# Movies and TV you had a low opinion of going in, but were pleasantly surprised by **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 1, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329 "2021-06-01T03:40:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/61 "2021-06-03T15:00:53Z")
I had horribly low expectations for _The 40-Year-Old Virgin,_ but it’s a funny and remarkably sweet movie. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/62 "2021-06-03T15:54:14Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > I never would have watched it except my GF loved anything that had to do with dogs > > I love movies about dogs – especially dachshunds. But do _not_ watch the _Wiener Dog International_ movie. Absolutely horrible. Even cute dachshunds couldn’t save it. Have you seen The Ugly Dachshund? It’s a Disney movie with Suzanne Pleshette and Dean Jones. My son loved it when he was little. He watched it in the late 80s so it was already 20 years old. It’s really cute. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/63 "2021-06-03T15:56:16Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > Have you seen The Ugly Dachshund? It’s a Disney movie with Suzanne Pleshette and Dean Jones. My son loved it when he was little. He watched it in the late 80s so it was already 20 years old. It’s really cute. Of course! We’ll watch just about anything dachshund related. Although that story has a Great Dane as the hero, and the doxies are the sorta-kinda villains. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/64 "2021-06-04T04:00:03Z")
**Wayne’s World** We thought it was going to be cringeingly awful. And it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/65 "2021-06-04T06:05:47Z")
I would go so far as to say it was entertaining. Whimsical, and yet relevant. With an underlying revisionist conceit that belied the film’s emotional attachment to the subject matter. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/66 "2021-06-04T06:13:13Z")
+1 on **Wayne’s World** I’ll add **Clerks**. When I heard some say it’s lame and low-budget-ey, it piqued my interest, though I had low expectations. After seeing it, it became one of my all-time favorites. Love the dialog: I welcome other’s pearl clutching. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/67 "2021-06-04T18:32:41Z")
TV, going back 16 years. Our friends loved **The Red Green Show**. I’d glimpsed it at their house and made a very negative snap judgement, thought it was moronic. When I eventually got around to watching an entire episode, I “got it” and have loved it ever since. Patrick McKenna is paticularly impressive. I even have a Possum Lodge pin. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/68 "2021-06-04T18:49:13Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > **Wayne’s World** We thought it was going to be cringeingly awful. And it isn’t. Yeah, a friend said he laughed his ass off, and I was not predisposed to want to see it. > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I even have a Possum Lodge pin. I want one! Oh, and keep your stick on the ice. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/69 "2021-06-05T01:49:54Z")
If the ladies can’t find you handsome, at least they can find you handy. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/70 "2021-06-05T03:55:09Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I want one! Oh, and keep your stick on the ice. Here you go. (We’re all in this together) > **[Possum Lodge](https://redgreen.com/pages/possum-lodge)** > > The Official Red Green Website ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/71 "2021-06-05T04:09:35Z")
I’ve mentioned this before in an older, similar thread - the movie Topsy-Turvy. It remains my number one favorite surprise because I just do not like musical theatre at all. AT ALL. And the movie is basically about the conception and creation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado. But I did and do like the director Mike Leigh and the film was a delightful surprise. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/72 "2021-06-05T14:33:34Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > I’ll add **Clerks**. When I heard some say it’s lame and low-budget-ey, it piqued my interest, though I had low expectations. After seeing it, it became one of my all-time favorites. Love the dialog: I welcome other’s pearl clutching. I’ll add **Clerks II**. A sequel to a low budget indie film? Dubious. The movie poster was not encouraging and the title should have been “Still Clerks” (which they were). But I loved it; Rosario Dawson was fantastic and I even liked the music video in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/73 "2021-06-05T15:32:32Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I’ve mentioned this before in an older, similar thread - the movie Topsy-Turvy. It remains my number one favorite surprise because I just do not like musical theatre at all. AT ALL. And the movie is basically about the conception and creation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado. > > But I did and do like the director Mike Leigh and the film was a delightful surprise. 100% agree. But my favorite Mike Leigh is still _Secrets and Lies._ ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/74 "2021-06-05T15:56:45Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I’ll add **Clerks II** I agree, and I should have mentioned it as well. I thought it would be dubious simply because it was a sequel. Turned out I really liked it and I laughed just as heartily as I did during the original one. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/75 "2021-06-05T17:34:14Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > But my favorite Mike Leigh is still _Secrets and Lies._ YES! A terrific little film, with _improvised_ dialogue (!) and an incredible performance by Brenda Blevin. 10/10 sez me. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/76 "2021-06-05T17:39:42Z")
Gah, she breaks my heart in that movie. That scene in caf’ when she first meets Mariane Jean-Batiste (sp?). Everybody is terrific in that movie. Even the kid who plays Rosanne’s boyfriend. We always talk about how perfectly he reacts as a noobie in a family breakdown scene. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/77 "2021-06-05T21:34:31Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Brenda Blevin \*Blethyn ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/78 "2021-06-05T21:48:17Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > \*Blethyn Aargh! Yes. Thank you. I’ve admired her since **Secrets and Lies** came out, have watched every episode of **Vera** twice, and must have seen her name in print at least a metric hundred times, and yet somehow garbled it to “Blevin” god knows how long ago. I shall commit Seppuku at once. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/79 "2021-06-05T21:50:36Z")
No, it’s all good. Just trying to help. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/80 "2021-06-06T14:07:14Z")
> [@Movies and TV you had a low opinion of going in, but were pleasantly surprised by](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329/61): > > I had horribly low expectations for The 40-Year-Old Virgin, but it’s a funny and remarkably sweet movie. Same for me, and I’d add _ **Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo** _ to that list. You think both of them are going for the cheap mocking humor - Ha ha, that guy’s a 40-year-old virgin! Ha ha, that chick has Tourette’s! But no, the heroes in the movies are the ones who aren’t mocking others, but are being kind and respectful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-and-tv-you-had-a-low-opinion-of-going-in-but-were-pleasantly-surprised-by/943329.md?page=5)