# Family movies to rent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286 "2005-12-19T12:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/1 "2005-12-19T12:20:08Z")
We have a tradition in our house that on Christmas Eve, we order pizza for dinner and rent movies. We’ll have our oldest daughter, who is 18, home with us, as well as our 14 year old daughter and our five year old daughter. Because it’s Christmas Eve, we try to keep it light-hearted and cheerful. Doesn’t have to be comedy, necessarily, but, you know. In the past, as a family, we’ve enjoyed such movies as March of the Penguins, Ice Age, Garfield, Robots and Shrek II. So, come on Dopers. Help me decide which videos to rent this Christmas Eve (we’ll be renting two or three), and tell me why you nominate the ones you do. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/2 "2005-12-19T12:41:01Z")
The Incredibles Whale Rider The Iron Giant Any Wallace & Gromit (including the latestr if available on DVD) Bad Santa (after the 5 year old nods off) ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/3 "2005-12-19T12:42:56Z")
We’ve seen The Incredibles, and saw the latest Wallace and Gromit in the theaters. We own The Iron Giant on VHS. Maybe we’ll check out some of the older Wallace and Gromit films. I keep hearing about Whale Rider. It’s definitely in the running. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/4 "2005-12-19T14:58:33Z")
Ooooh, yes, get _Whale Rider._ Stunning visuals, great story. Others I’d recommend: _Elf_. Funny and silly. Predictable story, and a wee bit crude (burping humor), but good for everyone. The 5-year-old will love it, but so will everyone else. _Snow Dogs_. Another ‘family movie’. Cute slobbery dogs, nice story. _Chocolat_, for after the little one nods off. Why? It’s got Johnny Depp in it, that’s why! _The Princess Bride_. Why? Because it’s _The Princess Bride_, that’s why! 'Nuff said. _The Rookie_, the Disney version with Dennis Quaid as a middle-aged guy trying to break into baseball as a pitcher. Good sports movie, cute kids, nice story. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/5 "2005-12-19T15:10:36Z")
I’ll second Elf. I didn’t think I was going to like it but I really did. The original King Kong A Christmas Story Mad Hot Ballroom ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/6 "2005-12-19T15:40:38Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > The Princess Bride. Why? Because it’s The Princess Bride, that’s why! 'Nuff said. Hubby and I were just speculating over the weekend on whether the little one is old enough to appreciate The Princess Bride yet. We were also wondering why we don’t own a copy of it, but that’s a topic for another thread! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/7 "2005-12-19T15:43:34Z")
I dunno about Whale Rider. It’s a great movie but awfully heavy. It had Lady Chance in tears of frustration. Believe it or not Tim Allen’s _The Santa Clause_ is a good one. It’s family-friendly with some good laughs. Hell, I’m a Jew and I’d have taken the deal he was offered in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/8 "2005-12-19T15:50:01Z")
Miyazake’s _My Neighbor Totoro_ and _Spirited Away_ are two of my favorites. I prefer the subtitled versions, but with a little one, the dubbed versions are fine, too. _Spirited Away_ has some kind of intense moments, but my 5-year old nephew was okay with it. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/9 "2005-12-19T16:01:03Z")
For the whole family- THE LAST UNICORN After the kiddies go to bed, THE HEBREW HAMMER ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/10 "2005-12-19T16:16:05Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Hubby and I were just speculating over the weekend on whether the little one is old enough to appreciate The Princess Bride yet. We were also wondering why we don’t own a copy of it, but that’s a topic for another thread! You can get the special edition (anniversary?) version now - lots of great behind-the-scenes stuff. And not over-the-top pricey, either. IIRC, I got it for $15. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/11 "2005-12-19T16:37:18Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > I dunno about Whale Rider. It’s a great movie but awfully heavy. It had Lady Chance in tears of frustration. > > Believe it or not Tim Allen’s _The Santa Clause_ is a good one. It’s family-friendly with some good laughs. Yeah, I just read Ebert’s review of Whale Rider, and it seemed like it might be a little intense for the little one. Actually, we _love_ The Santa Clause, and the little one hasn’t seen it yet. So that’s definitely a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/12 "2005-12-19T16:45:21Z")
My favorite Christmas movie of all time is [“We’re No Angels”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048801/) with Humphrey Bogart. It’s utterly charming. I’d also like to second (or third, or fourth) the suggestion for Princess Bride. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/13 "2005-12-19T16:54:04Z")
If it doesn’t have to be a Christmas movie, how about a _Back To The Future_ marathon? Get all three movies and watch them back-to-back. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/14 "2005-12-19T17:06:13Z")
We just watched “Babe” and “Babe 2: Pig in the City” again. Really, really good films, and appropriate for all ages. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/15 "2005-12-19T17:14:57Z")
Joe vs the Volcano. I’ll third Whale Rider too, but J v. V was more feel-good. Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/16 "2005-12-19T17:31:53Z")
My dad and sister (and niece) watch Holiday Inn every Christmas eve. It’s a great old movie. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034862/usercomments](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034862/usercomments) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/17 "2005-12-19T17:36:17Z")
I’d recommend **Elf** too. It’s goofy-silly and a lot of fun. It was the first thing I ever saw Will Farrell in and I thought he was fantastic. My husband and I now have a Christmas movie tradition where we’ll watch **Elf** and **Bad Santa** as a double-feature every year. I also love **Whale Rider** , **Spirited Away** and **Babe 2: Pig In The City**. **The Secret of Roan Inish** is a beautiful family movie. If **Duma** is out on video by then, it’s an excellent film, as is **Never Cry Wolf** by the same director (Carroll Ballard). ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/18 "2005-12-19T18:28:48Z")
[Secondhand Lions](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327137/) ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/19 "2005-12-19T19:26:46Z")
> [@honeydewgrrl](#): > > [Secondhand Lions](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327137/) Seconded. I loved this one. (Geez, I’m a PITA, aren’t I? 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286/20 "2005-12-19T19:37:31Z")
**Planes, Trains and Automobiles** would please everyone except maybe the 5-year-old. How about **Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey**? It’s sappy but amazing, and funny. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-movies-to-rent/336286.md?page=2)