When you’re sick you need a certain kind of movie to watch: uplifting, not too serious, and preferably funny. Here are some of my favourites.
I returned to the office last week after four weeks of leave to find everyone had been sick in my absence.
Fortunately, I was not forgotten.
By my fourth day back I was feverish and exhausted, and I’ve spent most of the past six days on the couch–sleeping, watching movies, and providing a heated bed for His Royal Fluffiness.
Hence the topic of this post: classic, endearing, soppy, and generally awesome movies to watch when you’re sick.
Feel free to judge my taste in movies, but if you do I won’t be friends with you any more.
The Princess Bride (1987)
When I was home sick from school I always used to watch this movie. And I was sick a lot because school was really boring. You don’t see how those are related? Never mind.
$100 says you’ve seen this movie. If you haven’t, go watch it RIGHT NOW because you are missing out on one of the great delights of life. I don’t care if you’re currently marooned on a desert island and your laptop battery is down to 8%.
WATCH IT NOW.
Enchanted (2007)
I love Disney movies, especially the more classic ones, and what better than a live action movie that gently pokes fun at Disney movies while retaining all of their charm?
Possibly my favourite quote from the movie:
NATHANIEL: Sire, do you… like yourself?
PRINCE EDWARD: What’s not to like?
(You miss the tone reading this, so you should really watch the movie.)
I like to think we could all honestly answer the same way if asked this question, but I expect a lot of people couldn’t. My honest answer would be “mostly” or “usually”.
Real life is too complicated. There will always be something about yourself you don’t like, and no happily ever after will be entirely happy. That’s why we need movies like this.
Don Juan deMarco (1994)
I love this movie, and not just because it has Johnny Depp in it, though he is pretty awesome.
It’s a movie about a guy who didn’t like the reality of his life and his past, so he changed them. Successfully, I might add.
The world would be a more interesting place if more people didn’t let reality fetter them, and I don’t solely mean in the semi-mystical sense. If you don’t like your reality, believe changing it is possible and then change it.
If you want to save Gotham City, save Gotham City.
If you want to be a dragon, be a dragon. And look me up.
Love Actually (2003)
Hugh Grant as Prime Minister of England. And lots of mushy stuff.
But it’s cute, snuggly, touching, and sometimes sad mushy stuff.
Does it have too many love stories for one movie? I don’t care.
Does it have “too much whimsy and corn” (as one Rotten Tomatoes critic claims)? I don’t care.
Q: What do you do when the Prime Minister turns up on your doorstep on Christmas Eve?
A: Demand he sings you Christmas carols.
The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Never mind being sick, this is great movie to watch any time.
Pros:
A hero called Wart.
A talking owl.
A whole new way to pack for travel.
Amorous squirrels.
A castle and knight training, of course.
A magical duel.
An Olympic-size pool full of charm that is not lessened in any way by the animation being more than half a century old.
And did I mention the dragon?
Cons:
You’re kidding, right?
Bonus: Anything you’ve been wanting to watch for ages that hubby refuses to watch with you
You’re sick. You deserve to see that movie. And hubby is probably at work, anyway.
Are there any movies in particular that you watch when you’re sick? What makes them wonderful?
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Some great selections. I hope you’re on the mend.
I am feeling a lot better now, thanks.
Princess Bride, obviously. Love Actually, even (if only for Bill Nye). But keep far hence from me the Disney and all their evil doings. Especially the evil doing that was TSITS, which took one of my favourite and formative books and made a piece of fluff out of it. Gah.
While I respect your opinion, I’m afraid this means we can no longer be friends. Sorry. 😉
You know who else hated Disney? J.R.R. Tolkien. Just sayin’.
Did they even have movies back then? 😉
TSITS is wonderful and Love Actually makes me want to vomit blood. It’s nearly as bad as Will and Grace.
No argument on Will and Grace.
Princess Bride, an all-time favorite. And I love the inclusion of the Sword in the Stone, a vastly underrated animated classic!
Yes! Thank you! That is the appropriate reaction when someone says The Sword in the Stone is wonderful. 🙂
Love Actually is quite possibly the most charming film ever created. I saw it for the first time this past Christmas season and watched it twice back to back.
Haha, that sounds like the kind of thing I’d do. I’m glad you love it too. 🙂
I was in Times Square when they were filming that scene in Enchanted where she comes out of the manhole cover, and I got really close because I couldn’t figure out what the heck was going on. It was my first trip to NYC ever (I had just recently moved to Boston) and the idea of being that close to real life filming was so cool.
