Feel Good Inc (part 2)

Welcome back! Are you also looking for some escapism through movies? You've come to the right place. My reading and watching patterns have been rather erratic this year, which may be reflected soon in future posts. But today, we have a rather tame expansion of the feel-good movies list from yesterday. We'll continue with:

Tampopo (1985) Juzo Itami

Someday I'll make a list of the top ten best food movies, but until then know that Tampopo has a hallowed place on that list. Itami's "ramen western" is, very vaguely, about a woman on the hunt for the perfect ramen recipe, aided on her quest by a zany assortment of characters. But, more than that, it's an ode to food, cinema, and the crazy meanderings of life. While tentpoled by the main premise, we traverse the side alleys of Japan, grocery markets, hotel dining rooms while characters explore the sensual delights of food and the joy it brings. There are training montages, fourth wall breakages, and more. Tampopo is a delight, but also so completely unpredictable and off-the-wall, part of the fun is sitting back and letting it take you on its crazy ride.


Legally Blonde (2001) Robert Luketic

There's something timeless about Reese Witherspoon's performance in Legally Blonde, which ends up being an effervescent, witty movie about female empowerment. Elle Woods might initially decide to go for Harvard Law to snag a guy, but shows on the way how funny, smart, and genuinely compassionate she is. Her somewhat hilarious video essay helps her snag a spot, but it's not long before she shows why she belongs there. Furthermore, Elle achieves her goals at Harvard Law and beyond without sacrificing who she is, shedding stereotypes and mean girl tropes along the way. Maybe I'm belaboring the point, but Elle Woods stands for Legally Blonde itself -- an oft-dismissed movie in an oft-dismissed genre that embraces what it is while rising above typecast.


Sherlock Jr. (1924) Buster Keaton

You can usually rely on Buster Keaton for a feel-good time, but Sherlock Jr. probably has the most of my favorite bits from him: the billiards scene, the movie montage extravaganza, and the jumping through a person stunt. Yesterday, Jackie Chan was the action comedy hero I presented, but Chan owes so much to Keaton, who is hands-down my favorite silent film performer. Sherlock Jr. actually influenced a lot of Project A, including the infamous motorcycle scene -- a true tour de force of comedy and unbelievable timing. Keaton's stunts are jaw-dropping, his poker face perfected to aplomb, and the rhythm of his scenes is just *chef's kiss*.


The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Wes Anderson

When the world's all gone to hell and nothing really makes sense anymore, there is something infinitely comforting about being drawn into a meticulously wrought Anderson film. The Grand Budapest Hotel is the only film on my list that toes that bittersweet line, because there are certainly some melancholy strains in there. It's about a bygone time and flits by some griefs that are too dear to share. And yet, Anderson delights in the creation of something beautiful, exemplified by how even a prison guard finds himself unable to cut into a Mendle's confectionary because of how beautiful it is. Grand Budapest is an intricately wrought murder mystery comedy, as carefully and lovingly crafted as concierge Gustav's service. And boy, is it pretty to look at. There's war approaching and death all around in 1930s Europe, but there's also pride in one's work, the joy of fostering friendships old and new, and the meaning we can draw from bringing happiness to others.


Fast Five (2011) Justin Lin

Laugh yourself sick all you want, but I have a deep and unshakable love for the Fast and Furious series. There's a pending post somewhere in the near future about my definitive ranking of the movies, but my interest was piqued when I saw Fast Five in theaters after just a vague memory of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker's awful hair from the first film. Fast Five has all the hallmarks of a good heist flick: ragtag elite group with specialties brought together for one purpose? One "last" job that has a high chance of blowing up in their faces? Possible backstabbings and found family elements? Oh, and a techie guy saying something in gibberish so that someone can be like "English, please?" Check, check, double check. Fast Five served as some sort of Avengers, bringing together all the VIPs from the previous movies, with director Justin Lin even retconning the timeline to include Han (oh Han, how do we love thee) in the lineup, cracking wise and popping snacks all the while. Oh, and it introduced the Rock into the story. Haven't seen any of the previous four movies? It's okay because suddenly these characters are able to do things we didn't know they could anyway -- since when did Tej become a tech wizard? Since when does another character suddenly have fighting skills to rival Neo's ascent into kung-fu-ism? We don't know...but Fast Five somehow makes us not care. The stunts are incredible, the characters lovable, and that climactic chase with the....well, I won't spoil it. I think I've seen this movie three times in the past year alone, and I'll never get tired of Dominic Toretto raising a Corona and saying "Salud Mi Familia".

I made a list of another ten feel-good movies, but I'll save it for another time. Until then, feel free to share any of your feel good movies as well.