Kristen here, hello and happy mid-July where everything feels like it’s melting and I am looking fondly at my hoodies and cannot wait to wear them again. I’m coming to you today with my list of rejuvenating movies – the ones that make me happy when nothing else does.
1. A League of Their Own
Baseball is one of my truest loves, and for me this is the ultimate baseball movie. It captures authentic game play, the human motivations behind why players suit up, and the gender politics of the sport (that remain the same over 75 years later), all with quotable quips and Gena Davis doing the splits.
I can quote the entire thing easily, and phrases from it pop out of my mouth frequently. “Okay, so some of them are going home,” “Lay off the high ones,” and the ubiquitous fact that there is no crying in baseball.
There is, though, Mr. Duggan. And it’s one of the deeper moments of the movie for me – a character so schooled in the Importance of Baseball that he forgot his players are human. He didn’t let life breathe its way through the pitches, catches, outs, and slides. His players teach him how to do that in the way the best teams do.
Oh, and there is definitely crying in baseball, because someday when I get to go to Cooperstown and walk through the AAGPBL exhibit, I will weep. And that is why this is number 1 on my list of rejuvenating movies.
2. Encanto
I defy you to find anyone who doesn’t tap their toes to at least one song in this movie. They are weapons grade earworms and I love every single one.
But what brings me even more joy is the story. Mirabel’s magic is community. Her siblings can make beauty and strength, her cousin can talk to animals, her mother can heal people, her uncle can see the future, her aunt can control weather – these are all useful and beautiful gifts, but none of them work in harmony with each other the way they should without Mirabel’s. Casita knows it, and we learn it along with Mirabel.
3. The Princess Bride
The first movie Erin and I bonded over. I can’t even explain fully why I love it, because there’s literally nothing about this movie I don’t love and my favorite bits change all the time. Miracle Max is a current fave and Carol Kane’s performance as Max’s Wife is *chef’s kiss*.
4. The Emperor’s New Groove
An underrated Disney classic that takes the well-known tale and extrapolates out every point in the story that deserves it. Combine with great voice work (Ertha Kitt as the villain Izma is a thing of beauty, but Patrick Warburton as Kronk is the real star here), zippy one-liners, and dip the whole thing in warmth – this is in my top five Disney movies of all time for a reason.
5. Newsies (and Disney’s Newsies: The Musical)
It’s a fine life carrying the banner, kids. And if you don’t know what that means, get thee to Disney+. Both the original movie (starring, I kid you not, Christian Bale) and the live shot of the musical are worth your time. The movie came out when I was in middle school and these songs live in my bones. So do the visuals of the hip thrusts.
So that is my list of rejuvenating movies. What are some of yours? Do any of mine make your list? Let me know in the comments or by emailing info@abbey-research.com. Maybe something that brings you joy needs to be on my radar!
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