# Movies you have watched with low expectations only to be surprised by how much you like them. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609 "2014-04-21T14:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [April 22, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/81 "2014-04-22T21:55:32Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Tremors. I’ve heard claims that it was envisioned to be a straight-up monster movie before the cast realized it could not be taken seriously, and went for comedy. The end result is a very self-aware, funny film, with a twist of genuine tension as the characters try to survive an unusual kind of threat. BIG second-that. When Reba McEntire comes off as the best character in the show (and she had A LOT of competition, there), you know something’s working well. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/82 "2014-04-22T22:14:47Z")
_Josie and the Pussycats_. Considering the source material it had no reason to be very good. But it’s a surprisingly intelligent (and funny) movie. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/83 "2014-04-23T00:05:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > _Josie and the Pussycats_. Considering the source material it had no reason to be very good. But it’s a surprisingly intelligent (and funny) movie. This is a good one. Agreed! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/84 "2014-04-23T00:10:24Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Tremors. I’ve heard claims that it was envisioned to be a straight-up monster movie before the cast realized it could not be taken seriously, and went for comedy. The end result is a very self-aware, funny film, with a twist of genuine tension as the characters try to survive an unusual kind of threat. I love this movie. So many good quotes. And, surprisingly, it scares me on repeat viewings. \*Doesn’t he have a home to go to? Can you fly, sucker?\* ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/85 "2014-04-23T00:25:30Z")
**Bicentennial man** - I expected a mediocre film but was really surprised about how the plot played out. I guess the fact that I was heavily into reading Kurzweil at the time helped make the plot concepts more powerful to me. **Scenic Route** - Figured this was some B movie crap on netflix, was really impressed by it. Also this isn’t a movie, but I decided to watch some Doug Stanhope comedy on netflix since I didn’t know much about him (except vague memories of the man show). Expected another forgettable comedian stand up routine, but didn’t get that. Awesome, he is like a better version of Bill Hicks or George Carlin IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/86 "2014-04-23T00:55:21Z")
A few kids movies have already been mentioned as adult treats. I’d recommend **Sky High** - lots of fun satirising super hero concepts. And Kurt Russell in his best Disney movie role since The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes [not recommended]. ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/87 "2014-04-23T01:11:27Z")
There’s two that come to mind for me… **Head** (1968). This was the movie The Monkees made just before they started disintegrating. It’s become one of my guilty pleasures. A much better movie than _The Magical Mystery Tour_, the Monkees ended up excelling over the Beatles. It’s quirky and funny, and does a better job of being a psychedelic movie than the Fab Four was able to produce. **Gojira (aka Godzilla)** (1954) - Forget all the goofball sequels. The original movie isn’t bad at all. Most of Godzilla’s attacks occur at night, and are mindlessly violent. It hides the flaws of the rubber suit, and presents a monster that appears genuinely dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/88 "2014-04-23T01:59:45Z")
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is rated well, but when I saw it I heard mostly meh reviews and it didn’t get a lot of hype. It starts off slow, but there’s some balls to the wall crazy awesome visuals in there. It’s fun to watch a cartoon where they unleash the story boarders and let them do whatever. > [@Sailboat](#): > > Tremors. I’ve heard claims that it was envisioned to be a straight-up monster movie before the cast realized it could not be taken seriously, and went for comedy. The end result is a very self-aware, funny film, with a twist of genuine tension as the characters try to survive an unusual kind of threat. Tremors is great. But the premise is played completely straight, I’d say. It’s just the two leads bicker like an old married couple and the location is like another character. It’d work without the graboids. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/89 "2014-04-23T02:32:25Z")
