Who says Valentine's Day is only for adults? Here are some romantic movies for the entire family to enjoy.
When you were just married, your spouse probably celebrated Valentine's Day by taking you out for a romantic dinner. As the years pass by, you may find the celebrations getting more low-key. With the children around, Valentine's Day is more of a family occasion now. This year, celebrate the festival of love by watching one of these movies.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is an animated movie based on the fairytale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. It tells the story of Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton. The mermaid finds herself bored with her life and decides she wants to live with human beings. To attain this, she makes a deal with Ursula, the sea witch.
This movie is not so much about love as it is about friendship. Romance does play a big role in the movie but the focus is more on Ariel's desire to experience change. With plenty of songs and dances, the movie is a delight for people of all ages. One of the most enjoyable characters to look out for is a lobster named Sebastian.
The Princess Diaries
Mia is a gawky teenager, living with her mother in America. At school, she is regularly made fun of by the other students. One day, Mia discovers that she is actually a princess of a small European country called Genovia. Now, Mia has to accept her heritage and learn to behave like royalty.
The movie is loosely based on the popular fairytale Cinderella. It focuses on the importance of family relationships and acceptance of one's true self. The film is a comedy, so be prepared for plenty of laughs. Anne Hathaway is excellent as the awkward teenager Mia, who learns to become a princess. Watch out for the performance of Julie Andrews as the royal grandmother.
The Aristocats
This 80s animated feature is a love story with a twist. A wealthy woman dies and leaves her entire estate to her pet cat Duchess and her three kittens. The woman's evil butler kidnaps the kittens and leaves them far away from home. Luckily, Thomas O'Malley, an alley cat, befriends the kittens and looks out for them.
The film centres on how the kittens bring their mother and Thomas together. As a single mother, Duchess is concerned only with finding her children and keeping them safe. On the other hand, Thomas projects himself as a cat who enjoys being on his own without worrying about responsibilities. Gradually, he finds himself attracted to the beautiful Duchess and her naughty kittens. A highlight of this movie is the jazz rendition of the song 'Everybody wants to be a cat' by a character called Scat Cat.
Cheaper by the Dozen
Another family comedy, this one tells the story of Tom and Kate Baker and their 12 children. When Tom Baker gets a new job, the entire family has to move to the city, which results in a lot of unhappiness among the Baker children. After that, Kate goes out to promote her book, leaving her husband to look after the home. This is when the fun begins.
Cheaper by the Dozen is a reflection of the joy of having a large family. Everyone is sure to enjoy the antics of the Baker kids and the confusion of the hapless father. In between are the various issues that the children face and how the family comes together to deal with them.
The Parent Trap
Parent Trap is a fun movie about identical twin sisters who are separated at birth due to their parent's divorce. Twelve years later, the girls bump into each other at a summer camp and discover they are related. When summer camp concludes, the sisters switch places and go back to the parents.
This movie is a comedy but it also tugs at the heartstrings. The scene where each sister finally sees the other parent for the first time is truly memorable. Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan is a treat to watch in her dual role of identical twin sisters Annie and Hallie. This was one of her earlier roles that catapulted her into the spotlight.
Valentine's Day can be a fun occasion for the entire family. Pick up one of these movies and enjoy an evening of fun and romance.
How do you celebrate Valentine's Day with your family? Is a movie night a good idea? Do you know of any other movies to watch on this day? To share your tips, views, and experiences, click here.
