90’s Movie Nights
By Alison Stoner
If you have the blessing of raising a small crew of little humans then you know there are a lot of problems that come along with having a large family. The most glaring in our household is that all six of us magically have to use the bathroom at the same time - and we only have one. Another #largefamilyproblem is the constant battle for justice - “but it’s not fair” (can you hear the whine as you read that?). Oh, another fun one is losing your seat the very moment your cheeks leave the chair because someone is always vying for your cozy spot.
Until recently, deciding what movie we would watch for family movie night was also one of our large family problems. Don’t worry though, I took matters into my own hands and started picking the movie myself. Who needs five other opinions when mine is superior anyway? (That’s a joke, just so you know.)
The moment I declared I was going to pick the movie, though, reality set in. See, I’m not super “cultured” in the ways of the wee ones. I couldn’t tell you one movie that’s been released in the last year actually. But what an opportunity this has been for me to relive my precious childhood memories and all my favorite movies! That’s right folks, the Stoner movie nights have been consisting of ‘90s family movies for the last few weeks and I. Am. Here. For. It.
Ps. My kids are loving them too!
So, get the popcorn and the VHS tapes ready! (I’m actually streaming them, we have no fancy players here.) Let’s bring back the GOOD movies!
Just for fun, here are five of my most memorable movies from childhood, and a few bonus mentions that we haven’t gotten to yet, but most definitely will be soon!
Little Alison’s Favorite Childhood Movies
101 Dalmatians. If you knew me when I was a child this is not going to come as a shock. I collected dalmatians. My bedding was dalmatians. I was a dalmatian for Halloween at least four years in a row. In 1996, when the remake came out with live people (and dogs!) I was ecstatic. Fun fact: Jeff Daniels lives in my hometown and I went to school with his children. I still see his daughter as the 1st grader who wore nothing but dalmatian print leading up to the opening of the movie!
It Takes Two. HUGE Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen fan here! Just call me their triplet! There wasn’t a single movie (or sing along) that these two released that I didn’t watch, but It Takes Two is the cream of the crop for sure. That food fight in the cafeteria? Epic. The Buttkisses? Legendary. The runaway horse scene that ends with Diane gently blowing on Roger Calloway’s cut? I knew then what love was.
Matilda. One word: Ms. Honey. She’s perfection. But aside from Ms. Honey, Matilda is just an all around great movie. I actually showed this to my kids years ago after we read Roald Dahl’s Matilda and it’s probably been the most watched movie around our house ever since. Both my 12 year old and 7 year old daughters LOVE Matilda - and live in fear of being sent to the chokey.
The Parent Trap. The little dance on the dock will forever live rent free in my mind. Also, don’t you think it’s a little nuts that the nanny and the butler were really the ones who spotted the difference in the girls when they switched places? Regardless, solid movie - 10/10. My oldest LOVES this movie and wanted to watch other Lindsay Lohan movies. Unfortunately, aside from Freaky Friday, Lindsay is not our girl for family friendly movies.
Casper. I have a sister who is five years older than I am and when we were growing up we shared a bedroom. Teenage girls in the ‘90s covered their bedroom walls with posters and magazine clippings of celebrity boys. Devon Sawa was among her favorites. Devon, alongside Leonardo Dicaprio and Johnathon Taylor Thomas, covered my bedroom walls whether I liked it or not. One thing I did like, however, was the movie Casper. Funny story: When we watched this movie as a family, and we got to the end where Casper becomes a young man, my two oldest daughters both responded with an, “ooooh”. I guess my sister isn’t the only one with a crush on Casper…
I realize my list is pretty girl heavy, but don’t worry, my son has endured them all too, and for the most part, has really liked them! I was shocked by how into It Takes Two he got! Here’s a list of a few others that we have watched or will be watching soon (and they are a bit more gender neutral):
Free Willy
Richie Rich
Beethoven
The Sandlot
The Princess Diaries
Blank Check
Harriet the Spy
Andre
Charlotte’s Web
Jumunji
Shiloh
I’m dying to know what you’d add to this list! Can we please come together and share our ideas so that we can bring back the joy that is family movie night!?
And, just so you know, in true ‘90s fashion, this crunchy mom allows for Skittles and Sour Patch Kids (complete with every dye of the rainbow) along with our popcorn!