# Seeking movie recommendations - lighthearted (but not stupid/juvenile) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2020, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733 "2020-03-31T11:03:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/101 "2020-04-02T21:55:47Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > In many ways it’s completely stupid, but what’s brilliant about it is, it _completely embraces the stupidity_. As do _ **Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure** _ and _ **Dumb and Dumber** _. These two never fail to make me laugh. So do _ **Scary Movie** _ and _ **American Pie** _. These aren’t really “juvenile”… are they? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/102 "2020-04-02T23:47:46Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > _Groundhog Day,_ although everyone’s probably seen it by now. But not [Quick Change](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100449/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) (1990), which is Bill Murray at his best, IMHO. Another one to consider from the same era: [Defending Your Life](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101698/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1), although that might be veering off into sci-fi (pseudosci-fi???). ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/103 "2020-04-02T23:52:18Z")
[quote=“terentii, post:79, topic:850733”] _ **Hugo** _, an absolute masterpiece by Martin Scorsese: [/QUOTE] Hugo is a masterpiece – and brilliant in 3D. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/104 "2020-04-03T00:25:46Z")
_All Through the Night_ with Humphrey Bogart (mentioned above) is a huge fav in our house…and it has a dachshund! And Judith Anderson! I personally preferred the original _Gaslight_ to the Bergman version (I just find her annoying), but it’s **not** a lighthearted film. I also prefer _Pygmalion_ with Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard to _My Fair Lady_. Much funnier, and no fake lip-syncing. There’s a story that’s been done at least four times – sisters try to find rich husbands – but my favorite version is _Moon Over Miami_. Betty Grable stars, so it has musical numbers, but it’s not really a musical. With Don Ameche, Robert Cummings, Carole Landis, Jack Haley and Charlotte Greenwood (if you’ve never seen her trademark dance move you’re missing something). Completely predictable but in a completely charming way. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/105 "2020-04-03T02:26:31Z")
Three great service comedies: \*\*\*Operation Petticoat \*\*\*(Navy) with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. Under the terms of Curtis’s contract, he could decide which picture he wanted to make next. He chose a service comedy about submarines (he had served on one in WWII) co-starring Grant (with whom he had always wanted to work). They eventually became the only two actors ever to have worked with both Mae West and Marilyn Monroe. _ **No Time for Sergeants** _ (Air Force) with Andy Griffith, Nick Adams, Will Huchins, Myron McKormick, Murray Hamilton, and Raymond “Mr Drysdale” Bailey. Don Knotts is unbelievably funny as a neurotic psychologist. Watch for Jamie Farr as the B-25 co-pilot. _ **A Private’s Affair** _ (Army) with Sal Mineo, Barbara Eden, Bob Denver, Jim Backus, and Tige Andrews. But I like the chimps the best. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/106 "2020-04-03T07:23:16Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > _ **The Odyssey** _, with Kirk Douglas as Ulysses. _The Odyssey_ with Armand Assante is excellent. I’ll have to watch yours and compare. (I didn’t mention it here because it seems more “heavy” than “light-hearted.”) _Topkapi_ with Peter Ustinov is a good light-hearted heist movie. ---
**Author:** ![flip-68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@flip-68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flip-68)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/107 "2020-04-03T10:51:46Z")
Logan Lucky Little Miss Sunshine ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/108 "2020-04-03T12:30:12Z")
Secret agent spoofs: _ **Our Man Flint** _ and _ **In Like Flint** _, with the great James Coburn and his boss Lee J Cobb. Watch for Sigrid “Fräulein Helga” Valdis, Edward “Captain Gregg” Mulhare, Yvonne “Batgirl” Craig, and Dick “Mr Whipple” Wilson. Better than most of the later Bond movies. _ **Where the Spies Are** _, with the great David Niven. John (_ **Dad’s Army** _) le Mesurier and Noel (_ **The Girl from UNCLE** _) Harrison are in this one as well. _ **Operation Kid Brother** _, with Neil Connery (Sean’s IRL brother) and cast from the EON Bond films. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/109 "2020-04-03T12:36:09Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > _The Odyssey_ with Armand Assante is excellent. I’ll have to watch yours and compare. (I didn’t mention it here because it seems more “heavy” than “light-hearted.”) You might actually find the Kirk Douglas version under the title _ **Ulysses** _. I agree, the one with Assante is great but much darker. Anthony Quinn is also in the Douglas version, as Ulysses’ rival Antinous. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/110 "2020-04-03T12:44:38Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > Hugo is a masterpiece – and brilliant in 3D. I’ve only seen it on an airplane ☹ , but it still held my attention for two hours when the only other thing I wanted to do was sleep. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/111 "2020-04-03T13:02:30Z")
_ **Stairway to Heaven** _, aka _ **A Matter of Life and Death** _, with David Niven and Raymond Massey. Not exactly “light,” but I find it … inspirational. \*\*\*American \*\*\*_ **Graffiti** _, with a wonderful cast that includes Ron Howard and Cindy Williams. By far the best film from George Lucas, this one will transport you to another world that vanished long ago. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/112 "2020-04-03T13:05:36Z")
There are a couple of TV mini-series: _Jason and the Argonauts_ from 2000, starring Jason London. Not as good as the Harryhousen film, but not bad. Frank Langella and Dennis Hopper play two of the bad guys. _Hercules_, from 2005, starring Paul Telfer. Sean Astin, Timothy Dalton, Elizabeth Perkins, and Leelee Sobieski in supporting roles. Takes some liberties with the mythology, but I thought it had an interesting spin on the story. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/113 "2020-04-03T14:58:28Z")
_ **A Hard Day’s Night** _. The first and arguably best of the Beatles’ movies. The music is great, and the B&W photography is gorgeous! ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/114 "2020-04-03T16:00:25Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Not mentioned yet:\* Best In Show\* and _A Mighty Wind_. Also Waiting for Guffman and For your consideration from the same people. Surprised nobody mentioned This is Spinal Tap yet. Private Benjamin with Goldie Hawn ---
**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 3, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/115 "2020-04-03T19:40:59Z")
_Hugo, A Hard Day’s Night_ and _The Rocketeer_ all underwhelmed me. Of course YMMV. And some of ya’ll have weird definitions of “lighthearted.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/116 "2020-04-04T01:22:25Z")
_De gustibus non est disputandum._ ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/117 "2020-04-04T02:42:55Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Private Benjamin with Goldie Hawn Second. Also, Terentii’s sig makes me ask if you have seen the UK show _Fawlty Towers_ from the 70s. IMHO, THE funniest show ever. Only 14 episodes, so you can binge it is a day, because they were 1/2 hr. eps. Available on Netflix last time I checked; also, lots of cheap 2nd hand versions on Amazon. It’s been out on DVD forever. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/118 "2020-04-04T03:08:51Z")
Three pages in and nobody’s mentioned Pixar movies? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!? The worst Pixar movie (Cars II) is still an ok movie by general standards. Other suggestions that I don’t remember seeing posted: - The Pixar shorts if you have Disney+. Presto is my favorite. - Indian Jones I and III (skip II and IV). _Nazis! I hate these guys._ - First Despicable Me - Stardust ---
**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 4, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/119 "2020-04-04T05:26:24Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Three pages in and nobody’s mentioned Pixar movies? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!?.. See post 30. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/120 "2020-04-04T11:22:58Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > \*\*\*American \*\*\*_ **Graffiti** _…_ **A Hard Day’s Night** _… (OP checking in) Too weird! These are actually the last two movies we’ve watched, both within the past week. Quit looking in my window! mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733.md?page=7)