Anonymous
11/26/2025 21:53
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hate Love Actually. So many men fall for their assistants - bad subtle lesson if teen girls watching.
Christmas Vacation - agree about scenes making seniors/teens uncomfortable (doesn’t anyone remember Chevy Chase talking to Christie Brinkley?)
Hated both of them.
Love Actually has lots of yucky messaging.
Christmas Vacation isn't that funny.
My Silent Generation mom inflicted Elf, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story on us one year. Three strikes. Out.
Original or live action Grinch maybe? I love the "Where Are You Christmas" song from live action Grinch.
You like the live action grinch better than Elf? That’s wild.
Grinch is simpler. And the scenery and costumes are better. And it has a book tie-in. Will Ferrell is not that funny to me. I didn't find Elf very cute. Rather kind of dumb. The only Will Ferrell movie I've liked so far is the Eurovision parody. That outperformed my expectations. I've had a DVD of Blades of Glory waiting for years in a dusty corner. Elf is a nope.
Forget love actually, I need the psychological comparison of those who prefer Jim carry’s grinch vs. elf.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 21:49
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hate Love Actually. So many men fall for their assistants - bad subtle lesson if teen girls watching.
Christmas Vacation - agree about scenes making seniors/teens uncomfortable (doesn’t anyone remember Chevy Chase talking to Christie Brinkley?)
There have been studies on how people react to Love Actually. People who like it tend to be more positive and creative while those who hate it tend to be…less so.
The takeaway of the guy who cheats on his devoted wife is that he is a pathetic, self-centered fool in the throes of a midlife crisis—but his wife is amazing: perceptive, trusting, and ultimately forgiving (at least on some level since she doesn’t blow up her family and presumably tries to forgive and save what had previously been a good marriage…and that’s the point).
The lady who prioritizes her brother over the hot coworker is representing another kind of love: the responsibility for and commitment to her disabled brother.
The guy who quickly falls for the cleaning lady illustrates another kind of love: following heart break, there is hope where/when you least expect to find it. And it’s even better and more passionate.
The two lonely actors who find their partners at work—brilliant.
And cocky Hugh Grant as the prime minister who falls for the girl who on the surface seems like the lucky one yet she’s clearly his match: confident, bold, fun, etc. and doesn’t take his $hit (“oh, shut your face” as she mounts him at the airport).
You are supposed to suspend disbelief and not over analyze it. It’s just a series of love stories that should leave you equal parts sad/emotional and uplifted/happy. Bonus points for being set in London over Christmas.
Anyway, Love Actually, Scrooged, and The Holiday are great movies this time of year.
Please provide the citations for thw scholarly research on the psychology of Love Actually watchers.
I liked most of Four Weddings and a Funeral although Andie McDowell is wooden. Hugh Grant is great in that movie.
Love Actually is a cringe movie that existed mainly to allow people to get another dose of some popular British actors at their peak.
Positive, creative people should find more amusing topics than infidelity for a Christmas movie.
His infidelity isn’t the key plot. Her love is the primary story. His cheating is what underscores her pain—which is brilliantly acted—as well as her strength and love…for herself, her kids, and the family she created with her flawed husband.
If you only see his infidelity, I don’t think you were paying attention.
I thought it was dreadful and I've only watched it once because of that. I thought it would be a fun movie for a fun evening and it was a letdown. I'm not interested in brilliantly acted pain in a Christmas movie about love. Multiple storylines gave me the ick and it was far from Hugh Grant's best role. (I did think Notting Hill was okay/kind of cute.) But the cheating part irked me the most.
Do you like the book "The Giving Tree"? Maybe that's another way you can appreciate my POV. I also hate that book. It's about love and self-sacrifice until somebody cuts your arms and legs off and sits on the stumpy remains of you. Not at all the message I want to share with my kids.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 21:41
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hate Love Actually. So many men fall for their assistants - bad subtle lesson if teen girls watching.
Christmas Vacation - agree about scenes making seniors/teens uncomfortable (doesn’t anyone remember Chevy Chase talking to Christie Brinkley?)
Hated both of them.
Love Actually has lots of yucky messaging.
Christmas Vacation isn't that funny.
My Silent Generation mom inflicted Elf, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story on us one year. Three strikes. Out.
Original or live action Grinch maybe? I love the "Where Are You Christmas" song from live action Grinch.
You like the live action grinch better than Elf? That’s wild.
Grinch is simpler. And the scenery and costumes are better. And it has a book tie-in. Will Ferrell is not that funny to me. I didn't find Elf very cute. Rather kind of dumb. The only Will Ferrell movie I've liked so far is the Eurovision parody. That outperformed my expectations. I've had a DVD of Blades of Glory waiting for years in a dusty corner. Elf is a nope.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 21:30
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hate Love Actually. So many men fall for their assistants - bad subtle lesson if teen girls watching.
