web counter
 

What Do You Watch When You're In Your Worst Mood?

By Joanna Robinson | Posted Under Comment Diversions | Comments (137)

2001_o_brother_where_art_thou_002.jpeg

This is not a good day. Can you tell? Did the Sad Spackle splatter over the Pajiba Love earlier? I think it did. Tomorrow I’ll give you something like puppies to make up for it. So on days when you’re in a bad mood, what do you do? Drinking seems like an awesome ill-advised move, eating ALL the things sounds delicious even worse. I thought about going for a run, but then the heavens opened up and it started hailing. Being who I am, I usually end up watching a favorite movie. But if you’re like me, on days like this, days when you use the term “atomic fetal weeping” in an article title, the term “favorite” won’t cut it. You see, on my favorites list are films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Almost Famous. Apparently I prefer my films with a bit of an emotional wallop. Not today, my friends. Today the category we’re looking for is “feel good,” a sappy term that is usually reserved for trite romantic comedies and saccharine family fair. Also not what I need. Being talked down to by Hollywood makes me rage-stabby. So with careful thought, here are my four go-to “feel good whilst also holding on to the few brain cells I have remaining” movies. Pithy, no? Netflix should make it a category.

4) The Philadelphia Story
3) Amelie
2) The Princess Bride
1) O Brother, Where Art Thou?

So I’m curious, Pajiba Nation. What are yours? As I type the last sentences of this post, I’m already whistling “In The Jailhouse Now.” Clooney lies a-waitin’.

Clooney

Joanna Robinson is already feeling a good deal better at the prospect of the Cloons so she’s about to R-U-N-N-O-F-T.









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← Pajiba After Dark 2/16/11 | Leslie Knope and the Future of American Government →









Comments

I had a super shitty day yesterday and watched one of my favorite cheer me up movies: Stardust.

Top three others include Anne of Green Gables, Roxanne, and High Spirits. They were favorites as a kid and remain such to this day.

Posted by: Julie at February 16, 2011 4:04 PM

Persuasion (Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root version, natch)
Calendar Girls
Some Like It Hot
Amelie (just last night, in fact)
Fight Club ("I want you to hit me as hard as you can.")
The Young Victoria ("I will love you untill my dying breath." I just choked up. Just now.)

Posted by: klingonfree at February 16, 2011 4:04 PM

3. Desk Set
2. The Princess Bride
1. Raising Arizona

Posted by: Drake at February 16, 2011 4:05 PM

I've recommended this to people: Big Trouble in Little China. Dumb and fun.

Posted by: Mrcrreosote at February 16, 2011 4:05 PM

Oh Brother Where Art Thou is a given, but I might also break out Reality Bites or Breakfast Club.

Posted by: Soda at February 16, 2011 4:05 PM

Kind Hearts and Coronets
Arsenic and Old Lace (see yesterday's PL)
The Bishop's Wife (original with Cary Grant)
The Thin Man

Yup. For some reason, I can't watch anything modern when I am down in the dumps.

Posted by: PaddyDog at February 16, 2011 4:06 PM

The Big Hit.

Lou Diamond Phillips is the cure for the summertime blues.

Posted by: Fredo at February 16, 2011 4:06 PM

1. Superman
2. Beetlejuice
3. Princess Bride
3. Master of the Flying Guillotine

Posted by: superasente at February 16, 2011 4:06 PM

I don't really have a movie I watch when I'm in a bad mood. However, Mrs. Angerstein watches Evolution when she's sad, and Jaws when everything has gone badly that day. Her reasoning is that things may be horrible, but at least she didn't get eaten by a shark.

Posted by: Angry Angerstein at February 16, 2011 4:09 PM

Mrcrreosote beat me to it. Big Trouble In Little China is my personal favorite for silliness and fun.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at February 16, 2011 4:09 PM

Sense and Sensibility
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Little Women
The Apartment

Posted by: Cree83 at February 16, 2011 4:11 PM

Happy Gilmore.

I defy anyone to still be in a bad mood after seeing Bob Barker deliver a beat-down to Adam Sandler.

"The price is wrooong, bitch!"

Posted by: Nobody's Little Weasel at February 16, 2011 4:11 PM

I don't necessarily always turn to one particualr movie, but if there's something that can always brighten my day it is, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Movie."

O Brother Whereart Thou and The Princess Bride would also qualify.

