What are you doing to keep busy during this unprecedented time where many of us are home?
I’ve been reading, relaxing, watching TV, and movies. And crying. Let’s be honest. My son is a high school senior and his musical that he was starring in (Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid) is done before it ever started. As I type this, he should be getting reading for call time and opening night. Instead, he’s in his room playing another video game, feeling completely robbed of his last high school musical and worried if he’ll have an actual graduation ceremony.
Nobody will argue that these are difficult and uncertain times. We need mental breaks from reality and the news. I just added Starz to our Prime Video. (This is not a sponsored post. I just found a bargain and I love a bargain). I discovered that Starz is $5 a month right now so it was worth getting to add to my repertoire of movie options. I want to focus on watching feel-good movies right now, that will whisk us away mentally and give us a much-needed break. Here are some of my favorites I’ve seen and some on my list to watch:
Sweet Home Alabama: Besides that the main character is named Melanie, I love the funny, light humor in this story. It has a great cast with Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, and Patrick Dempsey, that meshes well. It’s an overall sweet, cute love story with some sass. My favorite kind.
Fried Green Tomatoes: This is an old favorite. My Grandma even owned a copy. On VHS. In 2000. It’s a timeless adventure with a riveting story that will never lose your attention. I love Kathy Bates’ character. “Towanda!” If you don’t know what I’m talking about it, watch it. You’re welcome.
Dirty Dancing: This came out when I was a high school senior. We girls wanted to be Baby, jumping into Johnny’s (Patrick Swayze) arms, dancing our little legs off in the swinging skirt for all to see. It’s set in the 1960s and I really can watch it over and over. It’s a good story, star-studded cast, and the dancing. And Patrick Swayze. (Did I mention him already?)
My Wedding Date: Yes, I know the premise; Kat hires Nick, a male escort, to pretend to be her boyfriend. It’s not about that as much as it is about her, her family, and this fabulous dynamic between Kat and Nick, and the walls we put up and what happens when we let them fall. It’s sweet, cute, and I warn you that there’s a naked rear end at one point.
While You Were Sleeping: I love Sandra Bullock and she stars in this film along with Bill Pullman and Peter Gallagher. Lucy (Bullock) is a hopelessly single token taker at the subway who moons over Peter (Gallagher), the sophisticated businessmen who never notices her. When she saves his life from being hit by the train, he loses his memory. When everyone assumes Lucy is his fiance, she doesn’t correct them. It’s light, funny, and a bit of a tearjerker.
Two Weeks’ Notice: There’s a very obvious theme here that I’m a hopeful romantic. Also that I like Sandra Bullock. Sandra and Hugh Grant are hilarious in this as well as in denial over their feelings for each other. Fun, romantic, cute, and sassy.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s: This incredible classic is a must-see if you haven’t yet. Who doesn’t love Audrey Hepburn? She’s an enigma, petite in size, but huge in personality. As Holly Golightly, Audrey is a complex, sometimes sad character with incredible depth. This is a good one to see.
Romancing the Stone: When this first came out on VHS, we rented it for my birthday. I’m that old. First, of course, I love that Joan Wilder is an author–who writes about adventure but never lives one–until her sister is kidnapped in South America and she must go save her. Again, the flirty dynamic between Kathleen Turner (Joan) and Michael Douglas is both salty and sweet.
The Lake House: Oh, this movie. Yep, another Sandra Bullock gem. This time she is paired with another favorite: Keanu Reeves. Kate (Bullock) is a physician who rented a lake house and upon leaving, left a note in the mailbox for the future tenant who would be Alex (Reeves), an architect. I can’t really explain it. You have to see it. But it’s a love story that unfolds through letters placed back and forth in this mailbox that somehow cross time and space. And I LOVE it.
Pretty Woman: Again, yes, I know the premise. We all know what Vivian did for a living. I nearly have this film memorized. It came out in 1990 and I remember being in the theater with a good friend, and we sat through it twice that night. It has clever lines, it’s witty, romantic, and let’s face it, girls…don’t we all want to the fairy tale, just like Vivian did?
It’s pretty clear I love a great Rom-Com.
What would you add to this list?
Stay hopeful,
