To suggest that I am not a fan of winter activities is an understatement of gross proportions. I blame my Californian childhood and inherent lack of coordination for my urge to hibernate. In my defense, I don't think winter likes me either. I don't have the luck for obstacle-free tobogganing and my last family skate ended with a passerby offering to call the paramedics.
On a post holiday ski trip this season a rather intense fall caused the snap of my snug ski pants to pop open triggering the zipper. The resulting sensation of both my body and pants sliding down the mountain in unison was really the final straw.
To be truthful, movies are really my favourite winter activity and perhaps the only one I actually enjoy doing as a family. As my kids neared their tweens I excitedly began rolling out some 80s classics only to discover, with horror, that most are completely inappropriate for modern children or anybody familiar with the Human Rights Act.
My friend Erin Anderssen, Feature Writer at The Globe and Mail, wrote about the same pitfalls of nostalgic viewings with her two sons. “Watch the movies and television of your childhood through their eyes and the racism and sexism rises to the surface like scum on a pond.”
So this winter, I set out to find ten family movies that would provide the great nostalgic feeling of my old faves but packed instead with positive modern messages and teachable moments. Delighted with this project, I actually justified my work as important research. Sadly, many potato chips lost their lives in the process.
Disclaimer: As my standards of appropriateness are terribly low, it might be wise to screen most of these movies before showing them to your family. Most contain at least one bad word and mature moment (such as Matt Damon’s bum).
The Martian tells the story of astronaut and botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon) who, when presumed dead, is left behind on Mars. To save himself he uses chemistry, biology, math, physics and engineering with enough creativity to get any kid excited about science. Defeat and humour are complimented with triumph and enough disco music to provide a nostalgic feel. In addition, the cast is packed with strong, decisive women who shine in high-level leadership positions.
Best quote; cover your ears kids: “In the face of overwhelming odds, I'm left with only one option. I'm gonna have to science the shit out of this.”
In this movie, Jess (Parminder Nagra), a teenage Indian girl living in London with her family, dreams of becoming a professional soccer player like her idol David Beckham. Nothing comes easily, as her family considers her nontraditional pursuits to be a terrifying disgrace. The mother of her best friend and teammate Juliette (Keira Knightly) fears that Juliette will never meet a husband if she keeps playing soccer shrieking, “There is a reason why Sporty Spice is the only of ‘em without a fella!”
Both families are using outdated fears of their own to hold the girls back. Full of great soccer, British humour, and beautiful, realistic-looking girls, this movie teaches the benefit of letting children pursue what they are good at and who they love.
It is possible that I liked Sing more than my children. There is just so much goodness condensed into one hour and 50 minutes. The tale begins with a despondent koala, Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey), trying to save his beloved theatre by putting on a talent show. Wonderful animal characters, voiced by other famous celebs, rush to tryout despite their shortcomings and limitations. Favourites include porcupine Ash who finds the courage to ditch her emotionally abusive boyfriend, Johnny the gorilla, striving to break free from a family crime ring, Meena, an adorable, shy elephant plagued by stage fright, Richard, a buffalo suffering from nervous gas and Rosita the pig, an unappreciated stay-at-home mother of 25.
The soundtrack whirls through the decades full of hits like Hallelujah, Jump, Venus and Firework. My takeaway is that nobody is perfect and that it is so much better to try and fail than hide at home!
Eddie The Eagle is based on the life of British ski jumper, Eddie Edwards. We first meet him as a small, heartbreaking boy with thick glasses and leg braces. Full of determination, Eddie decides that he will make it to the Olympics someday for something. His mother gives him a tin for his medals that quickly fills up with his pairs of broken glasses. Despite a lack of money, substandard gear, painful injuries, a closet to sleep in and relentless human obstacles, he manages to convince Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman) to coach him and makes it to the 1988 Winter Olympics Games.
I loved showing this movie to my kids, as they have no idea what it would be like to pursue a sport without support and the right equipment. To them, a bad day on the hill occurs when they forget to charge their boot heaters! With a great 80s vibe, Eddie The Eagle teaches that everyone needs just one person to believe in them and that winning should not be the only goal. Citing the words of Pierre de Coubertin, Founder of the Olympic Games, “The important thing in life is not triumph, but the struggle."