I also listen to the music from the moon level in Duck Tales the video game. Or I could just watch Duck Tales. Never tried that one...

Posted by: L4NkYb at February 16, 2011 4:11 PM

Carrie

What? It's cathartic.

Posted by: emh at February 16, 2011 4:13 PM

I go for dumb and fun, too.
Office Space
Any Futurama movie
Big Trouble in Little China is an excellent choice.

Posted by: masonwasp at February 16, 2011 4:13 PM

1. Pride & Prejudice (A&E version)
2. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
3. All the President's Men
4. Sliding Doors

Posted by: rhombus at February 16, 2011 4:13 PM

Finding Nemo or Airplane!

Posted by: rabbi at February 16, 2011 4:15 PM

The Man With Two Brains

Posted by: abbytron at February 16, 2011 4:17 PM

Angry Angerstein: your wife and I are kindred spirits. I tend to watch horror movies when I'm sad or upset. As I said the night my dog was put to sleep and my college friends frantically searched our neighbors' dorms for a horror movie (they found Scream), "I may be sad but at least I'm not being stabbed in the face."

Posted by: Julie at February 16, 2011 4:17 PM

And YES-BTILC is a great pick.

Posted by: Julie at February 16, 2011 4:17 PM

"I Love Lucy".

Posted by: clatie at February 16, 2011 4:18 PM

I'm a wallower, so when I'm feeling shitty I like to lay low with Lost In Translation. An odd combination of sadness and comfort.

(But High Spirits ftw!)

Posted by: Sapphiar at February 16, 2011 4:18 PM

Tomorrow I’ll give you something like puppies to make up for it

*Commences winking and pointing at self*

Eh? Eh? YOU SAID YOU'D CONSIDER IT.

Posted by: Lauren at February 16, 2011 4:21 PM

Any of the Thin Man movies.

Posted by: Keith at February 16, 2011 4:21 PM

Some Like It Hot I'm engaged!

Sense and Sensibility - I meant something less mournful dearest.

Anchorman I'm trapped in a glass box of emotion!

Arthur - Not only, "you must have hated this moose", but also "Slut? SLUUUUT?"

Waiting for Guffman - I have yet to make it through Corky's private choreography session without weeping. Those tantalizing hip thrusts! Corky! We love you Corky!

Pride and Prejudice - You know which one. Never before has one program allowed one such delicious and consistent opportunities to hurl the word "slattern" at the screen. It's a public service really. No quote, just the flinch and eye roll from Darcy when his aunt says, "I must know what you are talking about."

The Office - UK version or early American

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at February 16, 2011 4:21 PM

Shaun of the Dead
Jaws
Elektra (Director's Cut)
Jurassic Park Trilogy

Posted by: Rykker at February 16, 2011 4:22 PM

Pride & Prejudice (miniseries)
Bend it Like Beckham
The Philadelphia Story
MASH
The Company

Posted by: Captain Tuttle at February 16, 2011 4:22 PM

Galaxy Quest or Army of Darkness

Posted by: badalamenti at February 16, 2011 4:23 PM

Jumping back in to say two modern ones just occurred to me that would fit the bill:

1. Once
2. Bright Star (in fact, the more I think about it, it's the perfect movie for the mean reds)

Posted by: PaddyDog at February 16, 2011 4:24 PM

5. The Fisher King
4. The Empire strikes back
3. Murder by Death
2. Planes, Trans and Automobiles
1. The Front Page

Posted by: pcb71 at February 16, 2011 4:24 PM

School of Rock does it for me every time.

Posted by: James S at February 16, 2011 4:24 PM

'She's the Man'

Posted by: kilmo at February 16, 2011 4:25 PM

THE THIN MAN!

The man at the aquarium said I couldn't bring them back.

I miss my long dead secret husband William Powell. One of the many reasons to watch Mr. Roberts is for his stroll across the deck to check on the captain's apoplexy.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at February 16, 2011 4:26 PM

JURASSIC PARK OF COURSE DUH RAWR!

Posted by: coveredinbees at February 16, 2011 4:27 PM

Oldboy or Aliens

I embrace my rage.

Posted by: admin at February 16, 2011 4:29 PM

Mike Nelson episodes of MST3K are always good when I'm in a mood. Also:
Shaun of the Dead
Anchorman

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at February 16, 2011 4:29 PM

Bright Star is nothing BUT atomic fetal weeping! I've seen that movie six times and never once made it through without crying.

