Forum The Longship OT: light summer movies

OT: light summer movies

Montana Tom
Joined May 2013
686 posts
Rep: 1,239

Too much heavy stuff going on in the world, so I tend to look for lighthearted movies in the evening.

I do not like slapstick or physical comedy.  Network TV after the news is the Kraft American Cheese of content...the lowest common denominator.  

Found a couple this week that are light, subtle comedies, bordering on RomCom.
Neither are new and we've seen them both before over the years (but fortunately forgot most of the plot lines...happens at our age).

The Intern, with Robert DeNiro was the opposite of the normal tough guy personna for him.  With Ann Hathaway and a solid cast.
And last night, we watched La Dolce Villa again.  Not a huge name cast (mostly very good Italian actors), but a solidly light movie.  Maia Reficco (who?) as the daughter is cute as a bug and Violante Placido (who?) as the mayor are notable.  The trophy wife and I have been to Italy and want to go back and visit friends, so this kinda warm memories. 

Gotten through a couple episodes of The Waterfront (thanks for the tip), but it's a bit dark for these times.

#1 · Jun 25, 9:33 AM
JustInTime
Joined Feb 2025
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Rep: 1,512

Becoming Led Zeppelin is on my list.

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”

Shakespeare 

#2 · Jun 25, 9:54 AM
JimmyinSD
JimmyinSD
Admin
Joined May 2013
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Rep: 1,867
Montana Tom wrote:
Too much heavy stuff going on in the world, so I tend to look for lighthearted movies in the evening.

I do not like slapstick or physical comedy.  Network TV after the news is the Kraft American Cheese of content...the lowest common denominator.  

Found a couple this week that are light, subtle comedies, bordering on RomCom.
Neither are new and we've seen them both before over the years (but fortunately forgot most of the plot lines...happens at our age).

The Intern, with Robert DeNiro was the opposite of the normal tough guy personna for him.  With Ann Hathaway and a solid cast.
And last night, we watched La Dolce Villa again.  Not a huge name cast (mostly very good Italian actors), but a solidly light movie.  Maia Reficco (who?) as the daughter is cute as a bug and Violante Placido (who?) as the mayor are notable.  The trophy wife and I have been to Italy and want to go back and visit friends, so this kinda warm memories. 

Gotten through a couple episodes of The Waterfront (thanks for the tip), but it's a bit dark for these times.

really dont get tired of looking at Anne Hathaway....

Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?

#3 · Jun 25, 10:40 AM
JimmyinSD
JimmyinSD
Admin
Joined May 2013
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StickierBuns wrote:
I'll recommend a dark comedy that is very underrated: Cable Guy with Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick. The acting is really good and Carrey is a tour de force in this from an acting perspective.

holy crap!  thats bringing one back from the dead.  and yes it was definitely a different side of Carrey.

Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?

#4 · Jun 25, 10:50 AM
comet52
Joined Sep 2013
682 posts
Rep: 1,049
JustInTime wrote:
Becoming Led Zeppelin is on my list.

So good I watched it 3 times.

One that I think is always a great watch is Midnight Run with DeNiro and Charles Grodin.  It has action, a buddy story, cops and robbers, a great cast of characters, a well constructed story and a human heart at the center of it all.

edited Jun 25, 2025 12:05 PM
#5 · Jun 25, 11:55 AM
JustInTime
Joined Feb 2025
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comet52 wrote:

So good I watched it 3 times.

One that I think is always a great watch is Midnight Run with DeNiro and Charles Grodin.  It has action, a buddy story, cops and robbers, a great cast of characters, a well constructed story and a human heart at the center of it all.

Really? I wasn’t going to spend the $6 on Prime to watch, but maybe I will.

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”

Shakespeare 

#6 · Jun 25, 12:10 PM
purplefaithful
Joined May 2013
3,478 posts
Rep: 4,142
JustInTime wrote:
Becoming Led Zeppelin is on my list.
comet52 wrote:

So good I watched it 3 times.

We watched this last night...So well done, seeing the early stuff was especially mind blowing, painstakingly restored. 

4 amazing artists with the conviction to pursue music at such early ages. Such a range in their songbook.

Also watching Murderbot and enjoying that too.

edited Jun 27, 2025 10:25 AM

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

#7 · Jun 27, 9:29 AM
MaroonBells
Joined Jan 2014
3,235 posts
Rep: 4,468
comet52 wrote:

So good I watched it 3 times.

One that I think is always a great watch is Midnight Run with DeNiro and Charles Grodin.  It has action, a buddy story, cops and robbers, a great cast of characters, a well constructed story and a human heart at the center of it all.

