Mr. Handsome and I are always up for a movie night, but finding good movies is a perpetual challenge. We both have fairly easygoing personalities and are happy to watch a movie that the other one chooses, even if it isn’t something that we particularly enjoy. We are always up for a clean comedy, but those don’t seem to be as common as comedies with excessive amounts of inappropriate content or clean movies that aren’t as funny as they claim. (Let us know if you have any suggestions.)
Unfortunately, whether we’re at a theater or at home, I have the terrible habit of falling asleep during movies, especially if it’s late. Thankfully, when it comes to long movies like Lord of the Rings, I can catch a short nap during the middle and not miss much. My habit has gotten worse since I became a mother. The trouble is that I am running around all day, and I rarely ever sit down for more than a few minutes. I eat while I stand, often feeding Little Buddy at the same time. And when I sit at my computer to blog, I’m up frequently to tend to him. If we watch TV or a movie in the evenings, I usually prefer to watch while doing stretches and light exercises because I know that if I sit down on the couch, I’ll have a hard time fighting sleep. Do you have this problem?
In the video below, we share our favorite genres and whether we like movie theaters or prefer watching at home. Feel free to chime in in the comments section.
Anonymous
If it’s “clean” you want, go back to movies from the 1940’s and 50’s, when the Hays Code (the Production Code) didn’t allow any funny business. Try anything shown on Turner Classic Movies. I prefer movies from that era because of good acting and no need for all of today’s special effects or CGI nonsense. Language and content don’t offend me (I’m no shrinking violet) but I don’t like movies that depend heavily on computer graphics. Strong actors from that era could command the screen with their faces, voices, and acting. They didn’t need a computer to alter them.
The other night, I watched (on TCM) Dorothy McGuire in “A Summer Place” and “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” two of my favorite movies. Richard Egan’s powerful performance and James Dunn’s face in his final scene……. Things you don’t easily forget.
Amanda
I’ve never seen the movie A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but that was one of my all time favorite books when I was a girl. I can’t even remember how many times I read it.
Anonymous
Betty Smith’s childhood has parallels to Francie’s in Tree. You should read the other 3 major works by Smith: Tomorrow Will Be Better, Maggie-Now, and Joy in the Morning. I suggest reading them back to back in the order they were published so you get a genuine feel for Smith’s voice.
Amanda
Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve never even thought to look for other books by her, and now I’m excited to read these!
anononymous
This is a comedy in and of it’s own. I can imagine Mr Handsome at work anticipating that they have a movie evening planned. What’s the usual ideas about that? A chosen movie, a clean comfy room, the baby is settled, there’s a bowl of buttered popcorn and something to drink (maybe even hot cocoa with marshmallows) an inviting couch with pillows and throws, a big brown coffee table with the remote all good to go, a perfect setting…..(Mr H sitting eagerly watching and Ellie jumping all around, she just won’t calm down and sit still, stretching etc …..Mr H is breathing into his hand and sniffing, he’s quickly sniffing his pits, he’s glancing at her phone for strangers calls …. what’s the problem?!)
Anonymous
The only time my husband and I watch TV together is if we both like the show. One of us will go to another TV in the house ( we have 5 flat screen TV’s in our house). The grandchildren can find a TV to watch Disney channel when they come in. I love to watch movies at the theater on the big screen if the movie is appropriate. I’m going this week to watch (Overcomer) on the big screen. Ellie, it’s also hard for me to pick a favorite movie because I’ve watch so many good movies. You guys have a nice weekend!
Ellie
Hope you have a great weekend, as well! I haven’t seen Overcomer either, but I hear that it’s good..
Ellie
Anonymous
Good? Really? Our paper gave it one star out of five!
Anonymous
I saw “Overcomer” today. Three quarters of the movie is slow pace but still good. “Definitely” gets better toward the end! I thought the movie was good and deserves more than one star! (The movie is worth seeing just to see the last quarter of the movie)!!
Benita
It’s been years since I’ve been to the movies. I prefer older movies, even silent ones, but right now I’m enjoying all of the true detective and cold case files series on HULU. My favorite is Lt. Joe Kendra. During his career, he solved almost 400 murder cases.