Posted by: coveredinbees at February 16, 2011 4:29 PM

Little Miss Sunshine
Sixteen Candles
Pride and Prejudice (the Keira one, whatever, don't judge me)
Wet, Hot, American Summer

And I, too, loves me some O, Brother Where Art Thou? I watch it every time it's on TV.

Posted by: Dorothy Snarker at February 16, 2011 4:34 PM

Catch & Release (OLYPHANT!)

Con Air

Moonstruck

Nothing says "Feel Better!" like Nicolas Cage's crazyhair.

Posted by: Siege at February 16, 2011 4:37 PM

My Boyfriend's Back
Camp Nowhere
Galaxy Quest
Die Hard
Wet Hot American Summer
The Princess Bride
Wall-E
Ghostbusters
Mean Girls

Then there are those times when I just want to wallow in the sadness, and I make myself watch heartbreaking movies and TV episodes like "The Body" from BtVS.

Posted by: jM at February 16, 2011 4:39 PM

I wholeheartedly agree with several of the above (especially Amelie) and would like to add-

Hannah and Her Sisters
Top Hat

Posted by: cc at February 16, 2011 4:40 PM

Idon'treallylikeArsenicandOldLaceandIthinkCaryGrantisterribleinitkthanksbye.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at February 16, 2011 4:43 PM

Love, Actually.

Posted by: Az at February 16, 2011 4:44 PM

Singin'in the Rain!

Posted by: Princess Selfrespectra at February 16, 2011 4:44 PM

1) Lion in Winter
2) Kung Fu Hustle
3) Big Trouble in Little China/ Army of Darkness
4) Young Frankenstein/ Blazing Saddles

Posted by: Liz at February 16, 2011 4:45 PM

I'll see your "Murder by Death" and raise you a
"Bugsy Moline" or a "Goodbye Girl", Hell I'll throw in a "Bad News Bears" just to make it interesting

Posted by: thingsbetter at February 16, 2011 4:46 PM

Hmmm when I need serious cheering up nothing will do but some Fawlty Towers and Are You Being Served?.

Not sure I have a cheer me up movie...

Posted by: grace b at February 16, 2011 4:47 PM

A Fish Called Wanda
My Favorite Year--which back in my college days actually did help me out of a massive funk
Lion in Winter
Arsenic and Old Lace
Mother Goose
any vintage Cary Grant, actually.

Posted by: jthomas666 at February 16, 2011 4:48 PM

Royal Tennenbaums
Amelie
Bubble Boy
Drop Dead Gorgeous
The Office
Arrested Development

Apparently I have a lot of worst moods

Posted by: anikitty at February 16, 2011 4:51 PM

@L4NkYb

The DuckTales video game was AWESOME. I wish I still had it!!!!!

Posted by: anon33 at February 16, 2011 4:57 PM

The Goonies

Die Hard

anything involving muppets

Posted by: Vi at February 16, 2011 5:01 PM

If I need something life affirming to drag me out of a deep, dark bad mood, then I go with something like this:

Zulu
The Italian Job (the original, the one and only)
The Dark Crystal
Roman Holiday
The Man Who Would Be King
Labyrinth
Pretty much any episode of Farscape
Porco Rosso (or any of Studio Ghibli's works, even the downer ones seem to drag me up)
Heaven Knows, Mr Allison
Bon Cop, Bad Cop
Gunless (a new favourite)

Posted by: Wintermute at February 16, 2011 5:01 PM

Oh, and puppies tomorrow sounds nice. Sign me up.

Posted by: Wintermute at February 16, 2011 5:03 PM

Either Starship Troopers or Con Air. Or really, any insanely awful but awesome action movie that TNT might be showing that day...although now that I can stream Netflix the entire world just opened up to me. Calloo Callay!

Posted by: JenVegas at February 16, 2011 5:09 PM

Singin' in the Rain...

"Let the stormy clouds chase, everyone from the place. Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face!"

I also sing it everytime I've got the blues.

Posted by: citizen_cris at February 16, 2011 5:10 PM

4) Young Frankenstein/ Blazing Saddles

Hear, hear!

Also, Spaceballs.

