# Help! Family Movie Night is in the doldrums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481 "2010-07-21T16:48:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [July 22, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/41 "2010-07-22T12:28:32Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > May I suggest Monster movies from Universal’s great horror age. > Boys like monsters, and these are not too scary as to frighten them. > > Specifically I’ll point to Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein as well as 1941s the Wolfman > (Skip Dracula.. that still moves at a snails pace and is deadly dull the kids will be bored by the endless dialogue scenes) > > My boys got into these movies around age 6. > > They also like the Marx Brothers… fist it was the physical comedy then as they grew older they came to appreciate Groucho’s rapid fire wit. > > Abbott and Costello’s monster movie phase was also a winner with them. I second the Universal Monsters recommendation. And I will beg to differ Re DRACULA because of one actor who the kids will love… Dwight Frye as Renfield. Heeeehhhn heeehnn heehnn! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/42 "2010-07-22T15:54:17Z")
_ **Rat Race** _. Seriously, _ **Rat Race** _. Got tired of my kids taking hours in the library to pick movies, only to have them check out _ **Rat Race** _ for the hundreth time. This _ **Rat Race** _ obsession persisted from early grade school through high school! So we bought _ **Rat Race** _, and I recently showed _ **Rat Race** _ to our Youth Forum at church (kids ranged 5th-12th grade). _ **Rat Race** _ still busted some guts. And someone brought up _ **Rat Race** _ in a discussion here: “Which movie has the most Oscar winners/nominees?”. The answer? _ **Rat Race** _. Take a look at the _ **Rat Race** _ cast: Cleese, Thomas, Goldberg, Atkinson… It’s a veritable _ **Rat Race** _ of Talent. Yes, _ **Rat Race** _ has broaaaad humor. But, _ **Rat Race** _ is also clever. Yes, _ **Rat Race** _ has tasteless humor. But, _ **Rat Race** _ is also a Jungian journey into the recesses of each protagonist’s psyche. But, yes, _ **Rat Race** _ IS funny. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/43 "2010-07-23T20:41:16Z")
Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Correction: The Disney movie that scared my oldest was Sleeping Beauty, not Cinderella. They have already seen Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. (Of course, after watching The Sound of Music, they got into a fight over who in the family could get to be which character: I was obviously Captain von Trapp, my wife was Maria, but the two boys argued about who was to be Friedrich and who was to be Kurt. We had to make a rule that you are no longer allowed to fight about The Sound of Music.) They have also seen Babe and Babe: Pig in the City. Liked those movies a lot. I have The Black Stallion (a great movie!) at home and tried to watch it once a few years ago, but the beginning with the horse stamping around the ship was deemed too scary by the kids and I had to turn it off. Maybe now would be a good time to try it again. Thanks for reminding me about Muppet movies, and mentioning some good classic action/adventure stories. Those will go in the queue. The only Miyazaki movie I’ve shown them so far is Ponyo. Maybe I could try Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle, I’ll have to rewatch those first. Princess Mononoke, IMO, would be too bloody for them at this age. I don’t mind scary/creepy, but I don’t like too much blood or hitting. On the other hand, they both loved Kung Fu Panda. the “Return to Oz” clip that Ranchoth posted looked just about right. I’ll have to try and find that. Leaffan: I’m sure my kids could watch the same movie every night too! But I sure couldn’t. Archive Guy, when you say “The Adventures of Robin Hood”, I assume you mean the Errol Flynn / Olivia de Havilland / Basil Rathbone / Claude Rains version? I don’t know if they would get much of the humor in Marx Brothers movies. GuanoLad: You mentioend Nanny McPhee, that’s funny because both of them have been talking about a “Nanny McPhee” this week! I thought they got them from a library book. Maybe their grandma showed them the movie when they were at her house a couple of days ago? I had never heard the name before. Rushgeekgirl: we also have game night, that’s Friday night. If they see a movie with Grandma during the week then Saturday night is game night instead of movie night. We were playing Lego board games but now the oldest wants to play Monopoly every time. I don’t have time to mention everyone in here, but thanks to you, the children’s Netflix queue has movies for the rest of the year! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/44 "2010-07-23T20:59:40Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > I don’t know if they would get much of the humor in Marx Brothers movies. Try _A Night at the Opera_ first. Much of that is visual. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/45 "2010-07-23T21:02:58Z")
