Movies offer a distraction from our everyday lives. They take us out of the world we live in and allow us — if only for a couple of hours — to forget all our troubles. If you are feeling especially stressed this week, consider taking time to relax with some of these light comedies:
1. Airplane!
Directed by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, “Airplane!” is a great film to watch when you need a good laugh (or a hundred). Released in 1980, this parody pokes fun at just about every movie up to the 1970s, including “Jaws,” “Saturday Night Fever” and “Zero Hour!” When several passengers and crew members on a commercial airplane fall ill due to food poisoning, ex-military pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) must overcome his nerves and land the plane safely. Perhaps the corniest film you will ever see, “Airplane!” nevertheless entertains with its many one-liners that never seem to get old.
2. Anger Management
Watching “Anger Management,” directed by Peter Segal, will not only help you chill out during dead week but may just cure any anger issues you may have. After a few deep breaths, a rendition of “I Feel Pretty” and a viewing of this sidesplitting 2003 comedy starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson, you’ll be ready to take on the world. In the film, Dave (Sandler) is remanded by the court to take an anger-management course with therapist, Dr. Buddy (Nicholson). The only problem is Buddy is a complete lunatic with a few anger issues of his own.
3. Beetlejuice
Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin star in this famous haunted house fantasy as a couple who die in a car crash but continue to live out their lives as normal. Another family soon intrudes on their home, and they must utilize their newfound ghostly powers to scare the new homeowners away. However, they unintentionally entice another reckless spirit called Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). Say his name three times, and he will appear. Directed by Tim Burton and released in 1988, “Beetlejuice” is fun and weird classic. If a distraction is what you are looking for, this movie will not disappoint.
4. We’re the Millers
“We’re the Millers” is a 2013 blockbuster from director Rawson Marshall Thurber. Jason Sudeikis stars as David Clark, an experienced pot dealer who decides to go big time and smuggle a huge shipment of marijuana into the United States from Mexico. In an attempt to blend into the crowd while crossing the border, David must recruit the help of a local stripper, played by Jennifer Aniston, to pretend to be his wife, along with two neighborhood teens (Will Poulter and Emma Roberts) to be his fake children. The four new drug smugglers rent an RV and head south. Crazy antics soon follow.
5. Sisters
Released this past December, “Sisters” may be just what you need to blow off steam. The film sees the reunion of comedic duo Amy Poehler and Tina Fey portraying sisters Kate (Fey) — a party girl — and Maura (Poehler) — the “party mom” — who decide to throw one last high school-style bash in their childhood home before it is sold. But when the party gets out of control, the sisters must find a way to save the house from being destroyed. “Sisters” is so funny, you may find yourself watching it two or three times in a row, but be careful; you should probably study a little this week.