Posted by: branded at February 16, 2011 5:10 PM

When I'm down I prefer to watch either stand-up or re-watch a season of something. Arrested Development and Sunny in Philly marathons work pretty good for me. Futurama used to but since Comedy Central started showing the reruns every day after I'd already watched every single episode a million times it's not the same. I don't know why it's different on DVD. Sopranos, Titus, 30 Rock all work pretty good too.

If I'm in a self-loathing mood where I want to make myself more depressed (it's not often thankfully) I'll watch early seasons of Rescue Me.

For movies :Fight Club, Goodfellas, Donnie Darko, Blow and Pantera: Vulgar Videos never get old no matter what mood I'm in.

Posted by: Paultera at February 16, 2011 5:13 PM

Gosford Park.
I love anything extremely British actually... Blackadder.
Spaced.
Any one of several period movies with corsets and plenty of windblown heaths.

The Incredibles.
The Labyrinth.
Step Brothers (Yup! That's right!)
"Why are you so sweaty?"
"I was watching Cops." HAH!

Posted by: SanityFair at February 16, 2011 5:14 PM

Yup, I'm usually part of the "dumb and fun" crowd when it comes to bad mood movie viewing.

Anchorman
Zoolander
Supertroopers


Although, lately, I've also been watching episodes of Veronica Mars or the J.J. Abrams version of Star Trek whenever I'm in a foul mood. They both cheer me up considerably.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at February 16, 2011 5:25 PM

Hell yes to Drop Dead Gorgeous, anikitty.

Posted by: jM at February 16, 2011 5:31 PM

Empire Records (what's with today, today?)and Office Space (especially if the source of my anger/sadness is work related).

Posted by: SuiteT at February 16, 2011 5:32 PM

High Fidelity
Grosse Pointe Blank (what? Cusack is good vibes)
Before Sunset
that Muppets version of Kanye's Monster
the opening scene (but only the opening scene) of Bring It On.

Posted by: Kirstini at February 16, 2011 5:33 PM

1950s sci fi, Anything by Christopher Guest and Whose Line Is It Anyway? episodes.

I live in WI - even worse, I am a state employee - and have been watching all the above non- stop since Friday. They are not as effective as they used to be....

Posted by: funtime42 at February 16, 2011 5:34 PM

Huh. Just from the headline, I was thinking the question was "What gloomy movie do you watch when you're in your gloomiest mood?"

For me, the answer to that would be The Crow. That shit is pure 90s emo gloom filling in an angst sandwich. And when I wallow, I wallow.

A FEEL-GOOD movie? Um, what? Seriously, when I'm sad/grumpy etc., I either wallow (see above), or I don't watch movies. I can only watch feel-good movies when I already feel good; otherwise, they just make me feel worse.

Posted by: MM at February 16, 2011 5:36 PM

The Magnificent Seven. Sometimes the soundtrack alone is enough.
If I owned the Cavalry Trilogy, I'd watch it.
Rio Bravo
The Guns of Navarone
Band of Brothers
Singing in the Rain, yeah. Also Fred & Ginger movies.

Amelie just depresses me.

Posted by: capitainejanvier at February 16, 2011 5:41 PM

First, I approve of this Diversion.

Like others, O' Brother Where Art Thou? is on my list, and MST3K never fails to cheer me up. One film nobody else has mentioned that would be on my "feel good" list is Local Hero. I fell out of love with a woman who, after we watched it together, said she didn't like it that much. At that moment I began to suspect she had no soul.

Posted by: Groundloop at February 16, 2011 5:52 PM

Philadelphia Story
Mean Girls
The Holiday
He's Just Not That Into You
Drop Dead Gorgeous

I will not apologize for my choices.

Posted by: Erin at February 16, 2011 5:53 PM

@capitainejanvier,

Hell yes to westerns. And now I have Dequello stuck in my head again.

I should add some easterns too: Yojimbo, Hidden Fortress, Red Cliff...

And for some unfathomable reason, Time and Tide. Great movie to cheer up to.

Posted by: Wintermute at February 16, 2011 5:57 PM

I'll pop in a MST movie,something like "SoulTaker" which has Joe Estevez, the least talented of the Sheen/Estevez siblings, bad 80's perms, and something called "Summerfest", which has a few balloons and not much else that is festive.

It is impossible to watch a really choice MST movie and not feel better.

Posted by: lil_a at February 16, 2011 6:05 PM

Willow.

cute baby + magic + little people + Val Kilmer (in drag at one point, no less!) = I cannot sit through that movie and remain in a bad mood. It's an impossibility.