Ellie
I don’t believe I have ever seen a silent movie. Do you have any favorites?
Ellie
Anonymous
I like to watch old movies also. Good acting and I love the clothes they wore back then.
Anonymous
Wardrobe and costume design were huge things back then. The movie studios also controlled what the stars under contract would wear in public, and provided them glamorous clothing so they could maintain a certain image when making appearances.
Benita
My favorite male silent actor is Buster Keaton. “The Great StoneFace.” Never cracked a smile and did all his own stunts. I love Mary Pickford. She did most of her own stunts. Most silent actors did. Probably my favorite silent movie would be “Mickey” staring Mabel Normand. Before there was Shirley Temple, there was Baby Peggy. She is the last living major silent movie star. Sorry to rattle on. A good 60’s movie is Glass Bottom Boat starring Doris Day. Very funny.
Ellie
I’m curious where you find silent movies to watch? Are they replayed on TV, or are they on Netflix, etc?
Ellie
Anonymous
Glass Bottom Boat is in that genre of 1960’s films where physical comedy trumped plot or acting ability. There’s a lot of witless slapstick in that movie, if that’s what you like.
anonymous
I watched an old Goldie Hawn movie about her in Italy as an american and she gets involved with an Italian guy. That movie though definitely for adults is something I’d recommend.
Sami
I prefer watching movies at home. That way if you have to go to the bathroom you can pause the movie and not miss much of the movie. And watch at home you don’t have pay for the movie. Like at a Theater.
Ellie
Yes! Both very true!
anonymous
That Goldie Hawn movie was called Lovers and Liars.
anonymous
Have you seen Overboard? That’s a cute movie for a wife.
Ellie
I think we watched that one recently. 🙂
anonymous
Did you like Overboard? L & L is available free on YouTube. A Person has to watch closely to hear and understand the story line, there is one. I think it should be considered a classic movie, but Ophra only rated it second to last out of 29 Goldie Hawn movies. That list can still be found online.
Ellie
Yep, we enjoyed it.
Regina Shea
I prefer movies at home that way you can pop your own popcorn and as someone mentioned, you can pause the movie for bathroom breaks.
I much prefer the classic movies like what’s shown on TCM. A lot of the movies today have too much sex and vulgar language. My favorite movie of all time is Lillies of the Field with Sidney Pontier. Such a great movie!
Ellie
Yes, homemade popcorn is so much better than movie theater.
Karen
I don’t know if you like classic movies but there is an Audrey Hepburn movie called the Nun’s story. Audrey Hepburn plays a young woman becoming a nun so she can do missionary work in the Congo. She has a crisis of faith, it’s excellent.
Ellie
Love Audrey Hepburn, and love sweet old movies, like those with nuns.
Ellie
Anonymous
Hayley Mills – The Trouble with Angels
Federica
My favorite is Casablanca (1942) with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
Close second are Alfred Hitchcock movies: among others, To Catch a Thief, Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, Notorious, etc.
Anonymous
Love Casablanca, too. “We’ll always have Paris.” Oh! You could just melt at a moment like that. Hitchcock movies are fun – can you spot his cameo appearances? – but a little intense sometimes (birds pecking, knife slashing). I’ll never forget the first time my son watched Psycho. He had no idea what was waiting in the fruit cellar. The look on his face when he finally saw Mother… !!!!
Jessica
I rarely sit down as well. I also stand and eat sometimes, so I can feed my baby. When I do sit, it doesn’t last that long, with one of my six children needing me. I think the most I sit down is when we homeschool.
I like watching Hallmark movies. I watch movies and fold laundry alot. Or I stand and fold laundry and watch a movie. It’s hard for me to justify just sitting and watching a movie without doing anything else. But sometimes it’s needed.
Ellie
I feel the same way, it’s hard to justify it when there’s so much to do. LOL But I agree that sometimes we just need to sit and chill. I really enjoy doing stretches and light exercises while watching shows/movies at night because it’s productive but also involves sitting/lying on the floor, so it feels semi-relaxing.
