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Whether you are afraid of making a terrible first impression or that they will hate you and do everything in their power to destroy your relationship, meeting the parents can be a very stressful and nerve-wracking experience. In life, it usually doesn't go as bad as you thought it would. In movies, it's a whole different story —just think of Robert DeNiro's character in Meet the Parents. This is this week's theme for Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks. Without further ado, here are my picks —one is about meeting the parents, the others have a memorable "meet the parents" scene.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
23-year-old Joanna Drayton (Katharine Houghton) returns earlier from her vacation in Hawaii so that her parents (Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn) can meet her fiance, doctor John Prentice (Sidney Poitier). The problem? Joanna is white and John is African-American. Easily the most beautiful film about meeting the parents I've seen. Unfortunately, it's 2018 and there are people who still are against interracial marriages.
Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are invited to dinner by Fiona's parents, King (John Cleese) and the Queen (Julie Andrews), to celebrate their marriage. Fiona's parents though have no idea that Fiona is still an ogre and so is her husband. The dinner scene is probably one of the most awkward and uncomfortable I've seen as neither Shrek nor his father-in-law want to be there.
Spider-man Homecoming is so inspired! I'm not crazy about Shrek but I love your other two picks.
ReplyDeleteYou don't like Shrek?! 😮
DeleteOH!!!!! That moment in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Everything was going nice upon the musical accompaniment of the English Beat and then *SCREAMS*....
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed that scene in Shrek 2.
That's a great scene.
DeleteShrek 2 is so much fun! I need to rewatch these movies around Christmas
ReplyDeleteI know right! I wonder why they think we need a Shrek remake
DeleteOooh such great picks here, I love 2 and 3 but haven't seen the first. Though I know it was a huge inspiration for Get Out, so it must be good!
ReplyDeleteIt is!
DeleteWhile I don't think it's the best movie out there nor that Kate Hepburn deserved to win the Oscar for her performance I did enjoy Guess Whose Coming to Dinner? Tracy's work is beautiful particularly when you consider how ill he was. Plus it's a perfect fit for the week.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen any of the Shreks, though this one looks to be popular today, and I gave up on the Spiderman's when Tobey Maguire bowed out of the series.
Unlike last week, which I sat out, there were lots of choice this time both funny and tense. I chose to go with the lighter side.
Lovers and Other Strangers (1970)-As young couple Mike and Susan (Michael Brandon & Bonnie Bedelia) go through their wedding festivities (rehearsal, ceremony and reception) a cauldron of familial lunacy swirls around them as they meet for the first time. VERY 70’s fashions and interior design is offset by a cast that includes Beatrice Arthur, Cloris Leachman, Gig Young, Anne Meara and in her screen debut Diane Keaton.
The In-Laws (1979)-Nebbishy dentist Sheldon Kornpett (Alan Arkin) finds himself with major reservations to his daughter's upcoming marriage after meeting her future father-in-law, Vincent Ricardo (Peter Falk). At first thinking Vince is mobbed up he is no less distressed when Vince reveals that he's actually a CIA agent investigating an international counterfeiting plot, and that he will need Sheldon's help. Next thing he knows Sheldon is off on a crazy adventure.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)-Toula (Nia Vardalos) is a sweet, somewhat frumpy 30ish Greek girl who works in her family’s restaurant and is dominated by her parents. Frustrated by being stuck in place she pulls herself together, goes to work in her aunt’s travel agency and meets school teacher Ian Miller (John Corbett) and they quickly get serious. That’s where the trouble starts since Ian isn’t Greek, no problem for Toula but a huge one for her family especially when they decide to marry. Her boisterous clan basically take over the title event while Toula and Ian try to stand up against the onslaught. Low budget good natured comedy with a sunny outlook made a mint on its release.
I found out he was sick only after I finished watching the movie and frankly, I couldn't believe it. His performance was so good! I too think that Hepburn didn't deserve the Oscar.
DeleteMy Big Fat Greek Wedding is the only I've seen of you picks and I really like it. Must have seen it like 10+ times as it's my mom's favourite movie and she often watches it. And I join her because it is so fun!
I have not seen the version of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner you picked, only the remake.
ReplyDeleteI do like the Shrek movies, they're very funny.
I didn't know there was a Guess Who's Coming to Dinner remake 😮
Delete