Is there a movie that just makes you feel better whenever you see it? It does not have to be a revered classic showered in critical praise, nor does it have to be a “good movie”. Perhaps it is just a movie that makes you smile after a long day or brings back fond memories with each viewing, with the most important part being that it makes you feel good. Comfort movies can do just that.
For me, the movie that has succeeded in doing that most is Richie Rich from 1994, which starred Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin as the titular character. This movie is not a cinematic masterpiece and is packed with moments that can be described as cheesy, as well as being forever marked with low critic scores. There are a number of movies that I can choose to watch where I can learn something or think about for days, but if I ever wanted to feel good, I would choose to watch Richie Rich. Why do I find so much comfort in it?
The most important part of comfort movies is that they make the viewer feel good, and this movie does that for me. The movie itself has a plot that is very easy to follow, not requiring too much thinking or focus, yet still keeps viewers invested in what’s going on. It tells the story of a young boy who has everything from wealth to adoring parents. Despite this, he does not live a normal life, nor does he actually have a normal childhood or regular friends. When his parents are presumed dead after an assassination attempt by someone who wants to take over the family company, Richie must run the business while also searching for his parents, discovering friendship and adventure in the process.
The movie’s plot is light hearted and easy, allowing viewers to kick back and relax. This is also perfect because the movie, with all of its charm, is a lot of fun. Humour adds to that whenever the jokes are actually funny, bringing a smile or laugh, which is undoubtedly great after a hard day. It is also a reminder that not everything needs to be so serious or taken so seriously to be thoroughly enjoyed. At the end, the aims that a comfort movie sets out to achieve are accomplished, leaving me with positive feelings and a sense of comfort.
The movie, on a personal note, also taps into fond childhood memories, making each viewing nostalgic. It takes me back to the days of sitting in front of a blocky television on warm afternoons after school, attempting to read the quick title prompts on the Hollywood channel in the hope that the movie was going to come on next. It represents simpler days, preceding whatever worries or frustrations that come with time. The things that I currently worry about are cast aside for about 90 minutes as I am reminded of the memories and the people that came with my first few viewings of the movie, cementing a place that even the best movies I have ever seen cannot take.
Comfort movies can make you feel good and can be uplifting whenever you see them. The movie brings a lot of comfort to me is not perfect, but it provides a sense of nostalgia and enjoyment each time I see it. There are just days when we might need to feel good somehow, and Richie Rich is the movie that does just that for me. Regardless of the type of movie or what others might think of it, comfort movies can just make us feel better when we might need them most.
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