Platonically lovely movies?
February 9, 2014 8:44 PM   Subscribe

We're having friends over on Friday to partake in non-romantic love and closeness. There will be a pillow pit in the TV room. What are movies we can put on that fit the mood of the evening?

Uplifting is good, funny is good, both is better. Netflix Instant preferred.
posted by itesser to Media & Arts (40 answers total) 26 users marked this as a favorite
 
Amelie is available on Netflix Instant, and is the most uplifting and fun movies ever.

Also, The Croods which sounds odd because it's a kids movie, is really good - also on Netflix Instant.
posted by dotgirl at 8:59 PM on February 9, 2014


Episode 2 of this season's Sherlock (available free on PBS.org) does feature a wedding, but the scenes having to do with Sherlock & Watson's friendship are really amazing. Moving and lovely.
posted by amtho at 9:30 PM on February 9, 2014 [3 favorites]


Finding Nemo. Okay, it's animation but the Dory and Nemo's dad are such good friends that I can't leave them off.

Thelma and Louise, not happy, obviously, but a great friendship movie. Baghdad Cafe was super sweet. And I could watch Muriel's Wedding forever and it seems especially appropriate as it's about picking friendship over some canned version of romance.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 9:35 PM on February 9, 2014


Too Cute is streaming on Netflix. It's about kittens and puppies who are TOO CUTE. <3
posted by spunweb at 9:43 PM on February 9, 2014 [6 favorites]


Well, I wasn't going to suggest Shimotsuma Monogatari/Kamikaze Girls (because it is pretty offbeat), but since it is pretty much the anti-"Thelma and Louise" in terms of tone and ending, I think I have to. It has some random violence and...uh...earthiness, but it's one of my favorite movies ever. No idea about Netflix.
posted by wintersweet at 9:45 PM on February 9, 2014 [1 favorite]


"Practical Magic" has a prominent romantic story, but the main love story is between sisters.
posted by c'mon sea legs at 9:49 PM on February 9, 2014


  • Juno
  • Sunshine Cleaning (based on an episode of NPR's "All Things Considered.") Two sisters start a biohazard cleaning service -- it's about their relationship.
  • Once (It's about a couple, but it's more quirky and offbeat than lovey-dovey)
  • Ponyo (or most films involving Miyazaki -- they all have an ethereal, magical, lovely quality)
  • I have a soft spot for Lovely, Still since it was filmed in my hometown. Not a perfect film, but worth a watch. Elizabeth Banks, Adam Scott, Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn are in it.

  • posted by Ostara at 10:04 PM on February 9, 2014


    WALL-E.
    posted by ApathyGirl at 10:21 PM on February 9, 2014 [7 favorites]


    Mean Girls. Heathers. Clueless.
    posted by youcancallmeal at 10:23 PM on February 9, 2014


    Babies is a lovely, feel-good documentary about the lives of four babies growing up in different parts of the world. I saw it in theaters several years ago and it was quite the bonding experience to hear the whole theater go "awwww" at the same moment. It's a lot of adorable fluff yet interesting throughout. Not on Netflix instant, but totally worth seeing.
    posted by mekily at 10:24 PM on February 9, 2014 [2 favorites]


    Little Miss Sunshine is a great feelgood movie, and I liked Stranger Than Fiction. It's a little lovey, but not too much.

    They are both funny in a neat quirky way.
    posted by Dimes at 10:25 PM on February 9, 2014 [1 favorite]


    The Trip is a freaking hilarious comedy about a friendship between two men.
    posted by Mender at 10:26 PM on February 9, 2014 [2 favorites]


    Beatles ... Yellow Submarine
    posted by philip-random at 10:27 PM on February 9, 2014 [2 favorites]


    Lilo and Stitch is another sister love story, plus cute alien.
    posted by c'mon sea legs at 10:28 PM on February 9, 2014 [1 favorite]


    Mr Stink
    posted by flabdablet at 10:31 PM on February 9, 2014


    Now and Then, The Goonies, Sandlot, ...

    I thought Lost in Translation was a nice movie about an unlikely friendship too. It's on Hulu plus, I think.
    posted by jrobin276 at 10:46 PM on February 9, 2014 [1 favorite]


    Mary and Max: A tale of friendship between two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York

    I wish I was better up on Korean film because Koreans (and East Asians in general I believe) are all about platonic touch among friends (look up "skinship"). Two Japanese films that I enjoy and fit the bill
    Waterboys: about "five boys who start a synchronized swimming team at their high school"
    Linda Linda Linda: "group of high school girls decide to put together a band for Hiiragi-sai, their school cultural festival"
    posted by spamandkimchi at 11:01 PM on February 9, 2014 [5 favorites]


    How about Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University?
    posted by wintersweet at 11:15 PM on February 9, 2014 [3 favorites]


    Bend It Like Beckham

    Frozen, obviously, though still in theaters

    Fried Green Tomatoes

    Beaches (*sob sob*)

    Now and Then

    Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion

    Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

    A League of Their Own (there's no crying in baseball!)

