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Now that the holidays are firmly in the rearview mirror, everyone is probably starting to breathe easier after spending time with family; the stress, the arguments and the hustle and bustle of having multiple family members encamped in your home. If you are not breathing easier then you have my sympathies and I have a few films to keep in mind to help you feel better about your dysfunctional family courtesy of Hollywood.
Silver Linings Playbook
In this Oscar nominated romantic black comedy directed by David O. Russell, it features a tense relation between an elderly father and his son who’s fighting to put his life back together after a recent stint in a mental health facility. This drama is also permeated by mental illness as the father exhibits signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder and his son is afflicted with bipolar disorder coupled with manic depressive episodes. Throw in a recently widowed young woman who tried to get over her dead husband by sleeping with a majority of her work colleagues and you have the makings of a truly great family drama. It’s a welcome tonic to the genre of romantic films as the family tension is never fully resolved by the conclusion of the film but family tension is never resolved in a nice, tidy bow; it’s something that takes years or even decades to resolve and have everyone come out better for it.
The Fighter
If David O. Russell has a trademark, it’s directing films that feature broken families and this 2010 classic is a masterclass in acting thanks in part to Oscar winning performances from Melissa Leo and Christian Bale. Centered on the life of boxer Micky “Irish” Ward and his crack addicted brother/trainer as well as his overbearing mother/manager, you have the ingredients for not only a truly great boxing film but also an amazing family drama as the Ward family has to grapple with addiction, jail time, failure and success. Throw in a couple of fist fights outside the boxing ring, bitter insults and drug use and any individual who comes from a dysfunctional family can smile and appreciate the love and appreciation the Ward family realizes even if it is rather painful to get there.
Knives Out
In the stacked year of films that was 2019, Knives Out managed to stand out for its incredible dialogue and dazzling performances from Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas. Rian Johnson’s take on the “whodunit” genre breathed new life as Craig’s Benoit Blanc is hired to investigate the suspicious death of mystery writer Harlan Thrombey while dealing with eccentric family members who each seem to have a motive for eliminating the elderly writer. If you have suffered the death of a loved one then this film becomes incredibly relatable as this film has everything; a relative who’s determined to make the process difficult, the arguing over the will and estate and the realization of secrets that were thought to be hidden coming to the surface. With two more sequels on the horizon, we’ll be treated to more entries of our favorite Cajun investigator navigating dysfunctional families.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
You didn’t think this whole list would be mental illness and drug use, did you? If you have ever planned or assisted in planning a wedding, then you have a unique knowledge of one of the most stressful periods of time a human being can go through. The act of planning alone is insane but now throw in a large, close-knit family that loves to throw big parties and has a piece of advice for every scenario. The film itself is enjoyable and everyone can find something to relate with; from crazy cousins pulling pranks on the groom, family members getting drunk and wedding day emergencies that are unavoidable, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a comedy for all times.
Little Miss Sunshine
This is the rare family film that has a little bit of everything; money troubles, spoiled ambitions, hidden drug use, suicide attempts and a children’s beauty pageant that this off-the-wall family drama a unique experience. Centered on the Hoover family and their road trip for the youngest child, Olive, to participate in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. It’s while on this journey that the family patriarch dies unexpectedly from his heroin habit, the father loses a motivational speaking deal and his step-son realizing he’s colorblind and cannot enlist in the Air Force. While little Olive doesn’t win her pageant, the Hoover family accepts everyone’s individuality and embraces it and moves forward with a renewed love for one another.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
After having hosted a Christmas gathering myself recently, I relate to this movie more than ever before. Every year, we’re all reminded of just how crazy the holidays can get even without family coming over to stay with you and the pressure of having to prepare a delicious dinner for all involved. Clark Griswold not only has to contend with the pressure of having his parents and in-laws at his home but he has to deal with buying gifts, having his likeable but dimwitted cousin arrive with his brood but also financial struggles as he’s screwed out of his Christmas bonus after having committed to building a pool in his backyard. While the holidays can certainly be a stress for many, this movie serves as a reminder for us to enjoy the season and make the most of it no matter what happens.
Featured Image Credit: via PluggedIn