The Imitation Game tells the moving and true story of brilliant mathematician Dr. Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch). Hired by the British in World War II to decode messages sent through Germany’s Enigma machine, Turing decides to build his own machine which is later credited for shortening the war by more than two years, saving the lives of 14,000,000 people and providing inspiration for the modern-day computer. Gay, shy, and socially awkward Turing’s personal life was predominantly tragic. The criminal persecution he suffered in the 1960s, simply for being gay, provides ample material for family discussions. My favourite quote from the movie: “Sometimes it’s the very people that no one imagines anything of who do the things no one can imagine.”
In the early 1960s, three African-American female mathematicians; Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) working at NASA helped to get John Glenn into space. Lending their genius and receiving little else but racism and sexism in return, the three fought for everything they rightfully deserved. Kevin Costner, who has always hit me in the heartstrings, plays boss Al Harrison who after knocking down the ‘Colored Only’ bathroom sign exclaims, “Here at NASA we all pee the same colour.” Easily my favourite movie of the year, the nonfiction Hidden Figures will likely make you cheer out loud at least once.
Sorry about that, kids.
I am going to argue right here and right now that this classic stands the test of time. Andie’s clothes are still fabulous, the soundtrack is the best, and I am still in love with Stef. In this classic John Hughes high school drama, Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) a sassy girl from a poor home and Blane McDonagh (Andrew McCarthy) a wealthy preppy fall in love. Together, they swim upstream against the discrimination they face from friends and enemies on either side of the tracks. Cliques, mean girls, and bullies abound. It is high school at its best, worst, and most honest.
Truth: the mature content might warrant a stronghold on the fast-forward button, but so worth it.
Ghostbusters 2016 is a fun replica of the 1984 original, served with a feminist twist. In this version, three women scientists Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy), Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) and Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) are joined by New York expert Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) to fight some fresh ghouls and a few we remember. Completely independent and doubted by all, they retrofit a hearse and set up shop with a cute, ditzy male secretary named Kevin (Chris Hemsworth). I love these female characters because they all see scientific failure as an opportunity to try something different until it works. This is a message all our young scientists, especially young women, need to hear. Engineer Holtzmann steals the show as she delights in her mistakes/explosions and figuring out what she needs to do next. Plus Kate McKinnon might be one of the best things the planet has going for it and if my daughters turn out anything like her I will die happy.
What could be better than high school football played with heart? Back me up Friday Night Lights fans! This film, based on real events, is about the integration of two formerly segregated Virginia high schools in 1971. The integration forces the schools’ black and white football teams to join as one, along with their coaches. The new team festers with internal conflict, especially when Coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) is chosen to be Head Coach. In time, the team realizes, with the help of their strong leader, that they must come together to have any hope of winning. Their newfound unity illustrates the effectiveness of teamwork and sportsmanship while also teaching the town and their elders that racism should be a thing of the past.
I have watched Sully at least three times and cried unattractively during each viewing. On January 15, 2009 Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger completed a successful water landing on New York’s Hudson River after his plane was hit by birds. Although his actions saved all 155 onboard Sullenberger’s decision was initially questioned, forcing him to defend his actions. Sully is 90 minutes of sheer bravery, humanity, humility, courage, confidence and selflessness. Also, because it is only 90 minutes you likely won’t tip over on the couch drooling before it is over. As for the nostalgia factor, Tom Hank’s eyes have been making me cry since Splash was on the big screen.
According to the school principal, Chloe is the mother of Josie, Finn, and Lola. Her current vocation entails a variety of home and child related activities. Tasks also include managing the health and wellbeing of one crusty but loveable urologist, and an anxious, adopted toy poodle. Each day, Chloe puts her law degree to work interrogating the children and drawing up contracts for personal time. She endeavors to one day verbally complete a thought and has a passion for editing, corporate and creative writing. Now that uninterrupted sleep has brought some clarity, this girl hopes that her blog of reflections and observations will make someone smile. Chloe is grateful to Rose Nyland for her mentorship and thanks you for reading.
You can follow Chloe on Twitter at @Mom_interrupted.
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