Cinematic

For as much as I love/am semi-obsessed with pop culture, I surprisingly have a difficult time getting into movies.  There are many classics that I've never seen, though I could probably tell you the plot line and/or the stars of the movie.

I attribute a lot of this to the fact that anything too violent or scary was either banned by my parents or gave me too many nightmares to even think about.  As a side note, I had a LOT of nightmares as a kid so the thought of watching any kind of suspense or horror flick was almost laughably ridiculous.  I had nightmares about Freddy Krueger...which was even more terrifying because I was convinced I was therefore going to die in my sleep.

So as a result, I developed a love for comedies and love stories. Yes, your typical chick flicks and 80's comedies. Needless to say, John Hughes films were in heavy rotation for me and of course I wanted to dress like Molly Ringwald and date a Brat Pack-er (when I wasn't pining after Duran Duran, Ralph Macchio, or River Phoenix).

The "Brat Pack" in their St. Elmo's Fire heyday

In the 25-ish years since my discovery of the sweet yet hilarious genius of Hughes films, I've acquired a list of films - most that came out in the 90's or early 2000's - that I don't think got the recognition they deserved, even if they are movies that everyone knows. So here are some of my superlative movies that I feel, for one reason or another, did not and have not gotten the recognition that they deserve as "classics" in their own way.

Best sign of Disney's resurgence, pre-Pixar:  

The Little Mermaid

It can be argued that this, as every Disney movie, is a classic. But I had to include it on this list because in my mind this is the best. Disney. movie. EVER.

There is no other Disney movie that I sing along to more than The Little Mermaid.  Maybe it's because it came out when I was in high school and really into show tunes.  Maybe it's because the chaperone/crab sounded like the guy from the 7-Up commercials (look it up, kids).  I can't pinpoint the reason I loved it so.

All I know is that when I got my wisdom teeth out in college, the only thing I wanted to do was snuggle with my stuffed "Flounder" toy and watch The Little Mermaid over and over and over again.

Best flashback at a tragic comic genius - 90's version:

Tommy Boy

Farley. Spade. And the world-wide introduction of "fat guy in a little coat."

Before digital video recorders, my roommate LAF and I would pop this into the VCR at least once a week and watch it.  It got to the point that I could not only quote the entire movie, but I perfected the fast forward/stop timing to hit the (numerous) scenes that would bring me to tears with laughter.  There are too many hilarious moments in this movie for me to quote right now....but here are some of my favorites (besides the aforementioned "fat guy" comment):

"Did I hear a 'niner' in there? Are you on a walkie talkie?"
"Your head is a thick candy shell."
"Bees! They're everywhere! Save yourself!"
"Brothers don't shake hands. BROTHERS GOTTA HUG!"
"Shut up, Richard."

Best rom-com you've never heard of: A Lot Like Love

I do believe that this movie was the beginning of my obsession with Ashton Kutcher.  While I enjoyed him in That 70's Show, I frankly preferred the nerdy, awkward character of Eric (Topher Grace) to the dim, vain Kelso.

Hotties

So I never thought much of him until I saw him as the romantic lead in this movie.  He and Amanda Peete had really good chemistry, and you were never quite sure where the story was going to take you. Both characters were funny, believable, and if you're a sap like me, made your heart ache a little throughout the movie.  Rent it and see for yourself.

Here's one of my favorite moments. Bon Jovi? Ashton Kutcher? What's not to like?

Cheesiest Tearjerker not called "The Notebook":

A Walk to Remember

I remember hearing about this movie when it came out because it had Mandy Moore in it and I think this may have been one of her first "lead actress" roles, plus it was based on a very popular book (which I of course had not read).  Then I remember hearing how over-the-top cheesy it was and, as with any movie based on a book, how the book was "soooo much better."

So I didn't bother to try to watch it.  Until one day when I was out of town for work, in my hotel room alone after a long day.  I had just finished working and, knowing full well that I had to wake up at 4 AM the next day, I flipped to TBS or TNT and the movie had just started...at 11 PM.  I was of course riveted immediately, HAD to stay up to watch the end and sobbed my way to sleep shortly after 1 AM.

I don't know if it it was the lack of sleep and exhaustion, the storyline (which I didn't know much about before I watched it) or Mandy Moore. But I was not just tearing up...I was HEAVING SOBS and went through probably about half a box of tissues. Tearjerker, indeed.

The original "female-version-of-The Hangover":

The Sweetest Thing

Long before Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph were the Bridesmaid and bride, we had Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate and Selma Blair as a seriously hysterical trio of friends.  They were rude and crude but hilarious and believable.  Maybe the situations they got themselves into weren't so plausible, but can't you say the same about The Hangover [what's less believable...taking a road trip to crash a wedding and meet up with some guy you randomly met at a club or stealing Mike Tyson's tiger?]?  The appeal was that I saw and heard so many of my own conversations with my crazy friends in it.

They were who we were, who we wanted to be, and who we were glad that we weren't.

Here's one choice scene. Oh, gravity...

Movie that will always make me smile: Steel Magnolias

I love everything about this movie.  It is hilarious. It makes me cry. The actresses have amazing chemistry and make the story so riveting.  After Mystic Pizza but before Pretty Woman, this movie helped the world "discover" Julia Roberts.  She was gorgeous and a fantastic actress, more than holding her own against the likes of Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis.

And best of all, it's almost as quotable for me as Tommy Boy! Granted, in a much different way, but quotable nonetheless.

"My colors are blush and bashful...Pink is my signature color."
"You know what they say, if you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me!"
"The only thing that separates us from animals is our ability to accessorize"
"Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion"

What would YOU add to this list? Tell me in the comments section!