**Scary Movie 7 (or whatever the newest one is)**: My girlfriend and I rented it cuz we were bored and it was all Redbox had that we could agree on. it was one of the stupidest movies I have ever seen…and that is a grand compliment. It was Airplane (my favorite movie ever) style of comedy. Just stupid stupid background stuff happening and plays on words, and not so much ultra-contemporary parodys that are old in a month ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/90 "2014-04-23T04:32:24Z")
[Frailty](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264616/?ref_=nv_sr_2). I had free passes to go see this movie. Low-budget, Bill Paxton-starring and directed. Matthew McConaughey also stars. I wasn’t expecting much. Looked like a cheesy horror film, of the “direct-to-video” variety. After all, God tells a guy to kill other people. I mean, come on…movie-of-the-week territory. What I got was a fairly terrifying, suspenseful flick. Extremely well-made, well-acted. Finely crafted, and extremely plausible. Certainly a film that I still recommend to this day. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/91 "2014-04-23T04:58:34Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > **A Knight’s Tale** My (ex)wife made me go see this movie. I had no idea it was going to be a comedy. > > The opening scene with the medieval troubadours playing AC/DC’s “We Will Rock You” was fucking classic! **A Knight’s Tale** is one of my absolute favourite movies. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed **Mrs. Brown** , though I don’t remember many specifics about it. I was about 12 when I saw it, and really only watched because my mother wanted to see it and I had nothing better to do. I think it was this movie that made me realize what a great actor Judi Dench is. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/92 "2014-04-23T05:27:00Z")
_A Haunted House_ with Marlon Wayans. It’s a comedic take on _Paranormal Activity_, and it’s been roundly criticized as a very bad movie. My girlfriend begged me to watch it with her on Netflix, and I grudgingly agreed. It started off badly and was stupid. And it remained utterly stupid throughout the entire movie, but I found myself laughing more and more. I thought it was pretty damn funny, actually. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/93 "2014-04-24T18:21:08Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I love this movie. So many good quotes. Well, I guess we don’t get to make fun of Burt’s lifestyle anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/94 "2014-04-24T18:24:21Z")
I thought _The Hidden_ would just be a dumb B-movie about alien abduction, but it was darkly comic and a lot of fun, with an emotionally-satisfying ending. I thought _Enchanted_ would be just another cookie-cutter Disney princess movie, but it was witty and had great songs, and I even developed a little crush on Amy Adams. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/95 "2014-04-24T18:26:25Z")
Just thought of another one: the remake of _21 Jump Street_. I was amazed at how funny it was. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/96 "2014-04-24T18:33:17Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > _A Haunted House_ with Marlon Wayans. It’s a comedic take on _Paranormal Activity_, and it’s been roundly criticized as a very bad movie. My girlfriend begged me to watch it with her on Netflix, and I grudgingly agreed. It started off badly and was stupid. And it remained utterly stupid throughout the entire movie, but I found myself laughing more and more. I thought it was pretty damn funny, actually. Sounds like _The Wicker Man_ remake. It was so hilariously unintentionally bad that a couple of times I almost fainted from laughing so much and running out of breath. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/97 "2014-04-24T19:47:08Z")
**I Spy** with Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson is really funny. If Eddie would stick to material like this and Bowfinger, he’d be way poorer, but he’d also have a career to be proud of. Second Tremors, Big Trouble in Little China, 21 Jump Street, Babe and Galaxy Quest ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/98 "2014-04-24T21:37:32Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Tremors is great. But the premise is played completely straight, I’d say. It’s just the two leads bicker like an old married couple and the location is like another character. It’d work without the graboids. I fell deeply and irrevocably in love with cute young Kevin Bacon. He never looked so adorable (maybe in Footloose). I don’t know why Galaxy Quest is considered ‘low expectation’. I took my little girl to see this when it came out, and we came home and told him “I do believe lightning has struck. I do believe today, we saw a movie I would give a “TEN”.” True! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/99 "2014-04-25T01:17:29Z")
_Red Tails_ – for some reason probably involving copyright violation, it’s available in full on Youtube. I was able to watch it all the way through, and that alone exceeded my expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/100 "2014-04-26T06:40:49Z")
I was rather a fan of Wesley Snipes and Dennis Hopper in _Boiling Point_. A much more character driven cop story than the ads led us to believe. Patrick Stewart in _Safe House_ was also quite good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609.md?page=6)