To say that shit’s gone sideways this week is a bit of an understatement. We could all use a little extra support right now. So I decided to give this post extra love with 10 things instead of just 5. Because here’s the deal, while toilet paper and Clorox wipes may assuage our fears, they’re not going to do much for the part of our brain that just needs to check the fuck out.
In honor of corona virus, self-quarantining and perhaps, worst of all, being stuck at home with your family this weekend and beyond, here are my top 10 “feel good“ movies. Watch. Escape. Repeat.
10. The Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live (1998): Watched almost daily by me and my college roommates, you’ll laugh until you cry. Just let it out.
9. The Princess Bride: Obvi. Also, anybody want a peanut?
8. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: I quite literally cannot count how many times I’ve seen this flick, as we used to call them in the 80’s. I can recite pretty much the entire movie verbatim, and I usually can’t help myself from doing so every time I watch it. People love that. (Also see: literally any movie by John Hughes.)
7. A League of Their Own: I know, I know. Sometimes I even get mad at myself for loving this movie, but I can’t help it. My adoration might have something to do with the fact that when my parents finally caved and purchased cable circa 1992, it was pretty much running on an HBO loop...and I had a very slim social life. Also, it has Tom Hanks. (Pour one out for our corona infected homie.) Someone recently referred to him as America’s Dad and it’s one of the most accurate AF thing I’ve heard in a while.
6. 28 Days Later: No, not really. Just making sure you’re still paying attention. Please don’t let the children watch this.
5. Mean Girls: Stop trying to make “fetch” happen and just watch this movie, written by one of my personal heroes, Tina Fey. (Also see: Baby Mama.)
4. Clueless: Pure 90’s perfection. It takes you back to a simpler time, when computers were the only ones getting deadly viruses and your driver’s test was the biggest stressor in your life. As if.
3. Animal House: An undeniable comedy classic. “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to get through life, son.” Unless your country is experiencing a corona virus pandemic. Then I think it most certainly is the BEST way to get through life.
2. Edward Scissorhands: A love story for the ages. Enjoy the splendor that is Johnny Depp post 21 Jump Street but pre pirates and domestic abuse accusations. Also Vincent Price.
1. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: While the main character’s story may be little somber, the A-list cast (Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Shirley MacLaine, Kathryn Hahn, to name a few) add their trademark wit and just the right amount of levity to basically cancel all the gray out. Plus, the movie’s very charming combo of cinematography and music alone will take you to a happy place, unless you’re already dead inside.
1b. (to make up for the stupid 28 Days Later joke) Almost Famous: Hands down my #1 “feel good” movie of all time. An “up and coming” story, 70’s rock, a solid cast (including a male lead who is very easy on the eyes) a cameo by Jimmy Fallon, in which he does an adorkable impersonation of Mick Jagger, and Tiny Dancer. What more could you possibly ask for?
Happy viewing, friends. Stay safe out there and remember, no touching.
Honorable Movie Mentions:
The Outsiders. Grease. Can’t Buy Me Love. Big. Groundhog’s Day. Bridesmaids. Wedding Crashers. Moana. School of Rock. Rushmore (also see: any movie by Wes Anderson). High Fidelity. Grosse Pointe Blank (also see: any movie with John Cusack). Ocean’s 11. Good Will Hunting. Pitch Perfect. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (with Gene Wilder). Young Frankenstein (speaking of Gene Wilder). Stand by Me. Back to the Future. Wreck It Ralph. When Harry Met Sally. Sleepless in Seattle. Field of Dreams. Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Tootsie. Steel Magnolias. Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Beetlejuice. Adventures in Babysitting. National Lampoon's Vacation. Dirty Dancing. I could literally keep going on and on and on and on.
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