We all have those favorite films that we can watch over and over again, whether it’s because they’re a piece of our childhood like the Harry Potter movies, or they’re emotional tearjerkers like The Notebook, or even hilarious comedies at the opposite end of the spectrum like The Hangover. Regardless of the type of film you enjoy watching, one thing most (if not all) movies have in common are the lessons they teach us about different aspects of our lives. Here are three recent (enough) films with meaningful life lessons imbedded in their plots.
1. It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Plot: Craig Gilner (Keir Gilchrist)is a stressed-out 16 year old who is infatuated with his best bud’s girlfriend Nia, pressured by his dad to apply to a prestigious program, and is struggling to outshine his best bud Aaron, who’s great at everything. So Craig checks himself into a psychiatric ward after contemplating suicide. He eventually convinces Dr. Mahmoud to let him stay, but what he thinks will only be one night in the ward turns out to be a mandatory five-day stay. However, the youth ward is shut down, so Craig ends up at the adult ward, where he befriends Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), an adult patient, and Noelle (Emma Roberts), a teen patient with a self-mutilation problem. Through his time at the ward, Craig encounters a handful of other characters like Dr. Minerva (Viola Davis), who helps Craig sort out his problems, and Muqtada, Craig’s roommate who has never left the room since he first checked-in.
Life Lesson: We sometimes have moments in our lives that are filled with pressure from parents, peers, school, work, society and a whole bunch of other things. We feel like we’re going to crumble into a pile of stress, and we’d rather run away. We’re aware that there are people on the other side of the world who have it worse, but our problems overwhelm us and tend to mask the good things in life. It’s Kind of a Funny Story reminds us that even with life’s downfalls, there’s still so much to be experienced, enjoyed, and learned. Craig’s final lines say it all:
“Okay, I know you’re thinking, “What is this? Kid spends a few days in the hospital and all his problems are cured?” But I’m not. I know I’m not. I can tell this is just the beginning. I still need to face my homework, my school, my friends. My dad. But the difference between today and last Saturday is that for the first time in a while, I can look forward to the things I want to do in my life. Bike, eat, drink, talk. Ride the subway, read, read maps. Make maps, make art…Volunteer at 3 North. Help people like Bobby. Like Muqtada. Like me. Draw more. Draw a person. Draw a naked person. Draw Noelle naked. Run, travel, swim, skip. Yeah, I know it’s lame, but, whatever. Skip anyway. Breathe… Live.”
2. Young Adult
Plot:Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) is a recently divorced teen-book writer who one day packs her bags and decides to visit her hometown in Minnesota to rekindle her high school romance with Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). Unfortunately, Buddy’s married and has a newborn daughter, but that doesn’t stop Mavis in trying to get what she wants. Through conversations with her former high school classmate Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt), and awkward miscommunicated encounters with Buddy and others back home, Mavis learns that it’s time for her to grow up.
Life Lesson: There’s always something about the past that’s pulling us back, whether it’s an old lover, stroke of luck that seemed to disappear, or what have you. But we have to remember that time is slipping through our fingers. The more time we spend looking back, our friends and peers are moving forward in life, surpassing us and our goals. There’s a scene towards the end of Young Adult, where Mavis has a conversation with Matt’s sister, Sandra, in the Freehauf kitchen. At the start of the conversation, Mavis says, “I have a lot of problems. It’s really difficult for me to be happy. For other people, it just seems so simple. I know they grow up. But they’re so fulfilled.” Some might be able to relate to her predicament of not being able to move forward, but we just have to take charge of the present and deal with the cards we’re dealt with in order for life to continue unfolding.
3. Take Me Home Tonight
Plot:Matt Franklin (Topher Grace) is a recent 80s MIT grad who works at Suncoast Video, and has no idea what he’s doing with his life. When his old high school crush Tori Fredreking (Teresa Palmer) walks into the store, Topher gets out of his work clothes, strikes up a conversation with Tori, and lies about working at Goldman Sachs. He then gets invited to his twin sister Wendy’s (Anna Faris) boyfriend Kyle Masterson’s (Chris Pratt) party, where he spends the rest of the night in taking risks and learning about life and himself. On the other hand, Wendy deals with the dilemma of choosing between Kyle’s proposal and following her dreams of attending Cambridge, while Topher’s best friend Barry Nathan (Dan Fogler) gets fired from a car dealership, which he chose over college, and ends up enjoying a wild night of trying crazy things to get the college experience he never had.
Life Lesson:There are actually three different lessons told through each of the main characters’ situations. Through Wendy, we learn that encouragement and support from our significant other are huge factors in deciding whether or not to tie the knot. It wouldn’t be right to marry someone who wouldn’t be happy with your accomplishments and who wouldn’t support your dreams and goals every step of the way, even if meant putting other things on hold. Through Barry, we learn to not rush through our youth and straight into adulthood, for our youth is a time we won’t get back, and we should cherish it while we can. This perfectly leads into Matt’s situation. Through Matt (and his father), we learn that sometimes we have to take risks and chances in life to succeed or to thoroughly live life. Matt sums it up towards the end of the film before climbing into a metal sphere that will roll down the street. Matt shouts to a crowd, “I’m Matt Franklin. I work at Suncoast Video at the mall, and I still live with my parents. I don’t know what I’m doing up here. I’m scared. And you know what… I have been so afraid of my life, that I have missed my life. But I’m like all of you. We’re all scared. We’re all trying to be something that we’re not. But tonight all of that changes. Tonight, I’m not afraid.”
Like or hate these movie choices? Do you have other movies in mind? Let us know in the comments below!