Regarding chases, how about _It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World_? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/46 "2010-07-23T21:37:51Z")
I know there’s a new Wallace & Grommit movie out, but I don’t know if it’s available in the U.S. yet. Something about them being in the bakery business this time. When it is out, I’ll be first in line to rent it! ETA: I don’t think _Chicken Run_ has been mentioned. I could see that one again. As well as _Flushed Away_. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/47 "2010-07-23T21:49:23Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > the “Return to Oz” clip that Ranchoth posted looked just about right. I’ll have to try and find that. :eek: [CENTER]… :eek:[/CENTER] ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/48 "2010-07-24T01:58:35Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > GuanoLad: You mentioend Nanny McPhee, that’s funny because both of them have been talking about a “Nanny McPhee” this week! I thought they got them from a library book. Maybe their grandma showed them the movie when they were at her house a couple of days ago? I had never heard the name before. There are two movies, based on the book series. The most recent hasn’t come out in the US yet. Due next month. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/49 "2010-07-24T04:05:19Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > The _Mr. Bean_ TV show And **Mr. Bean’s Holiday** ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/50 "2010-07-24T04:37:17Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > ETA: I don’t think _Chicken Run_ has been mentioned. I could see that one again. Another movie ruined forever. I thought about watching it recently, but I couldn’t get the image out of my head of Rocky smacking around Ginger, and telling her she deserved it. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/51 "2010-07-24T06:28:12Z")
Another movie my kids checked out of the library constantly was _ **The Rocketeer** _. Great fun! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/52 "2010-07-24T07:04:55Z")
There are a couple of movies on tonight in Australia that fit your criteria. Roald Dahl’s _The Witches_, which is a little creepy in places but is generally a good family adventure film. _101 Dalmatians_, the live action version with Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson, and Glenn Close (and Hugh Laurie). ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/53 "2010-07-24T07:20:35Z")
Another movie that might work is [Court Jester](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049096/) or The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (also Danny Kaye). [Here’s a clip from Court Jester](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS75NtlH3gI#t=01m19s) and [one from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGtdHcLmAQM). Most of the fun comes from trying to repeat some of the tongue twisting things Danny Kaye could pull off. 🙂 > [@teela\_brown](#): > > I know there’s a new Wallace & Grommit movie out, but I don’t know if it’s available in the U.S. yet. Something about them being in the bakery business this time. When it is out, I’ll be first in line to rent it! It should already be out (it’s called A Matter of Loaf and Death). I saw it as part of a pack with the W&G shorts just yesterday. I had wondered if it was a new movie, I’ll have to go back and get it. ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/54 "2010-07-24T07:23:28Z")
double post ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481/55 "2010-07-25T04:53:12Z")
Just a side note: Don’t be hesitant to switch movies if the kids can’t stand one of your childhood favorites. Today’s kids have different tastes, and attention spans, and expectations of movies. Especially humor: you may find that Groucho and Zeppo, or Alfalfa and Bu’whee’ or Moe vs Curly just doesn’t crack up your kids. (they may not say “You must show me these stooges!” – Seinfeld reference) I’ve started a couple of beloved classics, only to be greeted with yawns, or rolling eyes, or even a full-fledged revolt (hey, I _swear_ I did not remember that the original Doctor Doolittle started with a half hour of Virtually Nothing Happening). Now, if they didn’t like _ **The Goonies** _, on the other hand, I’d have both kids listed on eBay by midnight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-family-movie-night-is-in-the-doldrums/547481.md?page=2)