Millennial Nostalgia: Best 90s Family Movies to Revisit


If you’re in your thirties with kids, and you’re wanting to expose the magic of 90s movies to them, this post is for you.

You’ve probably found the same as I have – modern movies for kids have nothing on the humour, trauma and pure delight we got from what we grew up on.

From the horror of Mask and Hocus Pocus, to the magic of Matilda and Fairytale, to the absolute hilarity of anything with our beloved Robin Williams in. It’s time to dig out the VHS player and pass on the torch to our younger generation.

Me forcing my kids to watch 90s movies.
Above: Me forcing my kids to watch all my favourite 90s movies

Ultimate nostalgia awaits – scroll down to find the top 16 movies I think should be part of your kids 90s education.

Missing any? Comment below! I feel this post will be a work in progress…

Mrs Doubtfire
Mrs Doubtfire (1993)
Matilda
Matilda (1996)
Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Fairytale: A True Story
Fairytale: A True Story (1997)
Borrowers
The Borrowers (1997)
Flubber
Flubber (1997)
Homeward Bound
Homeward Bound (1993)
The Parent Trap
The Parent Trap (1998)
George of the Jungle
George of the Jungle (1997)
Jumanji
Jumanji (1995)
Babe
Babe (1995)
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden (1993)
Black Beauty
Black Beauty (1994)
The Little Princess
The Little Princess (1995)
Hook
Hook (1991)
Mask (1994)

Happy 90s viewing, kids!

Jodie

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

the_perks_of_being_a_wallflower.sml-2243Director: Stephen Chbosky
Writer: Stephen Chbosky
Released (in NZ about a million years after every other country): March 2013
Starring: Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Logan Lerman

Okay, it was NOTHING like I thought it would be like.

perks+2This is not a happy-go-lucky, up beat and freeing movie like the trailer makes it out to be. In fact, it has a lot of very serious themes, making this high school drama rather dark, and not at all light hearted.

Despite the totally unexpected storyline, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a very emotional journey – you laugh just as hard as you cry in some parts. So it evens out into a humbling story.

We accept the love we think we deserve.

C minus, ladies and gentlemen! I am below average!
C minus, ladies and gentlemen! I am below average!

The main character, Charlie (Logan Lerman) and both of his friends Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), each go through massive emotional roller coasters. Huge changes to their lives that are developed incredibly well. Feelings and emotions are messy, unexplainable and complicated. We battle between how we feel and who we really are, with what society says we should be, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower accurately represents this.

The acting by everyone was quite simply ground breaking. I don’t think I am over-exaggerating either.

perkstrailer_LargeWide_samEmma Watson has lovers and haters. The haters say her accent sucked, the fans say she was faultless. I say that her American accent was well done, but perhaps her articulate way of speaking let her down. I didn’t see Hermione at all in her performance of the outgoing Sam, which I think is something that Emma Watson should be applauded for.
Amazing.

PerksEzra_620_092112Ezra Miller plays Patrick, a fun, loving, loyal guy who is the stepbrother of Sam. What I adore about this character is how well written he is – he’s not a stereotype by any stretch! This is such a breath of fresh air because he is homosexual, yet this does not define him. He stands up for himself and does not accept being victimised. Patrick is my favourite character because he doesn’t take life too seriously… I want him to be my best friend.

Shop teacher: …Are you proud to be a senior having to take freshman shop, Patty-Cakes?
Patrick: Look, my name is Patrick. Either you call me Patrick or you call me nothing.
Shop teacher: Nothing, why don’t you read first?
Patrick: Alright, Chapter 1: Surviving your fascist shop teacher who needs to put kids down to feel big. Oh wow! This is useful guys, we should read on!

The tunnel song - Heroes by Bowie
The tunnel song – Heroes by Bowie

The music is very well picked. Some of my favourite songs are included: David Bowie’s song Heroes, which is affectively used. I discovered Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners via this film – it is such a happy song with a great scene to go with it. Oh! And oh my God the Cocteau Twins’ incredible song Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drop! I hadn’t heard of them before this film either. These contrasting sounds and genres mirror the emotional tones of the movie.

charlie THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWERThis is not a typical high school drama at all! I think its genre would be similar to the likes of Seven Pounds.

Not what I was expecting, but not a disappointment by any stretch. It is thought provoking and intense. Just like life, there are huge ups and downs.

This movie is a realistic account of three teenagers and their relatable high school/college experiences .

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

The trailer of a very alternate idea of the movie… It is literally nothing like this.