Remember when you were a kid and you got enthralled with a new movie and would end up watching it on repeat? For me, apparently it was Alice in Wonderland. As a young parent, I get to revisit this experience with my daughters, like when they got obsessed with Frozen and Tangled (right now they're loving Shrek). Even as an adult, I get in that mode where I have my comfort show/movie. Digimon, Narnia, and plenty of others I can watch whenever I need a nostalgia boost (frankly after this past week, I think we could all use a boost). Disney has some great rewatchables so here are six of my go-to movies.
Emperor's New Groove
This movie is absolutely ridiculous and I love it. Half the things in this movie don't make sense (Kronk outright admits that toward the end of the movie) and I love it. Additionally, it's rare to have a "bad" guy as the protagonist. By the end of the movie, Kuzco is a good guy too, but the premise is pretty unique among Disney movies. Having the depth of a character like Kuzco juxtaposed with the comedy of the movie only adds to the ridiculousness. Also, this movie is one that I've been known to quote frequently in everyday conversation. And who needs the Fourth Wall anyway?
Christopher Robin
Winnie the Pooh was my little brother's repeated movie, but since becoming a father this movie hits even deeper. How many things on my to-do list are actually productive for my family? Or do they take my heart away from what they really need? In addition, we have the ridiculousness juxtaposing the seriousness. The antics of Pooh and his friends drive the adult Christopher Robin crazy. It wasn't until he embraced the nostalgia of his childhood that things improved.
Wreck-It Ralph
Particularly in Ralph's first movie, the tension of moving away from being a villain, despite being a "bad guy" pulls me in. It's anyone who spirals in feelings of shame would understand. While Ralph tries to find his place among the video game characters, he also sought for acceptance among the characters in his game. You can see throughout the movie how Felix's feelings towards Ralph evolve, from coworker to friend to brother.
Moana
Both movies hit the spot for me, the original and the sequel. A Disney Princess without a prince, Moana overstepped cultural norms repeatedly on her island. Her passion for the ocean was forbidden, which naturally only makes a teenager want to embrace it more. Also, I love how Moana's friendship with Maui evolves during the first movie, wonderfully carrying over to the sequel.
Lilo and Stitch
The original. I still haven't seen the live-action. It's another ridiculous movie! A little girl adopts an alien as a dog. Of course antics ran high. The sisters had a tragic backstory and Stitch had to work his way into their already difficult family dynamics. The importance of family is no small thing here. And who doesn't love getting a hug from Stitch at Disneyland?
Mulan
Despite it's cringey sequel, the first Mulan is a fan favorite among Disney Princess movies. Maybe it's because of the music (including the voice of Brother Donny Osmond). Who can help from cracking into "I'll Make a Man Out of You" during some car karaoke? Mulan messed with cultural norms even more than Moana and is loved for it. I still have yet to see the live-action version (you may see a pattern about my feelings of the live-action remakes) but I can't imagine it'll match up to the original. Also, I love Mushu, so there's that.
As I wrote this, the theme of "identity" comes through each movie. Kuzco grew into a beloved emperor. Christopher Robin found his footing as a working father. Ralph fought for acceptance of himself from within and from his neighbors. Moana learned to embrace her passions despite the cultural norms she faced. Stitch changed from being a compulsively destructive force to being a loving family member to Nani and Lilo. And while working to save her father from danger, Mulan discovered a bit about herself and who she wanted to become.
The obvious answer to close out this blog post: Which movies (Disney and otherwise) are on your list of perpetual rewatch?
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