Christmas Vacation - agree about scenes making seniors/teens uncomfortable (doesn’t anyone remember Chevy Chase talking to Christie Brinkley?)
There have been studies on how people react to Love Actually. People who like it tend to be more positive and creative while those who hate it tend to be…less so.
The takeaway of the guy who cheats on his devoted wife is that he is a pathetic, self-centered fool in the throes of a midlife crisis—but his wife is amazing: perceptive, trusting, and ultimately forgiving (at least on some level since she doesn’t blow up her family and presumably tries to forgive and save what had previously been a good marriage…and that’s the point).
The lady who prioritizes her brother over the hot coworker is representing another kind of love: the responsibility for and commitment to her disabled brother.
The guy who quickly falls for the cleaning lady illustrates another kind of love: following heart break, there is hope where/when you least expect to find it. And it’s even better and more passionate.
The two lonely actors who find their partners at work—brilliant.
And cocky Hugh Grant as the prime minister who falls for the girl who on the surface seems like the lucky one yet she’s clearly his match: confident, bold, fun, etc. and doesn’t take his $hit (“oh, shut your face” as she mounts him at the airport).
You are supposed to suspend disbelief and not over analyze it. It’s just a series of love stories that should leave you equal parts sad/emotional and uplifted/happy. Bonus points for being set in London over Christmas.
Anyway, Love Actually, Scrooged, and The Holiday are great movies this time of year.
Please provide the citations for thw scholarly research on the psychology of Love Actually watchers.
I liked most of Four Weddings and a Funeral although Andie McDowell is wooden. Hugh Grant is great in that movie.
Love Actually is a cringe movie that existed mainly to allow people to get another dose of some popular British actors at their peak.
Positive, creative people should find more amusing topics than infidelity for a Christmas movie.
His infidelity isn’t the key plot. Her love is the primary story. His cheating is what underscores her pain—which is brilliantly acted—as well as her strength and love…for herself, her kids, and the family she created with her flawed husband.
If you only see his infidelity, I don’t think you were paying attention.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 21:18
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
The Wicked movies
The newer Jumanji movies
PS I spent decades feeling like I'd seen It's a Wonderful Life multiple times. I finally put up some holiday lights and watched it by myself in the dark with my devices put away and there was so much I had not remembered. It was charming.
My teens haaated IAWL. I was so excited to share it with them and they were thoroughly bored. The pace of movies/TV shows is so much faster now. It really bummed me out.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 20:53
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Crazy Rich Asians
Throw Mama From The Train
Dreamgirls
The Devil Wears Prada
Throw Mama From The Train
Dreamgirls
The Devil Wears Prada
Anonymous
11/26/2025 20:37
Subject: Re:Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:The Bird Cage. My elderly parents and my tweens both loved it, and it’s the kind of movie you can watch over and over again.
If you like The Bird Cage, try "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar". Some of the language hasn't aged well but it's fun and uplifting. My extremely homophobic mother who wanted to hate it ending up loving it.
I’m the Bird Cage poster. I saw Swayze in To Wong Foo when it was in the theaters a million years ago and thought it was moving but kind of boring. I rewatched it when I was older and just found it slow and not as impressive as when I was younger.
The Bird Cage by contrast is very entertaining and you can watch it over and over again.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 19:52
Subject: Re:Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
The Bird Cage. My elderly parents and my tweens both loved it, and it’s the kind of movie you can watch over and over again.
If you like The Bird Cage, try "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar". Some of the language hasn't aged well but it's fun and uplifting. My extremely homophobic mother who wanted to hate it ending up loving it.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 19:47
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hate Love Actually. So many men fall for their assistants - bad subtle lesson if teen girls watching.
Christmas Vacation - agree about scenes making seniors/teens uncomfortable (doesn’t anyone remember Chevy Chase talking to Christie Brinkley?)
There have been studies on how people react to Love Actually. People who like it tend to be more positive and creative while those who hate it tend to be…less so.
The takeaway of the guy who cheats on his devoted wife is that he is a pathetic, self-centered fool in the throes of a midlife crisis—but his wife is amazing: perceptive, trusting, and ultimately forgiving (at least on some level since she doesn’t blow up her family and presumably tries to forgive and save what had previously been a good marriage…and that’s the point).
The lady who prioritizes her brother over the hot coworker is representing another kind of love: the responsibility for and commitment to her disabled brother.
The guy who quickly falls for the cleaning lady illustrates another kind of love: following heart break, there is hope where/when you least expect to find it. And it’s even better and more passionate.
The two lonely actors who find their partners at work—brilliant.
And cocky Hugh Grant as the prime minister who falls for the girl who on the surface seems like the lucky one yet she’s clearly his match: confident, bold, fun, etc. and doesn’t take his $hit (“oh, shut your face” as she mounts him at the airport).
You are supposed to suspend disbelief and not over analyze it. It’s just a series of love stories that should leave you equal parts sad/emotional and uplifted/happy. Bonus points for being set in London over Christmas.
