Thursday, March 6, 2008

The Thursday Three

Well, thanks to the landslide of ideas last week, I'm not going to run out of T3 topics for quite a while. I loved the variety and can't wait to get to them all. But to illustrate a list no one brought up (Three reasons why I'm a pain in the ass), I'm going with something that's been running through my head lately.

Don't ask me why. I have no clue.


Best Chick Flicks Ever



Those of you who have been around since the beginning (all four of you) will recognize this as recycled. As a matter of fact, it was the very first Thursday Three ever and I was thrilled that it got two comments. I'm hoping we can top that this time. You can go back and read the original if you want, but the three I picked then were Dirty Dancing, Working Girl and Notting Hill. I had a terrible time narrowing it down to three, so I don't feel at all bad about doing another set.


I love chick flicks. Love. Them. In my book they're better than xanax and chocolate combined in terms of sheer mindless escapism. And who doesn't need a little mindless escapism?



#1. My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I can watch this movie over and over again. It cracks me up, because it reminds me so much of my middle eastern family on my dad's side. All that yelling and head slapping brings back lots of memories. John Corbett is certainly easy on the eyes. And it is hysterically funny on top of everything else.


My one quibble with this movie is that it doesn't have what I call the chick flick payoff moment. You know, the point where boy met girl, boy and girl got along, boy and girl hit adversity and then, right before happily ever after, comes the payoff moment. In Dirty Dancing it's "nobody puts Baby in the corner". In Notting Hill it's the press conference where Hugh Grant calls himself "a daft prick". The payoff moment is a big deal. And My Big Fat Greek Wedding doesn't have one. So it's not perfect. But it's darn close.




#2. Moonstruck. This is an older chick flick and if you haven't seen it you need to rent it. Now. Cher won an Oscar for it and totally deserved it. It's formulaic chick flick, but written so cleverly and acted so well that it's an absolute joy. This movie has the extra added bonus of making you crave Italian food. Grab some red wine and enjoy the surprisingly touching payoff moment, as witnessed by the entire family.

If you're a woman of a "certain age" it's even better.





#3. When Harry Met Sally. Possibly my favorite movie in the world, chick flick or not. I love this movie with a white hot intensity. Nora Ephron, the writer, is possibly the funniest woman in the world and she was robbed of her screenwriting Oscar here. I don't think there are too many people who don't know about the infamous "I'll have what she's having" scene, but the whole movie is that funny.


The cast is amazing. Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby. Directed by Rob Reiner. I hate the word perfect, but sometimes you have to make an exception.


Just in case you missed it -



Alright, people. Let's hear yours. Can we top two comments?

41 comments:

Kaytabug said...

YES to your first 3 picks and YES to these 3. Love them all! I just love Chick flicks! I have too many favorites!

Madam Crunchypants said...

That's an awesome three.

My three:

1 - Ever After - I have a HUGE soft spot for Drew Barrymore, and DUDE! Her Cinderella is tough and capable. I LOVE the part at the end where She. Saves. Her. Self.

2 - Miss Congeniality - You think I'm gooooooorgeous. You want to Kiiiiiiiiissss me, love me and huuuuuuuuuug me. Also: waxing scene = priceless

3 - Under the Tuscan Sun - world's worst movie adaptation, but I loved it because she also found herself (like my other 2 heroines) and found her inherent strength.

I likes me a strong woman chick flick.

PS, unless someone else has snuck in while I was typing, I'm #2!

Carolyn said...

Love your picks. It's almost impossible for me to pick three movies, but here goes:

1. Amelie - I hesitated naming a foreign film, but it's the first thing that popped into my head. I adore this movie. It's weird, whimsical, wacky. To me, it's perfect.

2. Notting Hill - You’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth repeating. I love this movie. My favourite scene beyond the “daft prick” line was the “whoopsidaisies” bit. You can’t beat Hugh Grant. It doesn’t get any more charming than this.

