Heartwarming films (for adults or older teenagers) featuring dysfuctional families of all kinds – because aren’t they all? These films were all hearwarming in their own way, and they made me laugh.
Then She Found Me – New York schoolteacher (Helen Hunt) whose husband leaves her and adoptive mother dies just before her very eccentric, biological mother (Bette Midler) shows up. Good news: so does Colin Firth. “Being with me means . . . being with this.”
Crazy, Stupid Love – What a hilarious mess.
The Kids are Alright – Two sweet adolescent kids conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life. Huge mess ensues but is conquered by love. “Marriage is hard. Two people year after year. Sometimes you stop seeing the other person.”
Little Miss Sunshine – Seriously troubled family drives across country in a VW bus so their daughter can compete in a beauty pageant. One of the sweetest, funniest movies I’ve seen. “Everybody, pretend to be normal.”
Pieces of April – Wayward daughter invites dying mother and the rest of her estranged family to her sketchy apartment in New York City for Thanksgiving. This is my favorite; I could (and practically do) watch this movie every year. “Once there was one day when everybody seemed to know… that they needed each other.”
I’m right with you on this one….thought it was one of Bette’s best roles….
I love this movie as well, but for dysfunctional families at Thanksgiving Down and out in Beverly Hills definitely comes to mind.
Yes that probably is an even better choice!