Midnight Run is one of my all time favorites. The DeNiro / Grodin combo works on a level that is hard to imagine if you haven't seen it, but they're absolutely perfect together. But Dennis "stab you through the heart with a fucking pencil" Farina may have had the best line. On a side note, the bounty hunter John Ashton lived in Fort Collins and dated a friend of mine for years. He died just a few months ago. 

Watched Old Henry with Tim Blake Nelson the other night with the kids. Knew nothing about it going in, but we all loved it.

#8 · Jun 27, 10:27 AM
JustInTime
Joined Feb 2025
1,971 posts
Rep: 1,512

Found out that the fiancée has never seen The Wedding Singer. This will be remedied soon.

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”

Shakespeare 

#9 · Jun 27, 10:54 AM
NC
Joined Oct 2024
44 posts
Rep: 84
JustInTime wrote:
Becoming Led Zeppelin is on my list.

Highly recommended!

#10 · Jun 27, 11:38 AM
BigAl99
Joined May 2013
132 posts
Rep: 135
purplefaithful wrote:

We watched this last night...So well done, seeing the early stuff was especially mind blowing, painstakingly restored. 

4 amazing artists with the conviction to pursue music at such early ages. Such a range in their songbook.

Also watching Murderbot and enjoying that too.

Haven't watched it yet, but am binge reading the Murderbot Diaries, it's great.  The Author, Martha Wells has a background in Anthropology which ex[lains the .... Makes me think of the Foundation Series, R. Daneel Olivaw and  fleshes out the Laws of robotics with AI.  Good stuff.

#11 · Jun 27, 11:39 AM
JR44
Joined Aug 2017
602 posts
Rep: 839

Know exactly what you mean, I find myself mostly wanting something light and positive. At one point I was so desperate for some positive movies that I subscribed to the Hallmark Channel! A few I recently watched on Netflix, Nonnas (based on true story, must watch) and The Life List (inspired me to start one!) Also some older ones I just rewatched that really like - Always Be My Maybe, Instant Family, All Together Now. Some shows I really liked on Apple TV are Shrinking and Platonic, also just started Stick which seems pretty good, typical Owen Wilson, him in the Internship along with Vince Vaughn is one of my favorites ever.

#12 · Jun 27, 2:33 PM
purplefaithful
Joined May 2013
3,478 posts
Rep: 4,142
JR44 wrote:
Know exactly what you mean, I find myself mostly wanting something light and positive.  At one point I was so desperate for some positive movies that I subscribed to the Hallmark Channel!  A few I recently watched on Netflix, Nonnas (based on true story, must watch) and The Life List (inspired me to start one!) Also some older ones I just rewatched that really like - Always Be My Maybe, Instant Family, All Together Now.  Some shows I really liked on Apple TV are Shrinking and Platonic, also just started Stick which seems pretty good, typical Owen Wilson, him in the Internship along with Vince Vaughn is one of my favorites ever.

My sister told me Nonnas was must see, but it fell flat for us.

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

#13 · Jun 27, 5:39 PM
MaroonBells
Joined Jan 2014
3,235 posts
Rep: 4,468

Speaking of binging, Youtube Premium has every damn Planet of the Apes movie known to man for free right now. I think the last time I saw the original was before I hit puberty, because I did not recall what a barely-clothed smoke show Nova was.  

#14 · Jun 28, 8:34 AM
purplefaithful
Joined May 2013
3,478 posts
Rep: 4,142

Dept Q on Netflix

We're on Ep4 and its very well done, highly recommend.

Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger! 

#15 · Jun 28, 10:17 AM
Montana Tom
Joined May 2013
686 posts
Rep: 1,239

More oldies pulled out of the dustbin late this week.

I had to explain to the Trophy Wife that while The Whammer character (Joe Don Baker) in The Natural was profiled after Babe Ruth, that the story was just fiction. Some of the cinematography in that movie is just amazing today...over 40 years after it was released.

And Rudy...what can you say? It's got a college football backdrop, but it's just a positive film that is about the endearing power of optimism, hard work and perseverance.

#16 · Jun 28, 10:43 AM
pattersaur
Joined Jul 2017
722 posts
Rep: 720

Not sure this is the right crowd but there’s been some shockingly good movies in theaters lately. I loved Sinners and F1, and am also looking forward to seeing the latest Mission Impossible movie, 28 Years Later (NOT a light summer movie), and sure maybe even the new Jurassic Park or Superman.

At home I recently rewatched The Matrix. Pretty sure that movie will hold up forever.

#17 · Jun 28, 6:48 PM
JustInTime
Joined Feb 2025
1,971 posts
Rep: 1,512

We’ve got a new IMAX theatre in town. I think we’ll see F1 there.

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”

Shakespeare 

#18 · Jun 28, 7:26 PM
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Forum The Longship OT: light summer movies

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