The Birdcage

Amazing how dated the gay-parent controversy is already – score one for sanity. If Hank Azaria accomplishes nothing else in his life – which of course we know isn’t true – he’ll still make it to comic heaven for this one. (R)

Blue Crush

Slam it all you want, but I love this film. I love how the surfing scenes blow you away. I love that the pro surfer girls are nice – that’s always been my experience with women athletes, that they’re incredibly competitive while also incredibly supportive. I love that the heroine doesn’t jump in bed with the quarterback on the first date. I love that she doesn’t win, because – guess what – most people don’t. But it isn’t about winning, it’s about finding joy it the ride. (PG-13)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

I saw this movie twice in the theaters, which means the producers owe me a thank-you note for doubling their numbers. Actually, the first time I saw it with my sister, and we laughed so hard that the other three viewers waited in the hallway afterward to glare at us. I would kill to write dialog that good. Please – don't watch it until you're old enough. That R rating is there for a reason. (R)

The Full Monty

Best introduction I know to screenwriting. How do you create eight believable, sympathetic, flawed and distinctive characters who all develop into better, fulfilled people in only 90 minutes? Example A is right here. Plus the music’s great. Some bad words and adult themes, but not nearly as R-ish as KKBB. (R)

This poor thing got trounced by the critics because the animation was so crude. Well, guess what – I could fill a U-Haul with beautifully animated garbage. This film at least had a script, and a brain. Favorite line, quoted innumerable times a day in our household: “That’s right, boss, never trust a bunny.” Only it’s “that’srightbossnevertrustabunny.” Just rent it. (PG)

Hopscotch

A sweet, quiet political comedy that I watch whenever the current Powers That Be freak me out too much, to convince myself that someone out there can stand up to them. Twenty-six years ago, this movie was rated R – now they'd have trouble slapping it with PG. Kind of disturbing, really, how standards have changed. (R)

The Incredibles

Every mother is Elastagirl. (PG)

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Grapefruit sorbet. Although Julia Roberts is a much better gritty legal secretary than an art scholar. And Don Cheadle (one of my favorite actors) was terribly under-used. (PG-13)

The Philadelphia Story

This is a cult favorite at Bryn Mawr College so of course I didn’t watch it once. (Trust me, it’s not easy being non-conformist in a school full of them.) But it’s too sweet to ignore forever.

The Thin Man

What? You’ve never seen this? The loveliest, funniest couple in American film history? The entire movie shot in only 12 days, for roughly the cost of a tube of lip gloss? I admit, the opening scene is lame-o. But just wait for Myrna Loy, who is #1 on my list of women pioneers of the twentieth century.

Keeping the Faith

I saw this in theaters when it first came out and found it sweet. We rented a few weeks ago and found it fantastic. It doesn’t hurt that I’m a huge fan of Jenna Elfman, Ben Stiller and Edward Norton (not to mention the half-dozen other actors whose cameos sequentially steal the movie). But I found it such an accurate, if singular, depiction of real grown-ups grappling with honesty in relationships. And funny! PG-13.