you're the lowest, most contemptible... You're beneath contempt. You haven't enough character for that. You dissolute, conceited... uh, vagrant

A wander through some unfamiliar neighborhoods, so to speak. A good movie takes you someplace you've never been.

Love, Actually (2003) - "Nine intertwined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love. Among the characters explored are David (Hugh Grant), the handsome newly elected British prime minister who falls for a young junior staffer (Martine McCutcheon), Sarah (Laura Linney), a graphic designer whose devotion to her mentally ill brother complicates her love life, and Harry (Alan Rickman), a married man tempted by his attractive new secretary."
source: streamed on Amazon Prime
I watched it because: I haven't seen it in several years, and wanted something unequivocally happy
IMDB: 7.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 64% Audience: 72%
my IMDB: 7/10

notable quote: "A friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward I will be prepared to be much stronger."

MPAA rating: R

directed by: Richard Curtis

my notes: I had forgotten how NOT uniformly happy it is, but liked it so well anyway. I liked Liam Neeson's storyline the best, with Colin Firth's ridiculousness second.
overall:  recommended

After the Thin Man (1936) - "Recently returned home from vacation, private detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his socialite wife, Nora (Myrna Loy), are back on the case when Nora's cousin, Selma (Elissa Landi), reports her husband Robert (Alan Marshal) missing. As the duo search for the disreputable Robert, Selma's friend David Graham (James Stewart), who secretly pines for her, aids the investigation. When the three begin to unravel Robert's secret life, the missing persons case turns into one of murder."

source: I borrowed the DVD from the public library
I watched it because: I'm into the series
IMDB: 7.6/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 100% Audience: 90%
my IMDB: 7/10

notable quote: "'Walk this way, Sir.'

    'Well, I'll try.'"

MPAA rating: Passed (TV-G)

directed by: W.S. Van Dyke

my notes: funny and surprisingly plotted. I liked this one!
Academy Award nominee: Best Writing, Screenplay

Last reviewed here
overall:  recommended

Zootopia (2016) - "From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal metropolis where various animals live and thrive. When Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) becomes the first rabbit to join the police force, she quickly learns how tough it is to enforce the law. Determined to prove herself, Judy jumps at the opportunity to solve a mysterious case. Unfortunately, that means working with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a wily fox who makes her job even harder."
source: streamed at the BFF's
I watched it because: we wanted something happy & silly
IMDB: 8.0/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: 98% Audience: 92%
my IMDB: 8/10

notable quote: "Greasy walls. Rickety bed. Crazy neighbors. I love it!"

MPAA rating: PG

directed by: Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush (co-directed)

my notes: charming, inspirational, and funny. I liked it!

Academy Award winner: Best Animated Film of the Year
overall:  recommended

Double Wedding (1937) - "Waldo and Irene have been living with Margit for the four years that they have been engaged. Margit has planned the wedding and the honeymoon—in fact, Margit plans everything down to what they will have for breakfast every day. The only problem is that Waldo is a milquetoast and Irene does not want to be married to a milquetoast. So she says she is in love with Charlie, a bohemian artist/producer who lives in a trailer behind Spike's Place. When Margit confronts Charlie about giving up Irene, Charlie sees that she is the one for him. To make everyone happy, Charlie will have to help Waldo get a backbone."
source: I borrowed the DVD from the public library
I watched it because: I'm into Powell & Loy
IMDB: 6.9/10  -  Rotten Tomatoes: Tomatometer: N/A% Audience: 66%
my IMDB: 5/10

notable quote: "'How many children are they going to have?'

    'Well, naturally that's up to them.'

    'Well, that's mighty white of you.'"

MPAA rating: Passed (TV-G)

directed by: Richard Thorpe

my notes: crazy, madcap, weird. Not my favorite. It was still funny, but I was kind of glad when it was over.
overall:  marginally recommended

[the title quotation is from Double Wedding]