Our Favorite Family Comedies

Looking for a clean family comedy to make you laugh? Try one of our favorites. These movies are all rated G or PG so most are great picks for the whole family.  Bring on the popcorn!

     

We suppose there are people who don’t like the Muppets, but we can’t understand why. The latest two movies are fantastic. The Muppets reunites Kermit and his pals as they try to take back their old theater.  Muppets Most Wanted takes our furry friends on a world tour where they find themselves wrapped up in a jewel-heist. The music is super fun, and the writing is terrific.  Very quotable. The cameos just keep coming and coming. These movies are great for every age.

 The Man Who Knew Too Little

Bill Murray is perfectly cast in The Man Who Knew Too Little about a guy who thinks he’s an actor in a “Theater of Life” role playing event. When he accidently receives a call from a real villain, he jumps right into his role as the hit man. He is completely unaware that everything going on is real. It’s laugh-out-loud funny.

The North Avenue Irregulars

The North Avenue Irregulars is Grandma’s favorite movie and will always be one of ours too. A bunch of church ladies join undercover cops to take down a gambling ring in their town. We promise you won’t be disappointed in this classic Disney movie. So funny!

Matilda

Also one of our favorite books, Matilda is Roald Dahl’s story of a neglected little girl who also happens to be a genius. It’s a whimsical tale of a good heart finding her place in a sticky world.  Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman are hilarious as Matilda’s no-good parents.

That Thing You Do

That Thing You Do is definitely at the top of our list of favorite comedies. It’s about a small-town band who rises to stardom. It’s a great story with lots of fun music and a really talented cast.

What's Up Doc?

What’s Up Doc  is a 1970’s screwball comedy. The accidental mix-up of four identical plaid overnight bags leads to a series of crazy situations. It’s a classic!

Three Amigos

A little town in Mexico is being tormented by the evil bandit, El Guapo.  They search for heroes to help them. The Three Amigos, silent movie actors, are accidentally recruited and must play their parts for real.  Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short are so funny. This film is full of laughs—just delightful!

Every kid has dreams of what he will be as an adult. The Kid follows a 40-year-old man who mysteriously meets his 8-year-old self.  Spencer Breslin is the kid and he’s really great.  We like how the two characters help each other and learn to appreciate each other. It’s a fun one.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is a silly time-capsule comedy for older tweens and teens. Our boys think it’s so funny. You’ll also learn a tiny bit about some important historical figures- but only a tiny bit.

Groundhog Day

Another great Bill Murray comedy, Groundhog Day is about a TV weatherman covering the annual Groundhog Day festivities in Punxsutawney, PA.  He becomes trapped in a time loop making him relive the day over and over.  There are a few dark parts in the middle where he attempts to take his own life, but the overall feel is positive as the main character evolves into a really good guy.

Little Rascals

Little Rascals (1994) is a cute comedy about kids getting into all kinds of trouble. It’s true to the original Little Rascals series from bygone days.  The group of neighborhood boys create their “He-Man Woman Haters Club”. When one of the boys tries to woo a girl, the club members try to sabotage his crush.  Our little kids especially love this movie and quote it often.

Hotel for Dogs

Do you have any dog lovers at your house? Hotel for Dogs is a movie about kids who create a rescue dog paradise in an abandoned hotel.  The dog accommodations are very imaginative.  It’s adorable.

The princess in this movie is super awkward and likable. It’s a fun take on the commoner-turned-royal storyline.  Hasn’t every kid dreamed about how they would react if they were suddenly famous? We think The Princess Diaries is pretty funny.

Bedtime Stories

Adam Sandler stars in Bedtime Stories, a creative fantasy comedy with lots of funny scenes.  While Uncle Skeeter babysits his niece and nephew, he tells them bedtime stories that miraculously come true the next day. The stories are very imaginative with wild west tales, medieval and futuristic battles, and raining gumballs. Lots of fun!

Want more family-friendly movie lists? Check out all of our favorite movie lists.

Fun Adventure Films

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.  -Helen Keller

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Looking for a little adventure?  Here are some of our favorite adventure flicks the whole family will enjoy. All of these films are rated G or PG.  There’s fantasy, history, superheroes, and detectives.  You can’t go wrong with a good adventure tale!

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Ella Enchanted takes you to a fantasy land of fairies, elves, ogres, and giants. It’s a very creative Cinderella story based loosely on Gail Carson Levine’s  Newbery Honor book.  Great fun!

   

Secondhand Lions is full of surprises. It’s about Walter, a boy whose terrible mother drops him off at her aging uncles’ doorstep to spend the summer. You’ll fall in love with Hub and Garth and get carried away in their exciting  tales of the past and new adventures of the present.  And, there’s a lion!

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one of our all-time favorites.  When Walter is about to lose his job, he takes off on a crazy adventure to find the only person who can help.  It has absolutely gorgeous cinematography and the humor is just our style.

We think The Princess Bride is one of the greatest movies of all time. It’s fun adventure (giants, miracle marshmallows, disguises, torture, oh my!) with a touch of romance for what is sure to please every audience. It really doesn’t get better than The Princess Bride.

 

Nim’s Island is a sweet adventure story about a young girl on an isolated island who fears her dad has been lost at sea. She communicates with her favorite adventure-story author, begging her to cross the sea to help her.