Posted by: Angeleno Ewok at February 16, 2011 6:05 PM

I'm of two minds in this scenario.

Sometimes, I go with a film that makes me realize it could be much worse--the Rent adaptation gets my blood boiling this way, or Suspiria for that awful out of nowhere ending. Other times, it's the daffiest, sappiest, upbeatiest musical comedy I can find--think Call Me Madam or a bootleg tape of Evil Dead: The Musical.

Posted by: Robert at February 16, 2011 6:08 PM

I absolutely have to second "I Love Lucy".
Nostalgic, silly, funny - the perfect show for a day when nothing else is going right.

Posted by: Jane at February 16, 2011 6:09 PM

Cats Don't Dance. End of argument forever.

Posted by: dahlia6 at February 16, 2011 6:13 PM

Also, my (female) ex roommate used to use Sense and Sensibility, Little Women, or Buffy for this purpose. My (male) ex roommate would watch Anchorman and Superbad. Mars and Venus, etc...

Posted by: Angeleno Ewok at February 16, 2011 6:14 PM

Howl's Moving Castle
Starman
Enchanted
The Sting
Sneakers

And now I must go and re-order my Netflix queue.

Posted by: MaryB. at February 16, 2011 6:14 PM

Sense and Sensibility.

Nothing will cheer me up like that movie will.

Posted by: Figgy at February 16, 2011 6:21 PM

1) Pride and Prejudice - This is watched often to remind me romance isn't dead, it's just lost in another time period(it's the Joe Wright version and it's gorgeous, OK? How do you have time to casually watch the mini-series version? I thought this was supposed to be about feeling good? Shut up! Also, kudos to Jane Austen for showing up on so many lists)
2) Shopgirl - so sad and romantic
3)Ice Princess - this is the ridiculous Disney movie about Buffy's sister passing up Harvard to become a figure skater. It's mesmerizing and makes me happy.
4)O Brother Where Art Thou - I love this movie and I don't own it yet but I'm going to consider today's post as the final push to just order it already.

Posted by: valerie at February 16, 2011 6:21 PM

Sister Act 2, ever since I was about 8. I know Lauryn Hill is crazy, but girl can sing. Also, the fact that I'm an atheist hasn't stopped the love.

Posted by: Margrete at February 16, 2011 6:21 PM

Original Star Wars Trilogy
The Princess Bride
Big Fish
Iron Man
Moulin Rouge
The Lost Boys

Posted by: Alice at February 16, 2011 6:22 PM

whipped

Posted by: splinter at February 16, 2011 6:25 PM

Ever After is my favorite pick me up.

Posted by: Scully at February 16, 2011 6:34 PM

I love campy stuff and I don't own many movies so...

Zorro the Gay Blade
Flash Gordon
Return of the King (Rankin/Bass. The music!!!)
and... Zoolander

Zoolander is totally dumb (unlike the super-intellectual "Zorro the Gay Blade") but when I first saw it, it hit me in that stupid-funny sweetspot.

Posted by: Sara Tonin at February 16, 2011 6:37 PM

Bridget Jones's Diary

Empire Records

Super Troopers

Clueless


I know you didn't ask, but I feel like wallowing I will usually bust out (500) Days of Summer or some season 2/season 3 of Buffy with all the Buffy/Angel angst

Posted by: Even Stevens at February 16, 2011 6:50 PM

*if* I feel like wallowing. Must remember to proofread.

Posted by: Even Stevens at February 16, 2011 6:51 PM

Jurassic park
The Thing
The Dark Crystal
Popeye
Old Star Wars
Harvey
The Muppet Movie
Sid and Marty Kroffts Land Of The Lost
Secret of Nimh
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Watership Down

. . .i have lots. i have many days where my soul goes to bad places. i need the big guns.

Posted by: idleprimate at February 16, 2011 6:59 PM

Ever After! YES, Scully.

That one and Finding Nemo.

Posted by: Figgy at February 16, 2011 7:11 PM

Fred and Ginger can fix any bad day ever.

1. Top Hat, Roberta, The Barkleys of Broadway
2. The Big Lebowski
3. Any Christopher Guest movie
4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
5. Sweeney Todd (singing along is obligatory)

Posted by: beautifuJessica at February 16, 2011 7:12 PM

The Wind and the Lion
The Slammin' Salmon
A League of Their Own--really just for the peeing scene and "There's no crying in baseball!"

