THE AUNT LISA LIST.

Right now is a very weird time. That’s what it is for me, at least. Weird. Unsettling. Nerve-racking. That’s how all this is effecting me because I’m currently staying home and am healthy. But for some people, more people than anyone would like, it’s a scary time. Truly terrifying. Because they are fighting this thing head on. Whether they’re sick themselves or are right there on the front lines saving lives and risking theirs. Extraordinarily brave people, those. People like my aunt. She’s a RN in California. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to be in her position right now. The thought causes incredible frustration in me because I wish I could be doing more - helping more. But of course I’ve been told that the biggest way in which I can help right now is to stay home. So I’m doing that. One small thing I can offer, however, is a few movie recommendations that might brighten your day or help you escape the fear for an hour or two if you’re lucky enough to have the time. Nice movies with nice stories and nice characters. They are in no way out to assault your senses. These picks are all kind to their audiences. And I believe that at this moment in time kindness is key. So this list is dedicated to anyone who is struggling or scared right now, especially all health care professionals out there. But even more specifically it’s a long distance dedication to my aunt Lisa. Thank you. I hope at least one of these titles manages to put a smile on your face. And thanks to everyone who is doing everything and anything they can to help during this pandemic. Stay safe… and if you get the chance, throw your feet up, eat something sweet and give one of these a watch.

In the wake of the Richard Curtis written string of hits that began with “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and ended with “Love Actually”, we were struck by a barrage of British romantic comedy clones hoping to be next in line. And before Ol Parker (not to be confused with Oliver Parker) directed “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” and wrote both “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” movies, he wrote and directed this little gem which, in my opinion, was by far the best of them.

I don’t think Peyton Reed even knows what ‘dark’ means. Literally or figuratively. He brought us “Bring It On”, after all. So he must have had the time of his life helming this wildly bizarre flop of a concept. If you’re a fan of Day and Hudson, you’ll just wish you were watching one of their movies instead. If you’re entirely unfamiliar with them and those, you’ll just wonder what the actual heck is going on. So I have no idea who this was intended for. It is, on nearly every level, awful. So why is it on this list? Because it’s colourful and easy and fluffy and things. Plus, Sarah Paulson is in it. So there.

Every other screwball romance from this era seems to end at a police station or courthouse where all the characters are unwittingly brought together for a finale of accusations and inevitable amnesia, as the two handsome leads suddenly forget how much they’ve grown to despise one another and, often mid-argument, decide they are madly in love instead. Spoilers - this one is no exception. But the road to this cliche climax is just as delightfully preposterous.

Did you see the sequel? No? Than watch it. It’s got Richard Gere, for Christ’s sake. Look - there he is! And if you did see it…well, watch it again. You probably didn’t properly appreciate Richard’s presence the first time around.

It’s baffles me a little how beloved both these movies already are. By adults even more than kids, it seems. Because, frankly, they’re not that great. I mean, they’re probably better than any live action Paddington Bear outing ever should have been, but it’s not like they’re at an early aughts Pixar level or something. Having said that, they are so steeped in sincere niceness it’s hard to really begin to criticize them for anything. Thank goodness Whishaw replaced Colin Firth as the voice of our titular bumbling bear, though. Otherwise I would tear these to shreds. Fair warning: the opening of the first movie is all kinds of scary and sad, but it shouldn’t be too much of a problem for anyone over the age of two. If it is, however, than skip it entirely and go straight to the sequel.

I believe this recent trend of raunchy-older-women comedies (your “Book Club”, your “Poms”) can be traced back to this exact moment when a 60 year old Meryl Streep picked up where Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullock left off. Everyone seemed to be in huge favour of this, myself included. I’m a bigger fan of Meyers’ early writing than I am her later directing, but this is the exception. She sets the stage with nauseating Hollywood standards (everyone’s impossibly rich and attractive) yet somehow squeezes some shrewd and relatable thoughts on love, aging, divorce, family, second chances and life in general out of them. And, y’know, Johnny K kills it.

After a string a uplifting (and unlikely) successes starring either Maggie Smith (Keeping Mum, Quartet, My Old Lady, The Lady in the Van) or Judi Dench (Mrs. Henderson Presents, Philomena, Victoria and Abdul) or both (Ladies in Lavender), whoever runs movieland smartly said to hell with it, simply sitting these two down for a cup of tea and filming it. They invited Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright along, too… because Helen Mirren and Julie Walters didn’t return their calls.

Shakespeare’s funnest and funniest adequately brought to life by you-know-who. All I need to do here is remind you of the cast: Kenny himself, Emma Thompson, Kate Beckinsale, Imelda Staunton, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton and Keanu Reeves.

I suppose you could argue this doesn’t belong on this list. It features a sequence of profound fear as the main character sees a news report on the collapse of his country and resulting pain of his people. And the reveal of what’s really in the coffee can and why he came to the US in the first place might break your heart. But I’m listing it anyway, because it’s hard to think of a more innocent, honest, patient, caring, selfless and overall kind hearted character than Victor Navorski. It’s all these attributes that allow him to not only adapt to but thrive in the impossibly frustrating and scary situation he finds himself surrounded by. And of course it’s Hanks, so he does all of this with an endearing, slapstick charm.

If the two words Doris and Day immediately make you sick, I’ve got ten words that might make you feel better: Carl, Reiner, Norman, Jewison, James, Garner, Arlene, Francis, ketchup and soap.

No list of this kind would be complete without it. Had this movie featured anyone else in the leading role, the locale and scenery would have stolen the show. But not when you’ve got Lane. She would go on to bring the same awesome loveliness and lovely awesomeness to “Must Love Dogs”, “Nights in Rodanthe” and “Paris Can Wait”, but it all started and peaked here.

Noël Coward wrote a daring and hilarious piece that explored bisexuality and a polyamorous relationship only for it be be butchered by Hollywood. Recast with American actors and featuring only one line from the play on which it’s based, this disgrace of an adaptation is the low point in both Ben Hecht and Lubitsch’s careers and blah blah blah blah blah - everyone needs to calm down, forget this was a great play and just enjoy a good movie.

“The Full Monty” started a fad that turned into a template that created a sub-sub-genre. Without it there would be no “Still Crazy” or “Kinky Boots” or “Waking Ned Devine” or “Calendar Girls” or “Made in Dagenham” and we certainly wouldn’t have “Pride”. If you enjoyed any of the movies just mentioned you owe it to yourself to enjoy this one, too.