Swiss Family Robinson  is a classic for good reason. We still love the story of a family who works together to make a life for themselves on a deserted island after a shipwreck. There are great animal scenes with elephants, ostriches, and tigers and a superb pirate battle at the end.

 

We have a real soft spot for fellow nerds in the world. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a fun fantasy adventure about an apprentice of the legendary magician, Merlin, who must find and train Merlin’s successor.  The successor is played by Jay Baruchel who is really good at playing the nerd role.  Favorite Line: “I don’t know what you’re into here, Dave, but whatever it is, you are definitely participating.”

Holes is one of our favorite books and the movie did not disappoint. It has a great cast. It’s such a beautiful story of friendship, forgiveness, and creating your own luck, and it’s just plain funny.  The villains are great. The boys are great.  The story is fabulous. We really love this one.

Some of you are probably hesitant to give this one a chance, but trust us. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl is a great story with a fantastic cast. There’s a mystery to solve and you’ll learn a bit about American history during the Great Depression along the way.  You won’t be disappointed.

Home Alone is a classic slapstick adventure masterpiece that ends with a really sweet message. That’s all we have to say.

   

Mom grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries so she was excited to see this movie when it came out in 2007. Nancy Drew is a well-dressed, eccentric teenage detective, fearless and smart.  She and her friends will take you on a fun adventure.

Everyone but our mom loves Jumanji. We think she can’t bear the thought of the house getting totally destroyed by jungle creatures and weather.  But, hey! All that chaos makes it really fun.  If you love board games, edge-of-your-seat disaster around every turn, and Robin Williams, you’ll love it!

     

Hook is a wonderful retelling of the story of Peter Pan.  There are pirates, fairies, mermaids, and lost boys. There’s a flying pirate ship and and a ticking crocodile.  There’s even baseball.  Good, clean fun for all!

Sky High is a funny superhero story of kids training to be heroes and side- kicks at their local superhero high school. It’s the fun of a super hero movie mixed in with the comedy and awkwardness of high school.

   

We like Willow even though there are some things about it that we don’t like… not sure how else to say that. The story just grows on you. It’s this  good-hearted little man who protects a rosy cheeked infant on a long journey through a magical land. It’s fun fantasy and adventure.

Whenever we go to a museum, we imagine the displays coming to life. Night at the Museum is based on that premise. It’s really funny and takes you through a lot of cool history as you meet the various museum characters.

 

Around the World in 80 Days (2004 version) is the story of Phileeas Fogg and his French valet Passepartout (Jackie Chan!) attempting to circumnavigate the world in 80 days to win a bet. This is one we’ve watched many times because it’s really fun.

Paddington is a sweet bear who lives with the Brown family in England. One day, he buys a special book as a gift for his aunt’s 100th birthday. When it is stolen, he goes on an exciting journey to find the thief.  Teddy bears chasing thieves = good fun!

 

Audrey Hepburn stars in How to Steal a Million as the daughter of a famous artist who is actually a forger. When one of his reproductions winds up in a Paris museum, they have to figure out how to steal the famous sculpture back before it is discovered to be a fake.  You’ll love watching these un-savvy novice criminals try to save the day.

National Treasure is a fun adventure for American History buffs.  It follows Ben Gates, an historian and amazingly talented codebreaker, as he tries to solve the mystery of a national treasure dating back to the founding fathers.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe is full of adventure, amazing talking animals, and scary villains. It’s an epic adventure for the whole family.

 

Need more movie recommendations?  Check out all our family friendly lists.

OUR FAVORITE MOVIES

Our Favorite Picture Books

PLEASE give your children books. Let their fingers turn the pages.  Let them study the illustrations. Let them use bookmarks!  A beautiful paper book can never be trumped by an image on a phone or tablet, especially in the case of picture books.  There’s something about the smell and feel of a real book, with lovely illustrations to sweep you into a new place and time. If you’ve missed out on any of these wonderful picture books, we think they’re worth a trip to the library or bookstore to get your hands on a copy.

Here are 30 picture books that have been read over and over at our house. Some teach wonderful lessons. Some have gorgeous illustrations. Some are just plain silly. We know they’ll make you smile! A full list follows the photos.

 

Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman and Marla Frazee

Edward and the Pirates by David McPhail

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza

Fanny’s Dream by Caralyn and Mark Buehner

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McClosky

Two Good Friends by Judy Delton and Giulio Maestro

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant and Stephen Gammell

A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger

Joseph had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

The Empty Pot by Demi

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran and Barbara Cooney

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson and Tara King

King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey and Don Wood

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan and Lorraine Rocha

The Hula-Hoopin Queen by Thelma Lynne Godin and Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley

A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli and Paul Yalowitz

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Wemberly Worried, and Chrysanthumum by Kevin Henkes

Birds by Kevin Henkes  (Can you tell that we really love Kevin Henkes?)

Henri’s Walk to Paris by Leonore Klein and Saul Bass

The Bad Seed (+3 others in series) by Jory John and Pete Oswald

Rosie Revere, Engineer (+ others in series) by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts

The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss

The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (This one is arguably more for parents than their kids.)