Whenever I am asked what my favorite film is, I always hesitate to answer. People get very opinionated about movies, and it almost always seems to end in, “What?! How have you never seen that?!” Movies — especially ones involving religion and politics — can quickly become a heated debate, even among friends. This is one of the reasons I don’t like choosing one movie as being my absolute favorite. The other reason is because there are too many movies I have grown to love and picking only one is too difficult. However, I couldn’t help but want to share with a few of the films that have contributed to my appreciation for sarcasm, crazy accents, and the drama of sports with you.
Moonstruck
Every girl likes a good romantic comedy, but to call Moonstruck a romantic comedy doesn’t seem accurate because this movie is not “girly.” Nicholas Cage and Cher might seem like an odd combination, but somehow it works. The quirky and stereotypical features of a rambunctious Italian family make this movie worth watching just because of the hysterical tit-for-tat banter. In the film, Cher falls in love with her fiancée’s brother (Nicholas Cage). Their affair causes drama, and the inevitable comedy that ensues is nothing like a “typical” romantic comedy. There are countless supporting characters that make the experience of watching Moonstruck all that more special, such as Cher’s decrepit grandfather who owns an entire pack of dogs. The one-liners from this film are made even better by the Italian accents. “I just want you to know no matter what you do, you’re gonna die, just like everybody else,” is just one of the many quotes that will keep you laughing long after you watch it.
Young Frankenstein
Whether or not you have seen Young Frankenstein is a standard to which my family measures a man as dateable. Most everyone has come to appreciate Mel Brooks’s humor, and this is Mel Brooks at his finest. Gene Wilder, better known for his role as Willy Wonka, plays Dr. Frankenstein, and it is as great as it sounds. Sexual innuendos, slapstick humor, and Marty Feldman as Igor make the ideal combination for making you pee your pants. Talk about quotable movies, “Plus to minus… Minus to plus! …It could work!” is perfect for shouting during math homework, and 10 times funnier once you go watch the movie!
Breaking Away
Coming-of-age films are treasured as relatable stories that teach us something about ourselves. Combine that with the drama of cinematic sports and you have Breaking Away. While there are countless, well-known films that interweave growing up with athletics, I wanted to mention Breaking Away because it takes place during the college years. My dad introduced me to this movie several years ago, and I have been in love with it ever since. Surprisingly, it was appealing to me for reasons other than the fact that it features Dennis Quaid as a teenager. A misfit group of guys fresh out of high school struggle to find a place in society. None of them are destined for college, but one has an extreme obsession with cycling. It manages to incorporate comedy into the everyday lives of four teenage boys that want to make a name for themselves without losing their rebellious streak. Their run-ins with fraternity men from the nearby college campus and their struggles to find love make this movie both hilarious and heart-warming. Not to mention, it is the first film I’ve seen that makes the sport of cycling keep me on the edge of my seat.
Have I convinced you to hit up your local RedBox yet? Don’t forget the popcorn!