Enjoy the songs, the dancing, the costumes, and the useful reminder that the world contains more joy and beauty than it does narrowmindedness and cruelty. Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Mary alright. – Louisa Mellor
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Dance scenes are feel-good movie gold, and with due reverence paid to the fine work of Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Napoleon Dynamite, and the penguins from Happy Feet 2, the greatest movie dance scene of all time features the Hoover family of Albuquerque, New Mexico. This one isn’t about talent or moves, it’s about shaking off cynicism to stand up for innocence, sacrificing status for solidarity, and—as all the best things always are—sticking it to the man.
‘The man’ in this instance is the shudderingly gross child beauty pageant industry, in which seven-year-old Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) unwittingly applies to compete. A dysfunctional family road trip ensues, ending at the pageant where Olive’s guileless strip joint moves and homemade costume do not fit in. The pageant organizers want her out, and that’s when the Hoovers stand up. Literally. Even dad Richard (Greg Kinnear), a success and status-obsessed wannabe Tony Robbins, defends his kid through the power of pelvic thrusts. They all do, from her Nietzsche-reading teen brother (Paul Dano) to her suicidal Proust scholar uncle (Steve Carell), and her excellent mother (Toni Collette). It’s ramshackle and beautiful, and a fuck you to cruel conformity. – LM
Paddington 2 (2017)
Paul King’s second Paddington movie made headlines for jostling with Citizen Kane for a perfect score on the review-amalgamation website, Rotten Tomatoes. A ridiculous contest. One of those films is the highest artistic achievement in the history of cinema, and the other one’s about a sled.
Reputation squabbles aside, Paddington 2 is an unbeatable feel-good picture. The first Paddington movie is too, but it’s missing one key element in the form of Hugh Grant, who gives an unimprovable performance as conscienceless luvvie villain Phoenix Buchanan. Grant steals this movie as deftly as his character steals the pop-up book that young Paddington is framed and imprisoned for nicking in the film. The miscarriage of justice takes Ben Whishaw’s animated bear on a thrilling adventure involving hardened prisoners, free diving, marmalade sandwiches, and the true meaning of community.
It may sound silly, but released in the aftermath of the UK’s 2016 Brexit vote—an ugly time internationally, then and since—Paddington 2 put a country and a lead character on screen that you’d be proud to belong to. If you need feel-good escape, this is it. – LM