Posted by: noseyflynn at February 16, 2011 7:20 PM

Stranger Than Fiction

Posted by: Stupid Velociraptors at February 16, 2011 7:21 PM

Ooh, yes yes yes to Ever After and Muppet anything. And Jurassic Park. And Willow. And Clue. And Goonies. And Rogue-because again, at least I'm not being chased by a giant alligator.

Posted by: Julie at February 16, 2011 7:31 PM

Great diversion, great movies. Mine are:

The Little Mermaid
Jaws
Aliens
Sense and Sensibility
Kate and Leopold
Sabrina (original)
Shall We Dance?

Posted by: Lexie at February 16, 2011 7:39 PM

#1: Moonstruck, forever and ever.

Flirting With Disaster
anything with Steve Martin
Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion
Ratatouille
anything Mel Brooks/Gene Wilder

Already mentioned:
@Margrete Sister Act 2 YES!!!
Little Women
anything Christopher Guest
90s Adam Sandler
Drop Dead Gorgeous

It's comforting to push one of these into the VCR and get wrapped up in the familiar arms of 90s movie previews. And I think it's all about being moved to the toe curl point -- comedically or happily -- that lifts my spirits and makes watching these movies a good ointment when my soul is a sad sack.

Posted by: GIV at February 16, 2011 7:46 PM

Office Space, hands-down. Or anything by Wes Anderson if I'm feeling more introverted (preferably Bottle Rocket or Rushmore)

Posted by: BAM at February 16, 2011 7:50 PM

Young Frankenstein
Office Space
Undercover Brother

Amelie
Lion King
Lord of the Rings

Shawshank Redemption
Unforgiven
Caddyshack
Kung Fu Hustle

Feelin better just thinking about it.....

Posted by: Rubble44 at February 16, 2011 7:53 PM

Clueless: five minutes is enough, any five minutes

Up: all the healing tears, and Squirrel!

Love, Actually: no logic applies

Object Of My Affection: there's just something real there, can't put my finger on it

Drop Dead Gorgeous: anorexia can be so hilarious

Bringing Up Baby: because that just can't be topped

Breaking The Waves: because that's what I actually watch in my worst mood

Posted by: schmerpes at February 16, 2011 8:12 PM

Farenheit 911
8: The Mormon Proposition
Capitalism: A Love Story
Dear Zachary
An Inconvenient Truth

Why would I want to associate a bad experience or my worst mood with a movie I love? I want something to let my stabby, hostile, screaming angry self out on!

I'm paraphrasing a line Burt Reynolds gave in one of his movies, but his delivery was excellent and I remember it to this day:

I am fucking PISSED!
I want to stay that way for awhile.

Posted by: Jimboi at February 16, 2011 8:16 PM

I'm kind of a masochist. When I'm REALLY sad or upset, I break out the most depressing movies in my arsenal.

-Dancer in the Dark
-Children of Men
-Pan's Labyrinth
-Million Dollar Baby

But when I need to be lifted up, it's usually television.

Adventure Time (srsly the happiest show ever)
Freaks and Geeks
Doctor Who
Mythbusters

All guaranteed to lift me from a funk.

Posted by: AlexaCastro at February 16, 2011 8:18 PM

Groundhog Day
Shawshank Redemption
Tommy Boy
The Hudsucker Proxy
Friday

Casino: Sharon Stone's freakout/fight scene with Deniro always makes me immeasurbly, inexplicably happy.

"Who blew you in the parking lot?"

That's gold, people.

Posted by: greer at February 16, 2011 8:24 PM

Get Smart. It's dumb and the jokes are bad, but it does wonders for my mood. Bill Murray has a cameo as a TREE. How could you possibly stay sad?

Posted by: nosio at February 16, 2011 8:33 PM

The Thin Man and Forgetting Sarah Marshell!

Posted by: Theseus at February 16, 2011 8:39 PM

Starship Troopers
Galaxy Quest
Die Hard
A Fish Called Wanda - or any Monty Python episode, Fawlty Towers, etc.


Usually all I need to do when I'm in a funk is distract myself. So, the more absurd the better (and I don't mean in a disturbing terrifying Stanley Kubrikian kind of absurd - those movies are for other moods). Usually, John Cleese can bring the absurd, and if he can't, I'll just listen to Alan Rickman say anything and I'll feel instantly wonderful.