3. The Notebook - Boy from the wrong side of the tracks loves the upper crust girl. Separation ensues. Devotion. Pining. Love letters. Dramatic ending. For straight romance, this movie is tops. (Although I could do without James Garner and Gena Rowlands).

Just missed the cut - Before Sunrise/Sunset, Pretty Woman, Roman Holiday and Forrest Gump "I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is".

Sorry... was that too much? Was I just supposed to list them and leave it at that?

That makes me #3... you did it!!

Kim said...

1. The Truth About Cats and Dogs - Janeane Garofalo gets the hottie. Sweet!

2. Gone With the Wind - I cannot pass it by if it's on television. Scarlett is an idiot and Rhett is a scoundrel. I love it when Scarlett realizes she loves Rhett and he's just had enough. It makes me cry. Every time.

3. Terms of Endearment - "GET MY DAUGHTER THE MEDICINE!" I think that's all I have to say. Make sure you have a box of kleenex handy. Or maybe two.

Wisewebwoman said...

I have far too many that I absolutely love.
OK. 3.
(1)"I know where I'm going" with Wendy Hiller. Old but terrific.
(2) "The Women". Ditto.
(3) "A Letter to Three Wives". Ditto.
And this is just for starters.....

Beth said...

1. Notorious. Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman had a kiss that was the longest kiss ever on screen at that time.

2. Love Actually. The chick flickiness of this movie runneth over.

3. Shakespeare in Love. I never miss an opportunity to see it, even if it is also a Christmas flick.

And then there are all the recent Jane Austen movies with Kiera Knightly, Emma Thompson, Gwyneth Paltrow. Sigh. I agree with Carolyn--it's too hard to list only 3 movies!

Aoj and The Lurchers said...

I don't watch too many movies but does Steel Magnolias count?

And Maid in Manhattan? A bit cheesy that one but a feelgood film nonetheless.

Mermaids? Ace film! Cher again, there's something very believable about her characters.

Rudee said...

I love chick flicks. Moonstruck, The Princess Bride and The Birdcage are my 3 favorites. You can determine the genre of the chick flick by how quickly the room becomes devoid of men when watching one. I tried this technique last night by watching the season finally for Bravo's Project Runway, but it didn't work. There were untold comments from the peanut gallery.

I adore Nora Ephron movies too. Her book "I Feel Bad About My Neck" should be required reading for any woman over the age of 21. It is an excellent manual for learning to embrace your inner youth and beauty before it all goes south. Just have hankies ready for the ending.

Flowerpot said...

Pretty Woman does ti for me every time - so to speak.

laurie said...

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

(but only the version with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root.)

LCM said...

Let's see, if I want a good cry it would be Beaches and Steel Magnolias. I really like You've Got Mail, I am reminded how much when I watch it. That's all I can think of right now. Will I get evicted if I confess that I'm more of an action sort of gal?

Kim said...

I love Moonstruck.

"Snap out of it!"

softinthehead said...

Lots of great choices there, here's mine in no particular order
Four Weddings and a Funeral(love the David Cassidy quote!)
Love Actually
and a really old one, Chance Encounter (all the "will they... wont they" required)

Anonymous said...

When harry met sally - always. And I've been looking for that bloody cake ever since.

Iota said...

Mermaids is great, and I can't watch it without chuckling at the memory of my friend David. He was with a just-engaged couple and when that song came on "If you want to be happy for the rest of your life...", he started digging his friend in the ribs and saying "this is your song, this is your song". Couldn't work out why they didn't go all gooey at each other, or laugh coyly, but just looked a bit cross and embarrassed. A long while later, he listened more closely to the lyrics...

Leslie said...

1. Love Actually
2. Shakespeare in Love
3. Roman Holiday

I'm not 100% sure of the order. But I love all three of these. And maybe the Thomas Crowne Affair. With Pierce.

Altaglow said...

I LOVE most of the movies listed already but it seems like we've all forgotten that alltime BIGGIE--Sleepless in Seattle.

Aoj and The Lurchers said...

Yes! Sleepless in Seattle! That was the other one I was trying to remember!

