this weekend. It’s directed by Ang Lee, stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger as our gay cowboy heroes, and boasts an 80 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes so far. Granddad Freeman would approve.

P.S. I had a Granddad Freeman moment last week, when my dad spotted us watching the film Saving Face. “Oh, a Chinese movie!” he exclaimed, his immigrant interest piqued, just minutes before the racy lesbian love scene … (fortunately for all involved, he fell asleep).

Victor Tan Chen Victor Tan Chen is In The Fray's editor in chief and the author of Cut Loose: Jobless and Hopeless in an Unfair Economy. Site: victortanchen.com | Facebook | Twitter: @victortanchen