Posted by: Zabe at February 16, 2011 9:27 PM

Yoda.

Posted by: Jay at February 16, 2011 9:42 PM

grace b

On behalf of your fellow 'Four Seasons' lovers, please forgive our not letting you in on the sheer magnisome awcificence of that classic treasure, which mayhaps have been released when you were but a lil' baby child?

That's no excuse, of course- Alda and Burnett in their prime (and quite believable as a couple), an excellently droll screenplay, Jack Warden in one of his best roles - it's saddening you've only just recently discovered it, but at the same time I envy you your virgin viewing..

I'm off to Netflix this instant!

Posted by: Germane at February 16, 2011 9:51 PM

Shawshank Redemption
Saving Grace
How to Train Your Dragon
The Thin Man
A Little Princess
A Fish Called Wanda

And to whomever mentioned Ice Princess, so true! My 7 year old LAUGHS AT MY TEARS...


Ohhh, and Idleprimate...Watership Down! Hazel leaving with the Black Rabbit of Inle...it KILLS me. I've lost track of how many times I've read that novel, and the movie is quite wonderful, too.

Posted by: Isaphoebe at February 16, 2011 9:53 PM

Drowning Mona

Definitely any of the Thin Man movies.

Chocolat

Posted by: MRod at February 16, 2011 9:56 PM

Tombstone
Dazed and Confused

Posted by: kimmyhula at February 16, 2011 10:02 PM

Grosse Point Blank
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Dave
Drop Dead Gorgeous

Posted by: Athena at February 16, 2011 10:18 PM

Pulp Fiction
Primer
Rushmore
Menace II Society

Posted by: Wadji at February 16, 2011 10:18 PM

Looney Tunes.Preferably Foghorn Leghorn. Sylvester and Son works as well. Bugs too.

Jaws. I watch that damn movie at least once a year. Hell, I saw it at the theater 5 times as a kid.

Hard Boiled and The Killer. Chow Yun Fat can cheer anyone up.

The Right Stuff

Posted by: Sean at February 16, 2011 10:43 PM

Aw, I've been having a crappy few weeks, and was just thinking about busting out a movie. What an awesome and timely diversion. Can't think of many right now, but browsing through, I'd agree with Pride & Prejudice (the Joe Wright version 'cause sometimes you just want eye candy), Drop Dead Gorgeous, Office Space, or Bridget Jones' Diary.

Posted by: KP at February 16, 2011 10:44 PM

Josie and The Pussycats
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou
Either of the Kolchak telemovies
Hot Rod

Posted by: Shane at February 16, 2011 10:45 PM

I'm in the B-movie/MST3K camp. I pop in something like Troll 2 or find a shitty SyFy flick and all is soon right with the world.

Posted by: Mattfactor at February 16, 2011 10:46 PM

I feel I am late to this party, but I have three go-tos:

The Princess Bride, because it's endlessly quotable (even for girls!) and Buttercup and Westley are too beautiful;

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, because there is nothing so uplifting as the tale of a boy and his bike, and;

Firefly. I'm watching it right now, as a matter of fact. Helps to shake off the unemployed blues. I want to be Zoe when I grow up.

Posted by: melia at February 16, 2011 10:57 PM

Any steve buscemi movie

Posted by: thimble at February 16, 2011 11:20 PM

not all of those were faves, just wanted to complete the secret message in my post...that no one got...or no one cared about....

gar.....I'm so lonely....

Posted by: Rubble44 at February 16, 2011 11:31 PM

Any Disney cartoon, or anything Pixar.

Posted by: badkittyuno at February 16, 2011 11:44 PM

Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion (on days when my best friend and I are in respective bad moods we'll send a simple text saying 'I'll dance with you, Romy.')

The Princess Bride
Almost Famous
Sixteen Candles
Willow
The Emperor's New Grove

And my favorite rainy day movie,
Harold and Maude

Posted by: thatsjesstastic! at February 17, 2011 12:36 AM

1. Buffy (the series)
2. Beetlejuice

Posted by: Vince Noir at February 17, 2011 12:43 AM

I, of course, love "O Brother, Where Art Thou" (Gopher, Everett?), and I'm pandering to the author by I mention "Airborne" (You don't know about The Devil's Backbone?).