Ellie
anon
when it comes to movies, i much prefer a comedy/rom-com. cant remember the name of the last movie i saw at a theater but it was within the last 10 years with my younger son! and very expensive! i have netflix and binge watch shows more than watch movies. my favorites are ‘father brown’, ‘midsomer murders’, ‘murdoch mysteries’ was awesome and ‘call the midwife’. (i prefer british shows and actors) my favorite movies are fever pitch (red sox fan!) and my big fat greek wedding. and holiday shows! we used to get the cd’s in the walmart bins that would have like 4 or 5 different movies on them. havent seen it in years but a really good one i can never remember the name of, starred jason alexander who ran a toy factory that was converted to a munitions factory during the war (he made the erector sets). oh and the older disney shows like gallagher & spin & marty were always on in my house. the kids loved them but couldnt understand why ‘everything was gray in those days’ lol. (they are in a 25 year vault and should be re-released in a few years! cant wait!) when i had tv, i liked shows like donna reed, father knows best, my three sons. i grew up on those and enjoyed them in reruns
the only silent movie i saw was on netflix about going to the moon. not going to lie, it was rather creepy lol
Justine kessner
Dear Ellie!!!!!
My favourite move of all times, is “Lord of The Rings”, not the “Hobbit”. I even went to film school, and those movies helped me!!!! They taught me, everyone has a “ring” to get rid of, and no matter what U have to do whatever U can to get rid of “your” ring!!!!! I love JRR Tolkien, he was amazing man, and he gave a gift to the world, with his books!!!!!!! I love U 3!!!
Ellie
Mr. H would agree with you. He prefers Lord of the Rings over The Hobbit.
Justine kessner
Do U know why The Lord of The Rings, is way, way better then The Hobbit, is TLOTR, was made with love, and The Hobbit was made for Money!!!!! TLOTR was in the Guiness Book of World Records, for winning the most Oscars, for a movie. The Hobbit did not win 1 Oscars, cause, I feel like they messed with the story tooooo much, and KILLED that amazing book of The Hobbit!!!!! I went to Film School, Cause of TLOTR, and how they made the film, I was taking Theatre at the time too!!!! Well take care, and I love U 3!!!!
Jessica
We have a pureflix subscription which has a lot of clean content. The favorite family comedy is, hands down, “Heaven Bound”. Hilarious!
Ellie
Haven’t seen it. I’ll add it to my list!
Anonymous
We use Vidangel, so we can cut out cursing and immodesty. I like detective shows and movies. I loved all of the movies by the Kendrick brothers-Fireproof, Courageous, War Room, etc. One of the funniest movies that I have seen and really enjoyed was Mom’s Night Out.
Ellie
When did you buy your VidAngel? I heard a while ago that it might not be available for purchase anymore. 🙁
Ellie
Anonymous
It is a monthly subscription. We have had it for a couple of years. It used to be mainly movies but now there are a lot of tv shows as well. It enables us to watch some interesting shows that we would never see if we couldn’t cut out the language. I hate to hear curse words!!!!
A
To Kill a Mockingbird, hands down best film ever made.
Ellie
Loved the book!
Anonymous
Have you read Go Set a Watchman? I had mixed feelings about that one. If you read it, you have to bear in mind that it was a first draft of Mockingbird. So glad Lee went back to the drawing board and came up with Mockingbird, which was published first.
AmyRyb
I miss 80s style romantic comedies (or even just comedies) where the humor was in the clever writing and contrived romantic plot, rather than how crude “comedies” are now. Everyone had to keep outdoing each other, and apparently it’s only funny if they curse a lot now! Ugh. You will find as your little guy gets older that some of the kids movies are actually pretty clever with their humor so that adults can enjoy them as well. Despicable Me/Minions do it well, and we’ve always enjoyed a lot of the Disney/Pixar movies. One of our favorite lesser known kid movie favorites is “Hookwinked”, which is better for slightly older kids–probably at least preschool age–as the plot is a bit more complex. It’s a different take on the Little Red Riding Hood story, and we really enjoyed it when we first saw it.
