20 + Movies to Help You Beat the Winter Blues

This is a classic musical comedy that begins in blustery, below zero, Chicago and ends up with most of the action taking place in pre-Disney Florida. This movie reaches Chuck Jones levels of hilarity and is some of Jack Lemmon's best work. The beach scenes, fast jazz and tropical settings can really warm your mood.

Moon Over Miami (1941)

Another film set in a pre-Disney Florida, this one is a musical as well. Most of the film is shot on soundstages, which can give it that classic old-movie look and feel. This is also a really great film to watch if you've never seen a Betty Grable flick before. It's the epitome of Grable's cheesecake pin-up style. This movie also plays like a cartoon, very over the top and very funny.

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

Many people have heard of this movie, but have never seen it. It's a family classic, though I will admit that there are some scenes that bug me. (The animals swimming around...don't know why, just makes me cringe.) A very fun escapist flick that can inspire some fun conversations with the family about what life on a desert island might be like together.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954)

Another Disney family classic, and one that I am consistently surprised to find that most people haven't seen. Sure, some of the special effects are dated. But it's still a fun family classic with blue ocean water and palm trees galore.

Muppet's Treasure Island (1996)

This Muppet's movie has some of the best musical numbers outside of "Muppet's Take Manhattan" and the original "Muppet Movie". You'll especially enjoy the, "We've Got Cabin Fever" number, as it can help you laugh at your own winter blues instead of feeling sorry for yourself. Muppets + Pirates = Fun.

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

A 1980's must see, with some very fun adventure moments set in the Australian outback. This one's more of a comedy than an adventure, but definitely entertaining all the way through in a very light-hearted way. This one always inspires me to go googling about the outback or reread Bill Bryson's great travelogue about the wild continent.

Romancing The Stone (1984)

This movie is practically a theme park ride. It's just action set-up after action set-up, complete with lots of fun jungle adventure clichés. (Mudslides, rushing rivers, rickety bridges, etc.) They're remaking this one now, which is literally one of the most ridiculous things I've EVER heard. So watch it now to beat the winter blues, before the modern studio system tries to force you to buy their newer, more ridiculous version.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

This is THE adventure movie, perfect anytime of the year, but especially fun for a cold day when you're stuck in the house. Don't even get me started, it's in my all time top three...I could go on forever.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Again, this movie is so famous and popular that I don't really need to say anything about it. Some of the real escapist fun lies in the DVD extras section of this one. Take a tour with the sailors who brought one of the real ships to the Caribbean for filming, follow Lee Arenberg as he shows you what it's like to live the life of an actor in a Disney film, and get more behind-the-scenes goodness than you can handle.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

One of Frank Oz's best directing efforts. Set in the rarely filmed location, the French Riviera, watching this movie is like watching an episode of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". It's just an added bonus that the film is absolute comedic genius, featuring some of Steve Martin and Michael Caine's best work. As with most movies from the 80's, it's a little dated. But not in a way that hurts the film at all.

Jurassic Park (1993)

This movie was one of the best cinematic experiences to happen to me as a kid. (Consequently this is the same year that "The Nightmare Before Christmas" came out. What a year.) It was magic. It was revolutionary, and I honestly still think it holds up today, even special effects wise. It's one of Spielberg's best works with suspense. And it's all the jungle adventure you can handle. Sure, you've probably seen it a million times. But see it again. This is a great movie to watch if you have surround sound or a wall projector. You'd be amazed at how effective it still is at making you jump.

The Three Amigos (1986)

Again, a classic, I doubt I'll have to let you in on the plot. But this is one 80's movie that doesn't feel so dated, because it's set in the 1920's. I love westerns for their rich dramatic settings, and I'd count this as a comedic western, for sure. Beautiful landscapes are always beautiful, no matter what genre in which they appear.

Fools Rush In (1997)

Another beautiful desert flick. This is a highly under-rated romantic comedy. It works on many levels, even when maybe it shouldn't. (Similar to "Only You" and "Return To Me".) It's perfectly cast, the story is solid, and it's set in beautiful Las Vegas with many great scenes set at tourist spots like the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. It's like taking a trip without spending any money. This movie showcases a Las Vegas that doesn't exist anymore. It's a hot spot again nowadays, but in the early 90's when this was made, it had only begun to grow again. So it's interesting on that level too.

Cutthroat Island (1995)

A huge pirate blockbuster starring Geena Davis. It tanked at the box office, but only a handful of years later, Disney's Pirates came out and OWNED the box office. To read my further thoughts on this, pick up the Winter/Spring 2009 issue of Pirates Magazine set to hit shelves soon at a Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or Borders near you. (Ah, shameless self-promotion...)

Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985)

Tim Burton's first full length feature film still works. Pee Wee takes a journey across the west all the way to the Alamo, even ending up in Hollywood. This movie is one of those clever flicks that both kids and parents can enjoy. Lots of people skip this one, thinking it's going to be terrible. But it's a gem. Don't miss it.

City Slickers (1991)

I chose City Slickers for this list, because it's one of a few western-set comedies. I love Westerns, but most of the time, you don't watch a western to get that warm fuzzy feeling. Amazing movies like, "Open Range", "Little Big Man", "A Fistful Of Dollars", "Tombstone" or "Once Upon A Time In The West" are all very serious and violent. They're dramas all the way. But "City Slickers" is dramatic fun, and there's a huge difference. It's got loads of warm fuzzies to offer...especially in the form of "Norman" the cow.

The Rocketeer (1991)

Yet another under-rated film that's not discussed much anymore, but is very good. It has a legendary film score, excellent direction, the talented Alan Arkin, and manages to be a fairly faithful recreation of the comic book. Films set in Old Hollywood always tend to warm me up and get me looking forward to spring and summer.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

Ditto here on the Old Hollywood idea. This is Bob Hoskins doing some of his best work (Though like Alan Arkin and Bill Nighy, he is good in everything in which he appears.) and I think the gimmick of there being a real cartoon world that is interlaced with ours is still a fun and fresh concept that warrants more exploring. The behind-the-scenes material is also excellent, thorough and very fun.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Ah, nothing says "warmth" like Pixar's summer blockbuster "Finding Nemo". It's an incredibly beautiful film, and loads of fun to watch.

Campy Fun: Heartbreakers (2001), Fools Gold (2008), Anaconda (1997)

Admittedly these aren't the best quality films, two of them are downright terrible, but they're set in beautiful tropical locations. Hey, sometimes watching a bad movie can be just as fun as watching a good one. Just in a different way.

That said, I have a hard time pronouncing, "Heartbreakers" bad. It works on a lot of levels, with a good solid cast, except for Jennifer Love Hewitt, (who made a valiant effort but couldn't do much with her thinly written character) and Jason Lee, who hadn't found his comedic stride yet and also wasn't given much to do. Unfortunately the film suffers from script problems and a big loss of momentum and tension. There's too much going on, several dropped concepts, and a very lagging and nonsensical third act. It kills me too, because this was really close to being a stand-out film. If only they would've simplified the script and given it to Frank Oz.

Bonus: YouTube some Disney World attractions

If you're really feeling landlocked and suffering from major cabin-fever, it's always fun to search YouTube for some ride videos from a Disney theme park. It sounds silly, but you'd be amazed at how quickly it can help you reconnect with that "vacation" feeling.