Over the past year, I have watched a lot of feel-good movies. And when I say “a lot”, I mean A LOT. People have different coping mechanisms when life starts to get them down, and it just so happens that mine is to hover my mouse over the Romance and Musicals categories on Netflix and spend the next 2+ hours in another universe.
From the wholesome to the down-right cringey, I’ve enjoyed and suffered through all the movies so you don’t have to. So allow me to introduce to you, my current list of go-to feel-good movies for my – and now your – destressing pleasure:
1. The Prom
If you’re looking to cry, but in a good way, The Prom is everything you could hope for and more. The story centers around a young LGBTQ+ student who is being banned from attending prom with her girlfriend. The news of this reaches the ears of four failing Broadway actors who decide to renew their image with one philanthropic act: saving her prom.
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: Keagan-Michael Key’s character singing “We Look To You” reminds me of the magic of Broadway.
2. Enola Holmes
Based on the novel series of the same name, Enola Holmes is all about the younger sister of famous detective Sherlock Holmes, who embarks on an adventure to find her mother after she mysteriously disappears one day. Not only is it quite the adventure, it has an A++ cast made up of Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and newcomer Louis Partridge — ooh la la!
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: Whenever Enola Holmes looks at the camera and breaks the fourth wall. I never get tired of it!
3. Work It
Two words: Jordan Fisher. I could say I didn’t watch the movie just for him, but then I would be lying. HOWEVER, I ended up having a lot of fun watching this cheesy, heartwarming dance flick. Its plot follows an 18-year-old high schooler who tries to form her own dance team in order to improve her chances of attending her dream college. Except, of course, she can’t dance.
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: Every time Jordan Fisher dances. Yep.
4. Love Wedding Repeat
Love Wedding Repeat is not the kind of movie I would usually watch, so I’m glad I was roped into watching it. It is a remake of a French rom-com Plan de Table, and told from the perspective of 11 people who are attending the same wedding. As expected, chaos of all kinds (especially romantic) ensues.
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: Sam Claflin plays his character in such an endearing fashion that he steals the show for me.
5. Let It Snow
Based on John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle’s fix-up novel of the same name, Let It Snow is about 6 teenagers who end up having to spend Christmas snowed in at a small midwestern town. What begins as a troubling inconvenience, ends as a much-needed getaway as romance blossoms between them.
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: I’m just happy to see Kiernan Shipka in something other than Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, if I’m being honest.
6. Always Be My Maybe
Turns out a combination of Ali Wong, Randall Park, and Keanu Reeves not only works, but works in hilarious ways. Always Be My Maybe is about two childhood sweethearts, Sasha and Marcus, who break up and don’t see each other for 15 years until they run into each other again in San Francisco. Except now, their lives are worlds apart.
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: When Keanu Reeves first appears. That scene is priceless!
7. Burlesque
Look at this cast of Christina Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci, Kristin Bell, and Dianne Agron, and TELL ME this movie isn’t the most iconic thing to ever exist. Burlesque is all about Ali’s rise to fame from waitress to lead dancer and singer at a burlesque club. There’s music, there’s choreography, and there’s romance! What else could a girl want?
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: Burlesque has a solid soundtrack, better than The Greatest Showman. There, I said it.
8. Step Up All In
Step Up will forever be my guilty pleasure franchise, and Step Up All In is no different. Although it’s no Step Up 3 (the best movie, objectively), it still brings together all the elements that people love about this franchise. Mainly Moose and Sean recruiting their old buddies for one final dance competition, one outlandish dancing location at a time.
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: The fact that Moose is tan now? And has ARMS? I’m still coming to terms with this.
9. Crazy Rich Asians
There’s nothing more comforting than an outlandish, glamorous love story, and Crazy Rich Asian serves this on a pure golden platter. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, its story is set against the backdrop of Singapore’s most rich and famous. Specifically Rachel’s boyfriend, Nick, who she finds out belongs to one of the richest families in the country — and she’s about to meet his family.
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: Constance Wu is absolutely everything in this film. Everything.
10. Chef
Leaving my favourite for last, Chef is a Jon Favreau masterpiece about a chef who leaves his uninspiring job to start-up a food truck. The love for food in this movie is so evident that it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. But it’s also a story about passion and family, not to mention loosely based on a true story of celebrity chef Roy Choi, who owns one of the most famous food trucks in America.
My favourite (non-spoiler) part: I don’t have a favourite part. I love this movie 100%, completely, from top to bottom.
My heart feels warm just thinking about these movies. Comment below which ones you’ll be adding to your Netflix list! As for me, I might just watch Chef again. No regrets.
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