Ellie
I have enjoyed the Despicable Me/Minions movies, too. Haven’t watched as many Disney/Pixar movies, but I know a lot of adults who like them.
Ellie
Ellyn
My all time favorite movie is Little Women – the version with Winona Ryder and Christian Bale. I love everything about it – the cast, the music, the cinematography- it is such a timeless and well done film!
Anonymous
I like the 40’s version with June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Liz Taylor, and Margaret O’Brien.
Nancy
Hi Ellie,
I have the perfect movie! It has romance, drama, morals, comedy…everything you could want in a movie. It’s a clean wartime movie called “The Very Thought if You” with Eleanor Parker and Dennis Morgan. The trouble for you will be to find out how to watch it. It’s not an easy movie to find.
Eleanor Parker’s role in this movie is quite different from when she played the baroness in “The Sound of Music”. I know you’d love this movie, and I wish I could know what you think of it after you watch it 🙂
Ellie
Thanks for the suggestion, Nancy! I’ll have to search for it. We really enjoyed The Sound of Music.
Ellie
Amanda
I like a lot of different kinds of movies, and don’t really have a favorite, but there are 2 great ones that the two of you might like. October Sky is a true story, takes place in the town where my grandmother grew up. There is some father/son conflict, but it is a family friendly story that takes place in a small West Virginia coal town in the late 50s- early 60s. It’s a beautifully done film, and everyone I’ve recommended it to has loved it.
The other one that comes to mind is Field of Dreams, another very sweet film.
I really like going to the movie theater, even though I prefer my own popcorn. I get way too distracted at home, and usually feel like I need to do something productive while watching, so I end up missing a lot. I’m much more likely to listen to audiobooks around the house than I am to watch movies. I can be fully productive while I listen, and if it’s a really good book, and I only let myself listen to it while I’m doing some kind of work, it actually makes me even more productive.
I hope you are all enjoying the late summer. It looks like the two of you have been out in the sun.
Lauren
“Is this heaven?”
“No. It’s Iowa.”
I love Field of Dreams! I was born and raised in Iowa. Went to college about an hour from there. They are going to play a MLB game there sometime soon I think!
Vickie
I like mini series movies. Not sure what the rating would be but I recommend”Into the West”. It was done by Ted Turner and it follows an Indian woman and a white settler in the 1800s who tell the story from their own perspective. It does have a little violence, alcohol and a flash of nudity. Most of the events are real in history.
Caitlin
I’d recommend Father Goose with Carey Grant (comedy with a bit of romance) and Seducing Dr Lewis (the original with subtitles)- not as risque as the title suggests 🙂
Kay
Have you ever seen Sue Thomas F.B.Eye? Those are clean, really interesting episodes. They even have some Christian references although they are not labeled as Christian. I really like it. It’s about a deaf woman who worked at the FBI reading lips.
Ellie
We have! Mr. Handsome finds them a bit cheesy, but I enjoy them.
Ellie
Kay
Funny 🙂 My husband watched the first episode with me and wouldn’t watch any more either. They just weren’t his type. So I watched them mostly while I was nursing.
Netta
We used to watch a lot more movies before the kids came along. At that point we had just finished studying and were rather poor and could not go to the cinema very often. Then the kids came along and we were unable to go. Now when our youngest is six it is easier to get someone to babysit. The problem now is that there are so few movies we want to go see. Anyway, LOTR is one (no, three ;-)) of my favourites. We actually watched them with our 11 year old last winter, he loved them too. Other than that I am not too picky. I used to like horror movies like ”Silence of the lambs”, but I left that side of me behind. I do not like action or sci-fi. Comedy, drama, thriller are all fine. I did enjoy ”Walk the line”, the movie about Johnny Cash. Another one I like is ”Catch me if you can”. When it comes to kids’ movies ”Shrek” is a good one, it has quite a few adults jokes that I think kids don’t get. I have one popcorn related question. When you say you prefer home made ones, how do you make them? I live in Finland and most people here use microwave popcorn. I make mine in a pot using oil and popcorn seeds.
