Here’s Looking at You, Kid
Planning a family movie night
by Jane Louise Boursaw

Pick a movie... or two. The list of family movies is endless -- from Disney classics like "The Shaggy Dog" and "The Aristocats" to modern-day favorites like "Harry Potter" and "Toy Story" (if you can stand to watch it one more time!). You can't go wrong with classic comedies -- the Marx Brothers, the Pink Panther series, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Kids of all ages love physical comedy. And it's never too early to introduce them to black & white comedies like "Bringing up Baby" and "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House." The "Ma and Pa Kettle" series is also a favorite around our house.

Whatever movie you choose, family movie nights are a wonderful tradition that your kids will remember long into adulthood. You're not only spending fun, quality time with them, but also creating a bonding and learning experience for everyone. Now dim those lights and let the show begin! To help, here are some family movie suggestions.

Animated:

• Monsters, Inc. (PG)
• Toy Story and Toy Story 2 (G)
• Ice Age (PG)
• Shrek and Shrek 2 (PG)
• Shark Tale (PG)
• The Incredibles (PG)
• Finding Nemo (G)
• The Lion King (G)
• Brother Bear (G)
• The Aristocats (G)

 

Classics:

• Mary Poppins (G)
• The Sound of Music (G)
• The Apple Dumpling Gang (G)
• The Love Bug series (G)
• That Darn Cat - 1965 (G)
• The Shaggy Dog - 1959 (G)
• The Absent-Minded Professor (G)
• The Parent Trap - 1961 (G)

 

Action & Intrigue:

• The Harry Potter Series (PG)
• Star Wars/The Empire Strikes Back/Return of the Jedi (PG)
• Back to the Future (PG)
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (PG)
• National Treasure (PG)

 

Heart-warmers:

• The Rookie (G)
• The Princess Diaries I and II (G)
• Stuart Little and Stuart Little 2 (PG)
• Cheaper By the Dozen - 2003 (PG)
• Daddy Day Care (PG)
• Because of Winn-Dixie (PG)
• Babe (G)

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