Well, color me stumped. I kept thinking of movies that I THOUGHT fit this category, only they turned out to be animated, or really for teens not kids, or some such. It's hard enough to make a good film for adults, but a film specifically aimed at children that adults would also enjoy? No mean feat, that. But I think I've found the answer.
A Little Princess (Alfonso Cuaròn, 1995) Maybe it's just because it was when I grew up, but the 90s were something of a Golden Age for family films. There were excellent versions of The Secret Garden and Little Women (directed by Agnieszka Holland and Gillian Armstrong) in 1993 and 1994 respectively, and then a year later there was this, directed by recent Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaròn. The story of A Little Princess is a bit trite (single father brings daughter to boarding school when he goes off to the army; father dies in battle, leaving the girl with no family and no money to pay for the school, and the Evil Headmistress turns her into a sort of elementary school-aged Cinderella, but she perseveres through strength of character and ability to tell stories), but the filmmaking and performances here are top-notch. Cuaròn showed such promise here - it's not hard to see the seeds of the auteur who made Children of Men and Gravity.
Babe (Chris Noonan, 1995) If you don't love this movie, there might be something wrong with you. Just saying. The story of a pig who becomes the world's greatest sheepdog through the power of kindness, Babe is just about the cutest damn movie you ever did see, and somehow manages to make live-action talking animals NOT creepy. Surely the film's Oscar-winning visual effects help, but the great vocal performances go a long way in that regard as well. James Cromwell and the hilarious Magda Szubanski lend perfect human support. In a just world, this would have won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1995.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (Brian Henson, 1992) Words cannot express how much I love this movie. And while I would say it's more clearly aimed at kids than the previous Muppet movies, this one holds the exact same pleasures for adults as those earlier hits. Michael Caine makes for a wonderful Scrooge, the concept of Gonzo (and Rizzo) narrating the story as Charles Dickens provides tons of laughs, the Muppets are all perfectly cast, and the design of the ghosts is perfection. And of course, there are the delightful, tuneful songs.
I love A Little Princess and The Muppets, but I hated Babe. I cried so hard a few different times during it, and my parents brought me to see it in theaters. Terrible idea. lol
ReplyDeleteWhen we saw Babe there was a fire alarm in the middle, so we had to leave and then come back to it like 10-15 minutes later. I was able to get right back into it because the whole thing is THAT good. But yeah, there are plenty of moments that bring the tears.
DeleteBABE!!!! That movie is amazing, and such a perfect choice here! I haven't seen The Muppet Christmas, but I've always wanted to just to see Caine's performance, which I always here is kind of perfect.
ReplyDeleteBabe is <3.
DeleteCaine is a perfect Scrooge SPECIFICALLY for a Muppet version of A Christmas Carol: He gets the tone exactly right. It's not a performance that would work, I think, in any other version. But in that way, it's kind of brilliant. But really, the Muppets are the best part.
Babe's my favourite. I really wish I hadn't used it up on live action fairy tale adaptations. I should really see A Little Princess
ReplyDeleteBabe may in fact be a perfect film. A Little Princess is freakin' magical.
DeleteMuppets!! I picked one of their movies too! I think the story of A Christmas Carol is so timeless that no matter what format it's done in...Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol anyone?..that it appeals to all.
ReplyDeleteThis version of A Little Princess is terrific, I've always had a soft spot for the Shirley Temple version but I think that's because it's the one I grew up with. This one is technically far superior but you know, Shirley.
I avoided Babe for years because of the talking pig aspect but finally broke down and watched it last year. It was sweet but think that one watch was enough for me.
So my Muppet choice is The Great Muppet Caper (1981) where Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo are reporters who head to London on the trail of a jewel thief who has stolen a diamond necklace from Dame Diana Rigg and framed her secretary, Miss Piggy for the theft. Cuteness ensues but as with all the Muppet features and shows they intermingle material that is sophisticated enough for adults while still capturing kid’s attention and as always whenever she shows up Diana Rigg is a joy and a goddess.
My other two for the week are:
Pollyanna (1960)-Fresh scrubbed piece of Americana from Disney made a huge star of Hayley Mills as the Glad Girl, a young orphan who comes to live with her severe maiden aunt and sets about fixing everybody’s lives. Bright and sunny for most of its running time with a cast full of terrific actors this veers occasionally towards the saccharine but if you like Mary Poppins you'll probably like this.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)-Candy colored version of Roald Dahl's fantasy of five children who find the golden ticket and get a chance to visit the reclusive Willy Wonka in his wonderland of a candy factory. Far better than the mess Tim Burton made of the book. Gene Wilder is brilliant in the lead.
True story: I have not seen The Great Muppet Caper in YEARS. Since I was a kid. But when I was a kid, I watched it A LOT. Partially because I was weirdly attracted to Charles Grodin in it (it probably had something to do with the all-black ensemble with leather gloves), partially for the Esther WIlliams-spoofing Miss Piggy number. But anyway, it was one of a few films that I had seen so many times I had it memorized. I randomly caught the last fifteen minutes or so on TV a few months back, and to my utter shock and delight, there were still some lines and action beats that I anticipated before they happened - I STILL had it memorized!
DeleteI ADORE Willy Wonka for Gene Wilder's perfectly batshit performance, but I've never seen Pollyanna (although Mary Poppins. Why didn't I think of that one?!?).
You know I didn't pick Mary Poppins because I expected to see it show up everywhere and so far I haven't seen it at all, so surprised!
DeletePollyanna is such a Disney product of it's time but what a cast! Aside from Hayley Mills Jane Wyman is Aunt Polly and it has Agnes Moorehead, Karl Malden, Adolphe Menjou and about a dozen other instantly recognizable character actors in the cast which for me is always a joyous occasion.
I'm such a loser for never having seen Babe. I'm gonna change that soon. Every time my wife sees James Cromwell in anything, she immediately blurts out, "That'll do, pig. That'll do." Cuaron's A Little Princess is one that I saw way before the world knew of what Cuaron would one day do. That would be a cool re-watch. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteYou NEED to see Babe. It's sheer perfection on every level. I remember seeing A Little Princess when it first came out on home video (RIP Blockbuster) and being completely enchanted with how they filmed the stories she tells the other girls. It was, I think, my first taste of magical realism, and I couldn't get enough.
DeleteI know Shirley's Temple's version of "the Little Princess" and I have seen another on TV the last couple of years-great story. Love the Muppets in anything actually but my favourite is "Babe". It is a wonderful film that is perfect. I actually had a dream where I sang with the mice arm in arm
ReplyDeleteCuaròn's version of The Little Princess is just lovely.
DeleteThe singing mice in Babe are my favorites!
Not sure how, but I've not seen any of these. My theory is that they all came out when I was well into adulthood, but before I had kids so I just ignored them. I'm interested in seeing A Little Princess, though, since I really like Cuaron.
ReplyDeleteHow did you miss Babe? It was nominated for Best Picture and everything! Anyway, SEE IT. It's wondrous.
DeleteA Little Princess is even more magical now knowing that it's Cuaròn.
Babe is a great pick. I love James Cromwell.
ReplyDeleteYES. Especially in Babe. He's so perfect.
DeleteI didn't like A Little Princess; mostly because of the story. Like you said it was trite. Didn't like much of the acting as well. But the cinematography, set design and costuming all great.
ReplyDelete