Mel Gibson
As an Expendable: Conrad Stonebanks – the former co-founder of the Expendables, now a vicious adversary
As a movie dad: Tom Mullen – in the dramatic thriller Ransom, Gibson plays a self-made millionaire whose son is kidnapped by Lt. Dan and one of the New Kids on the Block.
What we learned: Stand your ground
An estimated 2,300 kids go missing every day in the United States. But few have dads with the balls to tell the kidnappers to piss off – believing they wouldn’t honor their promise to return his son – and forget their ransom money. In the end, Gibson’s strategy worked – despite his many critics and detractors – and his son was returned without a dime spent. His tactic certainly speaks to following one’s gut, but also provides the groundwork for one hell of an awkward post-teen conversation. “So, Dad…like, you weren’t going to pay that ransom…?”