Happy in the Abyss said...

Crimes of the Heart.
Chocolat.
Hope Floats

Marti said...

My 3 favorite chick flicks:

1. 10 Things I Hate about You - A young Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger and just plain fun. (modern verison of Taming of the Shrew)

2. Dirty Dancing - I agree with you Juie, Patrick "do me" Swayze - enough said

3. Shall we Dance - my new favorite chick flick. Even my husband liked this one.

Marti said...

Right after i sent my favorite movies, my husband sends me a link to an article about Patrick Swayze stating he has pancreatic cancer! Very sad news...

Corey~living and loving said...

oh man...how does one choose?

So I am going to go with my 3 favorite drew barrymore chick flicks:

Ever After
Never Been Kissed
5o first Dates

aims said...

What about Gone With The Wind??

The ultimate classic!

Kaytabug said...

okay so I think I sucked at being FIRST...I didn't realize I should share 3 different faves. I do have too many chick flick favorites, you listed 6 and the rest of the commenter's listed even more faves of mine. I give you 3 that haven't been mentioned yet that I adore!! in no particular order...

1. French Kiss
2. Made in Heaven
3. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood...ooohhh or How to make an American Quilt.

Now I'm wondering if my picks really fall into chick flick category...I have loads more but I'll stop here...

softinthehead said...

After reading everyone's comments and re-reading my own I realise my third choice should be Brief Encounter. Whoops - it's been a while since I saw it.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Here we go:
1. Beaches. Get the tissues out now.

2. The Other Side of the Mountain. Another oldie but weepy. I remember watching it in high school (shows how old I am).

3. Don't know if this counts: All About Eve. Bette at her bitchy best.

4. A bonus one: Sleepless in Seattle.

the planet of janet said...

oh totally dirty dancing... patrick swayze? be still my beating heart.

and gone with the wind. can watch (or read) that one endlessly.

and a third? hmmm. i like all of yours. MBFGW, moonstruck, when harry met sally ...

ok, i'll stop now. :-P

Akelamalu said...

Love your choices 1st and 2nd time round. Dirty Dancing and When Harry Met Sally are my favourites. I heard the news today about Patrick Swayze - it's so sad!

Amy said...

I can't possibly keep it to three. So here is just one of my favorites: Witness

Anonymous said...

I loved Fried Green Tomatoes,"Face it ladies, I'm older and I have more insurance." Love Kathy Bates! I also like As Good As it Gets.

Maggie May said...

I loved Amelie, Gone with the Wind and Nanny Macphee!

Swearing Mother said...

Oooh, got to choose Bridget Jones Diary, Notting Hill and Pretty Woman. Especially the bit when she goes into that snooty store, all dolled up and waving bags and bags of shopping, and says something like - "you work on commission, right?" and when the shop assistants say they do, she reminds them that yesterday they wouldn't serve her.

"Big mistake. Huge".

I love that bit.

laurie said...

come on you people!

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

PERSUASION

(but only the version with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root.)

Sandy said...

I'll trade you moonstruck for dirty dancing. I love dirty dancing!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Ever After, Widow's Peak, and An Affair to Remember.

Altaglow said...

This is also a bit late in the game but if we're looking for a movie where an older woman sorts out life and romance her way "Harold and Maud" is right up there with the greats and is actually my all time favorite film.

the rotten correspondent said...

I've just rolled in the door from work. Wow. You gals have been busy!

Am I the only one who wants to sit down and have a big fat chick flick weekend??

the rotten correspondent said...

Let me rephrase.

Not a big FAT CHICK flick weekend...

But a big fat CHICK FLICK weekend.

Maybe I shouldn't comment after work.

Irene said...

I have a Busy Bee award for you over at my place.

Kim said...

I think we'd better all go rent "Persuasion" before Laurie blows a gasket.

MJ Krech said...

My favorite chick flick has gotta be, "Hope Floats." Love Birdee Pruitt's comment: "Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma always says. She says that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will..."