As many of you know, trying to decide on a film FOR THE WHOLE family can be difficult, and while we usually take a vote (democracy 4 prez) we have established a few must-have movies that appeal to ALL four children's tastes and textures. These six movies are currently on rotation in our house.
This is the current favorite. TRULY. All four of my kids love this movie most. Which is a first. I mean, how often do four kids love the same movie? It's rated PG but you will find nothing scary, here. Or inappropriate. I don't think. I mean, my three-year-olds love it as much as my ten-year-old. (And yes, as of tomorrow, I have a ten-year-old. Which is insane. Moving on!) This movie is fantastic. It's hysterical. I actually cry-laughed in two different parts, so PLEASE join your kids when you sit down to watch this one. Because LOLs are good. LOLs are necessary. LOLs are very much needed these days.
This movie is a masterpiece and several weeks back I went on a twitter rant about how messed up it was that "The Book of Life" didn't win all the things. Because it is a WONDERFUL movie. The music is incredible. The animation is incomparable. The story is beautiful. The characters are nuanced and insightful. And it deals with death (á la Dia De Los Muertos) in a way that isn't scary, but beautiful and comforting. It's really good, you guys. We dig.
This was one of my favorites when I was little and it was one of my mom's favorites when she was little so it was very exciting to show my kids this wonderful gem and to find that they adored it as well. Even if it is a little outdated. And sexist. And outdated and sexist. (Fable stood up several times to lecture dudes something fierce, which was pretty amazing. When I was a kid I didn't even think twice that ladies weren't being treated fairly. Kind of exciting how in-the-know today's young ladies are. I was DENSE, man.)
Beyond that, what I love most about "The Gnome Mobile" (which stars the Mary Poppins kids) is that the grandpa believes in the same magic they do. Usually it's kids versus adults, but in "The Gnome Mobile," grandfather is just another one of the kids and I love that. I love that he believes his grandchildren and helps them protect the gnomes! GO, GRAMPS! Go, gnomes! Go lady gnomes! Go, ending musical sequence! (THE BEST PART BY FAR! OMG SO GOOD.)
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The best Christmas-o-ween movie there ever was. I had NEVER seen this movie until Hal insisted the (big) kids were old enough see it. (They adored it.) And then Archer and Fable convinced me that Bo and Revi were old enough to see it, too. (They LOVED it. I apparently know nothing because I was SURE it would be way too scary for them. And it wasn't. Even a little bit.)
And now, this song has become a family anthem:
And speaking of Christmas movies being the best …
Because, hello.
"The Three Lives of Thomasina" was my mom's favorite movie as a child and it ALSO features the Mary Poppins kids, who had quite the run I mean, sheesh! My parents have this movie on VHS and, yes, they still have a VHS player. Whenever we are visiting my parents, Bo and Revi beg for this movie and I have to rewind it manually by hand with my butter churner. It's also available to rent via Netflix for those of you who are a little more modern with your technology.
P.S. This is your new favorite trailer of all time:
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Other current favorites (that have long been favorites) include "Pollyanna," "School of Rock" and "The Three Amigos."
What about you guys? What are your current family film favorites?
