# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/121 "2020-04-11T22:02:45Z")
Delhi in a Day Monsoon Wedding, I laugh I cry I’m intrigued with street scenes of India, the mingling of the diaspora all in all entertaining movies ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/122 "2020-04-11T23:50:14Z")
Yesterday. You’ll appreciate the Beatles more. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/123 "2020-04-12T01:41:30Z")
The New York Times website has an [appreciation](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/movies/stream-movie-sneakers.html) of the 1992 movie Sneakers. It’s an espionage/comedy/thriller film starring Robert Redford, Ben Kingsley, Sidney Poitier, David Strathairn, Dan Aykroyd and River Phoenix (his last role). ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/124 "2020-04-12T03:18:19Z")
Two that I haven’t seen mentioned: [Enchanted](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461770/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) (2007) - The movie that made Amy Adams a star and one of the best deconstructions of the Disney Princess. [Le Magnifique](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Magnifique) (1973) - Phillip de Broca’s spy parody/romantic comedy. It’s a hoot and has the added bonus of Jacqueline Bisset as the love interest. And if you want great light hearted, but not juvenile films, I hope you didn’t miss the TCM back to back showing of _What’s Up Doc?_ and _Paper Moon_ this evening. ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/125 "2020-04-13T02:08:24Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > **The Station Agent** is light hearted and mature. There are some heartfelt sad moments, but the situation and the characters keep it moving. When it’s over you’ll be glad you saw it… Just finished watching **The Station Agent**. Loved it. Near perfect. Thanks for the tip, **Sitnam**. mmm ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/126 "2020-04-13T02:31:55Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Not mentioned yet:\* Best In Show\* and _A Mighty Wind_. Did anybody add “This is Spinal Tap?” SNL Alums: Animal House Meatballs Nutty Professor/Klumps Talladega Nights Blades of Glory Baseball: “Bad News Bears” from 1975 (?) “A League of Their Own” ---
**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 13, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/127 "2020-04-13T02:32:42Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Just finished watching **The Station Agent**. > > Loved it. Near perfect. Thanks for the tip, **Sitnam**. From reading a synopsis of _ **Station Agent** _, I think you might like \*\*this film \*\*from Australia as well: > **[Malcolm (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_(film))** > > Malcolm is a 1986 Australian cult film comedy, written by the husband-and-wife team of David Parker and Nadia Tass, and directed by Nadia Tass (who made her debut as a feature director on this film).\[clarification needed\] The film stars Colin Friels as Malcolm, a tram enthusiast who becomes involved with a pair of would-be bank robbers. His co-stars are Lindy Davies and John Hargreaves. The film won the 1986 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film, and seven other AFI awards including Be... I have very fond memories of _ **Malcolm** _, going back to January 2000. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/128 "2020-04-13T03:04:24Z")
Actually, your mention of an Australian film reminded me of the 1997 film [The Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Castle_(1997_Australian_film)), which is quite nice. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/129 "2020-04-13T03:52:23Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I don’t know where you’d find it, but there’s an old movie I used to love called **Real Men** , starring John Ritter and Jim Belushi. It was one of HBO’s favorites in the early 90s; I swear there was a point where this movie was playing \*somewhere \*on cable pretty much 24/7. > > In many ways it’s completely stupid, but what’s brilliant about it is, it _completely embraces the stupidity_. Throughout absolutely ludicrous scenes that come one after another, Jim Belushi plays it completely straight the entire film, and to steal from somebody’s perfect comment on a review of the movie, this is the major reason it took me so long to realize Jim Belushi is terrible. He’s legitimately brilliant in this movie, as is Ritter, and I think this is one of the most underrated movies ever made. And as many times as I watched this movie, I don’t think that’s just fondness through endless repetition talking. Available on Youtube free: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iZ3as6Vf1ao/hqdefault.jpg "Real Men (1987 John Ritter and James Belushi)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ3as6Vf1ao) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/130 "2020-04-13T04:59:57Z")
I was going to suggest a run of rom-coms starting with a movie I was sure nobody would mention-- Fools Rush In. I was wrong about that. How about America’s Sweethearts? The Parent Trap (both versions are great, if you ask me). Clueless (I saw Clue-- did I miss Clueless?). Crazy Rich Asians for something new. With all these oldies coming up I’m only seconding Bringing Up Baby? And firsting Arsenic And Old Lace? Romantic comedies are a goldmine of funny that guys seem so adverse to. ---
**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 13, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/131 "2020-04-13T15:17:15Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > The Parent Trap … Arsenic And Old Lace Posts 68 and 60, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/132 "2020-04-13T17:07:50Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Romantic comedies are a goldmine of funny that guys seem so adverse to. No kidding. My woke feminist husband still grumbled when I wanted to rewatch _When Harry Met Sally_, but was laughing out loud by the end. Dudes, oxytocin is right up there with THC for generating solid-gold stupidity, which is always hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/133 "2020-04-13T20:05:39Z")
Are Vampire movies too dark? I just saw Tilda Swinton in Only Lovers Left Alive. Nothing horrific but moody artistic and intense. Two ancient lovers from Tangiers and Detroit. They like vintage guitars and O- To see Swinton swagger through the streets of Tangier’s at night with her white blonde dred styled hair is eerily cool. ---
**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733/134 "2020-04-19T09:58:52Z")
Being John Malkovich - Bizarre, ridiculous, fun and just plain weird. Plus puppetry. Truly, Madly, Deeply - a little sad and sentimental but also lovely and amusing. A very young Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson Muriel’s Wedding - hilarious Aussie film with a young Toni Colette Harold and Maude… because Ruth Gordon and Cat Stevens! Rushmore… because an understated Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. And safety goggles. Hugo - magical Heartily second these: Enchanted April – some English women rent an Italian villa together Moonstruck – Cher and Nic Cage in Brooklyn Strictly Ballroom – ugly duckling romance in an Aussie niche sport setting We are introducing the teenage daughter to Christopher Guest et al. - Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-movie-recommendations-lighthearted-but-not-stupid-juvenile/850733.md?page=6)