Schenelle Dsouza
Watching a movie together is a great way for parents to spend time with their children. And so, ahead of Children’s Day, here’s a curated list of non-animated movies that we wish we had watched with our parents as children. Scroll down to see more.
Blended
One of the most memorable Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movies, Blended is a treat for the whole family. In addition to the exceptional landscapes of Africa, the movie also highlights the special bond between parents and their children, as the former learn to loosen the reins and try to understand the latter. The plot surrounds two single parents, Jim and Lauren who cross paths on what can only be described as the worst blind date ever. However, their worst nightmare has only begun as the duo meet once again on a family trip in Africa, where both them along with their children and are forced to live together. Initially, both the couple and their kids bicker and sass one another. However, the trip soon transforms into an exciting fun-filled vacation with both families blending like one!
Watch online on Apple TV
Freaky Friday
The rebel phase in a child’s life is an unavoidable situation and an out-of-control teenager can be a recurring nightmare for most parents. However, it is the lack of understanding between the parent and child that can only worsen the situation. A fun family drama, Freaky Friday paints the picture of a wild child in her growing teen years who has a clash of words with her overworked single mother at every turn. Both mother and daughter find it difficult to see eye-to-eye on things, claiming the other is selfish and uncaring. But in a freaky turn of events, the pair gets to witness just how green the grass really is on the other side, living as each other for an entire day.
Watch online on Disney+ Hostar
Gifted
Not all parents are birth givers, and Tom Flynn’s Gifted is an excellent example. Living in a coastal town in Florida, Frank, a single man, is left with the custody of his young genius niece, Mary after the death of her parents. Frank has plans to raise Mary as normally as possible. However, her grandmother and Frank’s mother Evelyn has other plans as soon as Mary’s ingenious mathematical skills come to light. Her plans to help nurture these skills of Mary become an obstructing force separating Mary and Frank who initially got along splendidly until an ugly custody battle follows.
Watch online on Disney+ Hostar
Miracles from Heaven
A warm story about a mother who refuses to give up on her ailing daughter, Miracles from Heaven is a movie based on real events surrounding the Beam family. A very young Anna is diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease that renders her unable to eat anything, living on pills only. Her devout mother Christy becomes an advocate for her daughter’s healing and does everything she can to save her, including travelling far across the country for her treatment. The story is a wonderful portrayal of a mother’s doting love and affection, proof that she will never give up on her child no matter what.
Watch online on Netflix
The Parent Trap
A favourite from the ’90s, The Parent Trap is one of the best family movies out there. It features two twins played by Lindsay Lohan. Separated at birth, twins Annie and Hallie meet at a summer camp. Even though the two refuse to believe they are related (despite the fact that they have the same face), the two eventually realise that they are biological twins with divorced parents. Not wanting to stay apart, the two decide to reunite their parents through a clever twin-switch strategy. What follows is a series of hilarious scenarios with moments shared between both the parents and their daughters.
Watch online on Disney+ Hostar
Yes Day
Every parent knows the word ‘NO’ all too well. It’s a word they use almost 50 times a day, most often to the same party: their children. But have you ever wondered what would happen if parents started to agree to everything their children asked for? Unavoidable chaos aside, saying yes all the time may not be the worst decision ever. Or is it? Yes Day is the answer to that question. Realising that they’ve been too harsh and controlling, parents Alison and Carlos attempt to prove that they are fun parents, by agreeing to 24 hours of saying yes to any and every request made by their kids. An entertainer in its right, the movie shows parents that it’s okay to loosen the reins just a little bit, every once in a while!
Watch online on Netflix
Wonder
Based on the New York Times bestseller by RJ Palacio, Wonder is a story about a young boy learning his way into the world as his parents lend him a little courage. Ten-year-old August, Auggie Pullman was born with a rare genetic abnormality that required him to undergo as many as 30 surgeries and medical treatments since his early days. His sole courage is his mother played by Julia Roberts, who gave up working on her PhD to care for him. After being homeschooled for years, Auggie’s real challenge begins when he is forced to step back into the world. He is enlisted into the fifth grade at a private school where he befriends a boy named Jack. The two form a strong bond and soon stand up to the bullies in their class.
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