Films chosen by our Quarterlife readers. 

 

The days are finally starting to get longer, but our empty evenings still loom ahead of us with a depressing lack of natural structure. There are only so many 'Yoga with Adriene' videos or walks around the park you can do to ward off the nagging sense that you’re missing out on your prime years. But, enough with the self-pity! We’re here to provide you with a mood-boosting list of comfort movies, chosen by our readers on Instagram, that are guaranteed to make you feel cosier and less crap this February. 

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1. The Parent Trap (Watch on Disney+)

 

The ultimate comfort blanket of a film. The handshake scenes. The wedding dress montage. Martin’s tiny speedos when he says he’s “going for a dip”. This is an iconic entry in the shortlist. It’s the film that made you want to cut your own fringe as a kid and tricked you into thinking Lindsay Lohan had a twin for longer than you’d like to admit. Pour yourself a cup of tea, crack open a packet of Oreos with peanut butter and spend a couple of hours pretending you live in a mansion with a pool, in sun-drenched Napa Valley.

 

Chosen by Derek.

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2. Frances Ha (Watch on Amazon Prime)

 

This is the quirky comfort film entry for every twenty-something who feels like they’re stuck in a rut. In this Noah Baumbach movie, starring Greta Gerwig, we see a struggling 27-year-old dance company apprentice bumble through life. Like many indie heroines, she can inexplicably afford to live in New York and does kooky spontaneous things like flying to Paris for a solo two day trip. It’s shot in black and white (of course) and is full of hipster whimsy. But it is redeemed by how it expertly  captures the difficulties of your late twenties; the unravelling of friendships and the painful embarrassment of not feeling like a real person yet.

 

Chosen by Matt.

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3. Leap Year (Watch on Netflix)

 

Behold! This fine addition to the genre of implausible American romcoms set in Ireland. Described by The New York Times as “so witless, charmless and unimaginative that it can hardly be described as a movie”, it’s full of hunky strangers and cheesy meet-cutes. What’s not to love? The story centres on Anna Brady who plans to travel to Dublin to propose marriage to her boyfriend Jeremy on Leap Day, because, according to Irish tradition, a man who receives a marriage proposal on a leap day must accept it. But, of course, her plans are interrupted by a series of unexpected events. If a light-weight yet endearing escape from the four walls of your bedroom is what you’re after, then look no further. 

 

Chosen by Annie.

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4. Almost Famous (Rent on YouTube)

 

Close your eyes and imagine you’re a teenager who’s blagged their way onto a tour bus in 1971 with an up-and-coming rock band about to set off travelling across America. That’s Almost Famous. Directed by Cameron Crowe, Rolling Stone journalist and friend of music legends like Joni Mitchell, the movie is a delight of afghan coats, flares and epic singer-songwriter anthems. It follows a mid-level band grappling with fame, but more importantly, it explores the meaning of true friendships and integrity through the eyes of a young man figuring out who he wants to be. It’s a touching coming-of-age story that will have you imagining how things could have been different if you were born in San Diego at the birth of rock and roll. 

 

Chosen by Josie.

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5. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (Rent on Amazon)

 

A sentimental story of women’s strength and love. This film is like a bosomy hug from a fiercely maternal aunt. The story follows two narratives intertwined (like The Notebook). One story is that of a woman approaching midlife, stuck in an unhappy marriage, on the cusp of menopause, who recovers her sense of empowerment and enthusiasm for life. Doesn't sound very quarterlife, you might think. But, it’s interspersed with the story of a woman she befriends, who reflects on the lessons she learnt in her twenties at the Whistle Stop Cafe. The women teach each other about the power of self-love and taking control of your life (and we guarantee there won't be a dry eye in the house). It touches on some heavy themes, but with a gentle southern charm. This film will have texting your best friend to say you love them and searching on Depop for billowy vintage blouses.

 

Chosen by Jo.

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Image from The Parent Trap.