Anyway, Love Actually, Scrooged, and The Holiday are great movies this time of year.
Please provide the citations for thw scholarly research on the psychology of Love Actually watchers.
I liked most of Four Weddings and a Funeral although Andie McDowell is wooden. Hugh Grant is great in that movie.
Love Actually is a cringe movie that existed mainly to allow people to get another dose of some popular British actors at their peak.
Positive, creative people should find more amusing topics than infidelity for a Christmas movie.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 19:34
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Creative and positive, for what it’s worth. 
-person who didn’t like Love Actually
-person who didn’t like Love Actually
Anonymous
11/26/2025 18:56
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hate Love Actually. So many men fall for their assistants - bad subtle lesson if teen girls watching.
Christmas Vacation - agree about scenes making seniors/teens uncomfortable (doesn’t anyone remember Chevy Chase talking to Christie Brinkley?)
There have been studies on how people react to Love Actually. People who like it tend to be more positive and creative while those who hate it tend to be…less so.
The takeaway of the guy who cheats on his devoted wife is that he is a pathetic, self-centered fool in the throes of a midlife crisis—but his wife is amazing: perceptive, trusting, and ultimately forgiving (at least on some level since she doesn’t blow up her family and presumably tries to forgive and save what had previously been a good marriage…and that’s the point).
The lady who prioritizes her brother over the hot coworker is representing another kind of love: the responsibility for and commitment to her disabled brother.
The guy who quickly falls for the cleaning lady illustrates another kind of love: following heart break, there is hope where/when you least expect to find it. And it’s even better and more passionate.
The two lonely actors who find their partners at work—brilliant.
And cocky Hugh Grant as the prime minister who falls for the girl who on the surface seems like the lucky one yet she’s clearly his match: confident, bold, fun, etc. and doesn’t take his $hit (“oh, shut your face” as she mounts him at the airport).
You are supposed to suspend disbelief and not over analyze it. It’s just a series of love stories that should leave you equal parts sad/emotional and uplifted/happy. Bonus points for being set in London over Christmas.
Anyway, Love Actually, Scrooged, and The Holiday are great movies this time of year.
This is OP. Can you post the studies, please?
I loved Love Actually when it first came out. Seeing it with my teen daughters a couple years ago was a very different experience.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 18:52
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hate Love Actually. So many men fall for their assistants - bad subtle lesson if teen girls watching.
Christmas Vacation - agree about scenes making seniors/teens uncomfortable (doesn’t anyone remember Chevy Chase talking to Christie Brinkley?)
Hated both of them.
Love Actually has lots of yucky messaging.
Christmas Vacation isn't that funny.
My Silent Generation mom inflicted Elf, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story on us one year. Three strikes. Out.
Original or live action Grinch maybe? I love the "Where Are You Christmas" song from live action Grinch.
You like the live action grinch better than Elf? That’s wild.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 18:49
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Interesting fyi about love actually is that the screenplay writer/director Richard Curtis, frequently uses the same actors, music in his other similarly styled movies: three weddings and a funeral, Notting Hill.
Although I like this movie, I don’t think a teen would be comfortable watching this with a grandparent, imo.
Although I like this movie, I don’t think a teen would be comfortable watching this with a grandparent, imo.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 18:34
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Anonymous wrote:Hate Love Actually. So many men fall for their assistants - bad subtle lesson if teen girls watching.
Christmas Vacation - agree about scenes making seniors/teens uncomfortable (doesn’t anyone remember Chevy Chase talking to Christie Brinkley?)
There have been studies on how people react to Love Actually. People who like it tend to be more positive and creative while those who hate it tend to be…less so.
The takeaway of the guy who cheats on his devoted wife is that he is a pathetic, self-centered fool in the throes of a midlife crisis—but his wife is amazing: perceptive, trusting, and ultimately forgiving (at least on some level since she doesn’t blow up her family and presumably tries to forgive and save what had previously been a good marriage…and that’s the point).
The lady who prioritizes her brother over the hot coworker is representing another kind of love: the responsibility for and commitment to her disabled brother.
The guy who quickly falls for the cleaning lady illustrates another kind of love: following heart break, there is hope where/when you least expect to find it. And it’s even better and more passionate.
The two lonely actors who find their partners at work—brilliant.
And cocky Hugh Grant as the prime minister who falls for the girl who on the surface seems like the lucky one yet she’s clearly his match: confident, bold, fun, etc. and doesn’t take his $hit (“oh, shut your face” as she mounts him at the airport).
You are supposed to suspend disbelief and not over analyze it. It’s just a series of love stories that should leave you equal parts sad/emotional and uplifted/happy. Bonus points for being set in London over Christmas.
Anyway, Love Actually, Scrooged, and The Holiday are great movies this time of year.
Anonymous
11/26/2025 17:28
Subject: Teens, seniors, and Gen X - movies to watch together
Catherine called Birdy