But the top movie to get me out of a bad mood is also my favorite of all time: "The Blues Brothers". Action, Comedy, Singing, Dancing and Spielberg

Posted by: tonysnark_21 at February 17, 2011 2:30 AM

All 4 of yours are excellent choices - Amelie and O Brother are in my actual 'Top 10 Favourites Of All Time' list.

So for specifically feel-good, I would add:

His Girl Friday
Singin' In The Rain (or On The Town)
Ratatouille
Grosse Pointe Blank

Posted by: Simon at February 17, 2011 2:56 AM

Dead Like Me or Dexter. Sometimes I just need cynicism and people getting killed to fix everything.

If I am only in a mildly bad mood, Pushing Daisies brings the death but smooths it with adorableness and Lee Pace's eyebrows.

Posted by: Shibuyama at February 17, 2011 2:57 AM

Back To The Future. All three of 'em. Innocent, smart fun.

Posted by: Man of Stool at February 17, 2011 3:43 AM

When I’m down I will drink (more), and watch one of the following:

Lost In Translation
The Big Lebowski
Heat
Kicking and Screaming
Serenity

Alternatively, I have two televisions in my living room, so I will just turn on the one that’s constantly playing Arrested Development from my PS3.

Posted by: zeke the pig at February 17, 2011 5:01 AM

3. Venture Bros - Season 2
2. Care Bears
1. Coming to America (or any GOOD Eddie Murphy film will do)

Posted by: Teresa at February 17, 2011 6:15 AM

As previously mentioned: Stardust, Arsenic & Old Lace and The Lion King. Lesbian Vampire Killers is from guys who are kind of like a poor man's Pegg & Frost, but it's a brilliant "feel good/lots of exploding lesbian vampires gore" film.

Posted by: KJ at February 17, 2011 7:23 AM

The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.

Posted by: Winterbottom at February 17, 2011 8:33 AM

Big Easy. Nothing like Dennis Quaid looking hot as hell to brighten my mood. Also Moonstruck because it's so damn quotable.

Posted by: Alice at February 17, 2011 8:53 AM

Really disturbing porn.

Posted by: Lucas at February 17, 2011 9:33 AM

Hailing from the region that invented "Schadenfreude", my feel-good films must include fight scenes, explosions and blood & guts galore. Hence...
The Usual Suspects
Platoon
Spartacus series
On a lighter note, the musical episode of Buffy never fails as a quick pick-me-up either.

Posted by: cinekat at February 17, 2011 9:38 AM

AlexaCastro, thank you for mentioning Adventure Time.

Everything small is just a smaller version of something big. I know EVERYTHING!!!

Posted by: L4NkYb at February 17, 2011 10:03 AM

500 Days of Summer, Say Anything, Slings and Arrows Season 1, Atonement, High Fidelity

Posted by: tallulahc at February 17, 2011 11:02 AM

The Sound of Music. Christopher Plummer is kinda hot in it and his facial expression keeps signalling WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING IN THIS PIECE OF CRAP MOVIE, which I find entertaining.

Also: Hot Fuzz, Bend It Like Beckham and Billy Elliot.

Posted by: Circe at February 17, 2011 1:46 PM

Finding Nemo
Real Genius
My Chauffeur
The 1st 2 Seasons of Alias (not a movie I know, but come on Sydney Bristow kicks ass)
Heathers
But I'm a Cheerleader

Posted by: JULIE at February 17, 2011 3:08 PM

Wow, lots of great movies and some very guilty pleasure.

Any of the Thin Men movies
Merrily We Live
My Man Godfrey
The Philadelphia Story
Bringing Up Baby

...and oddly enough Hitman.

Posted by: Jennface at February 17, 2011 4:50 PM

Friday the 13th, the Series
The opening theme alone is sometimes enough to bust the blues.
Occult/Magic: check
Nostalgia factor: check
Cheese: check
Mancrush: Jack Marshak

Posted by: dagnabbit at February 17, 2011 6:46 PM

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, with Danny Kaye. That movie always puts me in a good mood.

Posted by: Tyburn Blossom at February 17, 2011 8:45 PM

The point is, Chris, if theyre going to involve themselves in unethical violations of privacy, they should AT LEAST actually succeed in stopping weapons from getting on planes once in a while.

Posted by: Cosmetyn Reviews at February 18, 2011 11:31 AM