Ellie
I like “Catch Me if You Can,” as well. Haven’t seen “Shrek” in ages! I also make homemade popcorn, although microwave popcorn is common here, too. (I don’t like the flavor.) Here is my homemade recipe that uses the microwave: https://nashvillewife.com/healthy-microwave-popcorn/
Ellie
Anonymous
One of my favorite movies is It Happened One Night with Clark Gable. I enjoy the Ma and Pa Kettle movies too. When I was a kid in school I remember watching The Apple Dumpling Gang, and I watched that with my daughter and husband this year. We all thought that one was funny.
Anonymous
It I’m not mistaken, Ma and Pa Kettle were first introduced in the Betty MacDonald book “The Egg and I.” That book was also made into a movie with Fred MacMurray and Claudette Colbert. Both the book and the movie are very funny!
Have any of you ever seen “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House”? The scene where Mrs. Blandings (Myrna Loy) describes what paint colors she wants is hysterical! Cary Grant is in the movie as Blandings. It was also a 1940’s book. I have it on my shelves somewhere.
OhioMama
I don’t really have a favorite movie, but I have movies I can watch over again and not be bored. Any of the Disney movies, the Harry Potter Series, the Fast and the Furious movies, Anne of Green Gables, and a lot more. My husband and I will watch any movie together just so we can be together, and have that time together. But with two kids and one who is 3 we do have to watch what movies we have on around him.
Tina
My favourite movie is Father of the bride 1+2..So sweet..
Donna
Try “Under the Rainbow” it stars Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve Arden, and Billy Barty. It is a comedy about the making of The Wizard of Oz. It is rated PG and was done in the 80’s.
Anonymous
I think my favorite movie of all time might still be “The Sound Of Music”, and I have many that I have enjoyed, but I remember a cute movie called “The Long Long Trailer”, with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It’s about a young couple who gets married and then buys a trailer to live in as their home as they travel across the country. They encounter all kinds of problems along the way. Cute, clean and funny. I think you would enjoy it if you have never seen it. I usually prefer movies at home, but do enjoy going to the theater as well.
Lauren
I rarely go out to movies anymore – last one we saw was Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule” which was awesome! Didn’t like that they changed it from Detroit to Chicago, but that’s ok.
We watch a lot of Amazon prime movies. The most recent one was “On the Basis of Sex” which is the story of Justice Ginsburg and her determination to make it in the field of law. It was a great movie too!
Anon
How do y’all have time for any movies? I am a SAH mom and there is literally so much to do to keep up with everything. (We’re a family of 5) Cooking, cleaning, laundry, sewing (yes I sew our own dresses), garden, putting up food, taking time for devotions and marriage, etc. It is ALL time consuming. We don’t even own a TV. My oldest is 16 and grows and owns her own flower business and my younger children help her. She already has saved up enough money to buy a nice car totally debt free. 👍🏻 And my younger kids are already saving for their first car. (Dave Ramseys envelope system😊) This would not be happening if they were glued to a tv screen after school and evenings.
Anonymous
What kind of treadmill did you get? I’m looking to invest in one and need advice 😊
Ellie
Our treadmill is an Image 15.5S. It folds up, which will come in handy the next time we move.
Ellie
Sarah
My husband LOVES super hero movies. I know way too much about Ironman, Thor, Spider-Man, Captain America, etc. I enjoy My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Family Stone, and The Devil Wears Prada (love Meryl Streep!).
Ellie
My husband loves superhero movies, too! And I also like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” 🙂
Ellie
Karen
You might like My Dog Skip…such a sweet movie.
Anonymous
My absolute favorite movie is ‘Corrina, Corrina’. I very much recommend it!
And for a Christian movie, one of my favorites: ‘The encounter’
Greetings from the Netherlands, Mieke
anonymous
There’s a good comedy movie from 1950 called ‘The Jackpot’ with James Stewart. Have you seen it?
That makes for an entertaining watch. It also makes what are still, even timeless, relevant statements about life. But what doesn’t even an ant on the floor is a lesson, one you self describe to be imitating there!