Confession though. . . I’ve never actually watched the movie. I could, you know, be in it, all blurry in the background. I’ve only got 7 percent battery left on my laptop, and I was thinking about using the remaining juice to find some contact information for the coast guard so I can get off this desert island, but. . . Well, you’re right. I guess I should watch Enchanted instead.
FEEL BETTER!
That’s so cool that you were right there when they were filming. You know, I think I saw you. 😉 You absolutely should use your last 7% of batteries to watch Enchanted (and see yourself).
I do (finally), thanks. 🙂
John Hughes movies. Ferris Buellers Day Off, obviously if you’re “sick”, but also Sixteen Candles, Uncle Buck, etc. And Avengers, because it’s my very favorite movie ever. But honestly I’m much more likely to binge tv shows than watch movies. What tv shows should we watch? (I’m curious now)
I don’t think I know any of those movies!
Hmm, TV shows are hard. I don’t tend to watch TV shows when I’m sick, but if I did they’d be the same ones I watch when I’m not sick. Better Off Ted is hilarious – it’s a shame there were only two seasons. Burn Notice is great too. Lots of lessons for writers. In the first episode, it’s not enough that the MC is trying to escape in a car chase – but his mother is in the front seat beside him nagging about having been eight years late for his father’s funeral.
I’m judging you pretty hard except for Sword in the Stone which is the best animated movie ever. The squiggle bit is my favourite.
Why isn’t The Human Centipede on here? It always cheers me up.
You have no soul.
Your face has no soul.
😛
The only one of these I’ve seen is Love Actually, and I watch it every Christmas, along with The Nightmare Before Christmas (obviously). I’m not very good with movies – I tend to Netflix TV shows when sick so I don’t have to do anything except let the computer know I’m alive occasionally.
Hope the movie marathon worked!
Any favourite series to watch when you’re sick?
Anything I don’t need to engage my brain for – when I was watching Supernatural that was a good option. Or go back to Desperate Housewives – that’s always a good sick day watch. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for something really trashy and silly. Umm – can’t think of any others now, but there’s a lot of episodes on those, so they should keep you going for a while 😉
I haven’t seen Desperate Housewives or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I hope I won’t need sick day watches for some time, but it never hurts to be prepared. 🙂
I detect some heated passion among commenters regarding Love Actually, which leads me to think I should watch it. All the rest mentioned are great faves of mine. Two others that I would find ideal for a sick day: The Man Who Would Be King, and Room With A View. Good stuff, and guaranteed to distract from any form of flu.
Yes! You should! And tell us what you think.
I haven’t seen either of yours. Maybe I’ll check them out. 🙂
Hmm, I don’t think I’ve seen ANY of these movies.
I do, however, understand the relationship between school boring and being sick a lot. I frequently suffered from the same ailment.
You’ve led a very deprived life, my friend!
(I’m glad someone understands. 😉 )
I haven’t seen these movies, even though Princess Bride is on my list to watch (especially after reading this post!). I like action movies even when I’m sick; I find the battle noise soothing. I agree with Lydia on Avengers, that movie is frigging brilliant and it’s my favorite thing to rewatch. My other sickday favorites are Pacific Rim and The Priest. Although the last time I was sick, I watched a season of Game of Thrones because I’d been wanting to watch it for ages and it’s the one series hubby refuses to watch with me. So yeah, I’m totally with you on the bonus item. 😀
I’m glad you’re better by now!
Haha, the battle noise is soothing? I love it. I think I saw Pacific Rim ages ago, not sure about The Priest.
You’re so right! I should have watched Game of Thrones while I was sick. Hubby skimmed through the first season one time when I was away, decided there weren’t enough dragons, and now refuses to watch it with me. Hilarious that both our hubbies won’t. 🙂
Hope you’re feeling better and the movies helped 🙂
I haven’t seen The Princess Bride. I don’t know how I haven’t, because it sounds awesome. I’ll hunt it down immediately!
I love Enchanted, and Sword in the Stone is an awesome choice (but then anything related to Merlin gets my vote!)
My feel good film is How to Train Your Dragon. I must have seen it at least ten times 😀
You have an excellent taste in movies! 🙂 I’ve only seen it two or three times, but How to Train Your Dragon is definitely another good sick day one. I might have to watch it again now.