Things can seem grim while immersed in the day-to-day news cycle and social media routine, especially these days, when happy stories seem harder and harder to find. While it’s important to stay active and informed, it can also be overwhelming. When times are hard, it can be helpful to find that youthful spirit that lifts people up even in the face of adversity, and sometimes there’s nothing more uplifting than a simple, earnest kids movie. Here are a few examples guaranteed to entertain even the oldest souls.
Sometimes, in a complex, busy world, the best thing to soothe the soul is a simple, silly comedy set somewhere deep under the sea. A Nickelodeon classic, Spongebob Squarepants remains in development and popular among kids even to this day despite being over 20 years old. Much of this success has to do with the incredibly high quality and success of the show’s first three seasons, which contained numerous classic episodes and culminated in The Spongebob Squarepants Movie. The movie has the same goofy, free-spirited tone as the original show, as Spongebob reminds us what it means to believe in yourself, no matter how awkward, dorky, or goober-ish you are. A heartwarming and hilarious tale about learning to embrace your inner kid, it remains a fantastic film that reminds adults to never let go of their inner kid.
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Warm, comforting, and nostalgic; few things are as straightforward as a kids’ book. Paddington is the story of a friendly bear adapted from the original books with all the heart and soul intact. After travelling to London and into the care of the Brown family, Paddington goes in search of the geographer who found him years before, and works to avoid an evil taxidermist who wants to add him to her collection. The film is colorful, beautifully shot, and Paddington himself is lovingly animated with all the joy and energy you’d expect from a small talking bear. A lovely experience that radiates a soft, pleasant vibe with every frame, it is perhaps the most gentle and kind film released in years. Paddington reminds audiences that family can come from anywhere, and to embrace the power of relentless positivity, making a lovely pick-me-up to cap off a long day.
Spinning off from the success of The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie is the first Batman film in a very long time to remember that the Dark Knight can be a lot more than a gritty vigilante. Bringing back some of the color and life that the character desperately needed, The Lego Batman Movie is an important lesson about how taking on the world by yourself is a fool’s errand, and that accepting help makes people stronger, not weaker. As Batman learns to embrace his allies and move beyond his self-imposed isolation, the audience is treated to a spectacle of colorful fights, fun villains, and deep cuts into the Batman mythos. It’s not just a film for Batman fans, it’s for everyone in need of a reminder that superheroes are allowed to be lighthearted and fun, and that being less serious, doesn’t make a film less impactful.
The story of a chameleon who accidentally kills a hawk and becomes a hero to a small, old-west style town in dire need of help. Enamored with the adoration and respect he has stumbled into, he accepts a position as the local sheriff, puffing himself up despite his awkward and cowardly nature. Rango is an immediately relatable character, especially for adults, as he is thrust into situations he is intensely unprepared for, and expected to take responsibility for things seemingly beyond his understanding and skillset. His successes are all the more satisfying for how impossible they initially seem, and serve as an inspirational reminder that, with a little wit, life’s challenges are never truly insurmountable. The film is charming, witty, and its animation holds up quite well. It’s a story that’ll excite kids, while providing enough substance for adults as well, making it a great family film.
One of the all time classics in 2D animation, The Iron Giant exudes an old-fashioned charm that continues to resonate with modern audiences. When giant robot falls from space and is met by a young boy the two become fast friends despite his size and destructive potential. While the U.S. Army hunts him down, the Giant reckons with his own potential for destruction, and what it means to self-determinate. A kindhearted tearjerker; The Iron Giant will remind even the most jaded of adults the importance of empathy, and the value of forging your own path. In days of strife, and in the face of a world that can seem bitter and cruel, the film’s message rings truer than ever before: “You are who you choose to be.” An important message for people of all ages, and a reminder to choose wisely.