    Beaches again (*sob sob*)
    posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:43 PM on February 9, 2014 [3 favorites]


    Muriel's Wedding!
    posted by dmvs at 4:08 AM on February 10, 2014


    My Idiot Brother (Paul Rudd)
    posted by St. Peepsburg at 5:11 AM on February 10, 2014


    Simon Birch
    posted by JacksonandFinch at 5:38 AM on February 10, 2014


    Shaun of the Dead. It's billed as a rom-zom-com but the key and most heartfelt relationship is between Shaun and Ed.
    posted by mochapickle at 5:39 AM on February 10, 2014 [3 favorites]


    I saw it ages ago but as I recall, the friendship between Truman Capote and Harper Lee in "Capote" was very nice.
    posted by Dolley at 5:45 AM on February 10, 2014


    Stand by Me

    Frances Ha
    posted by bearette at 6:28 AM on February 10, 2014


    You Can Count on Me (wonderful movie about a brother and sister)

    (not necessarily uplifting, however...)
    posted by bearette at 6:29 AM on February 10, 2014


    "I Love You, Man" fits the bill. Paul Rudd plays a newly engaged guy with no close male friends, and since he needs a best man (and because everyone he knows thinks he should have at least one guy he can hang out with), he starts a sort of dating process. Comedy ensues, etc. Though Judd Apatow's not directly involved, it's got the same actors and vibe as his movies, for better or worse.

    I'll second "My Idiot Brother," as well.
    posted by Sunburnt at 6:58 AM on February 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


    Seconding Too Cute, which is a whole series on Animal Planet. Basically, each hour-long episode looks at three different litters of either puppies or kittens per episode, starting from when they're newborn and ending with them all being adopted out at 10 weeks or so. They focus on a couple of different littermates per litter, coming up with simple narratives for them while they learn how to walk, howl, play with string, etc.

    But you don't really even follow the narrative, just look at the cute.
    posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:31 AM on February 10, 2014


    Mean Girls, Now and Then, The First Wives Club (while there is a lot of revenge going on, the plot really centers around the friendships between a group of women and the way they support each other).
    posted by inertia at 7:45 AM on February 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


    I'm watching Fast and Furious 6 with my friends this friday. Its about "family" ... and cars. There are 6 of them to chose from and some of them are on netflix.
    posted by captaincrouton at 8:52 AM on February 10, 2014


    All About My Mother, then Muriel's Wedding to cheer you up after.
    posted by apricot at 10:35 AM on February 10, 2014


    I really enjoyed Kings of Summer. I thought it was uplifting and it was definitely funny, though it did have some dramatic and romantic tension near the end of the movie.
    posted by cnc at 11:10 AM on February 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


    Harry Potter! I'm always moved by the friendship aspect of it, as strange as it seems. Also, I had COMPLETELY misunderstood your post at first and was going to suggest something very very different...
    posted by Riton at 1:02 PM on February 10, 2014


    About a Boy, which is funny and sweet. I think it's particularly apt for your movie night because it ends with something along the lines of the idea that the friends/community we create around us serves as our real families.
    posted by leitmotif at 5:02 PM on February 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


    Also, I love The Endless Summer. (Netflix) Lovely story of two friends travelling and surfing the world.
    posted by ApathyGirl at 5:46 PM on February 10, 2014


    This is a weird list, with movies ranging from sweet to raunchy:
    Stand By Me
    Beaches
    Wizard of Oz
    Toy Story
    Monsters, Inc.
    Bridget Jones (yes, love story, but friendships are emphasized too)
    Clueless
    (New remake of) 21 Jump Street
    Hangover
    Weekend at Bernie's
    This is the End
    posted by misha at 7:52 PM on February 10, 2014


    Oh! Some more:
    Broadcast News (Albert Brooks make me cry in that movie!)
    follow up with Finding Nemo
    posted by misha at 7:55 PM on February 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


    Seconding About a Boy. That and these three are ones I always put in when I need that feeling of friends and family.

    Happy, Texas makes me laugh like a drain.

    Lilo & Stitch is about creating friendships and family. (Though I will say I bawl like a baby at one part.)

    Big Eden is a gay love story, but the main point of it isn't the love story but rather the way a community comes together to help the romance along.
    posted by emcat8 at 10:42 PM on February 10, 2014


    Seconding Mary and Max! Its a gem!
    posted by WalkerWestridge at 7:46 PM on February 11, 2014


    A Knights Tale - yes, there is a love story, but the interaction between a merry band of misfits is what makes this movie fun. Heath Ledger is the lead before people figured out how awesome he was. Alan Tudyk, Paul Bettany, James Purefoy, and Rufus Sewell aren't bad either.
    Eurotrip - Another movie that has a love story but that's just the driver of the plot - the rest is a merry band of kids being ridiculous as they travel across Europe.
    The Loop, Season 1 (only 6 episodes so could sorta be a movie?) - Also has a love story, but more interesting because of the group of friends. Do not watch Season 2.
    The Worlds End - Yeah, I feel like I cheated by recommending this one because of how recent it is, and the Shaun of the dead recommendations, but this is a story about friends, memories and how complicated life can be. All in a very silly plot.
    Flash Gordon, then Ted - Flash Gordon, because it is so wonderfully silly, and Ted, because they lovingly trot it out, and Ted is a fantastic friend movie.
    Grandmas Boy - if your friends are kind of outcasts and like to get stoned.
    Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle - Friends Bonding over being stoned.

    If I were to set up this movie night I would go A Knights Tale, Eurotrip, Flash Gordon, Ted, The Worlds End and Grandmas Boy.

    And maybe Rocky Horror Picture Show (you did say non-romantic love, right? I don't think there is any romance but plenty of loving.)
    posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:37 PM on February 13, 2014


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