When we watch a film or show, we often gravitate to stories and characters with familiarity and provide great life lessons. Some moments stand out and make us say, “That was a great film or show.” Past to present, there are many movies and shows that lift us up and have us singing their praises. Here is just ten of those many entertaining films and shows that have great life lessons.
Beastly is a modern-day version of Beauty and the Beast and based on a book by Alex Flinn. The film stars Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Neil Patrick Harris. The film touches on beauty being skin deep. After a popular, self-absorbed high school student, Kyle Kingston upsets a witch (Mary-Kate Olsen) and is disfigured and told that he will remain this way unless he can find someone to love him for who he is inside. The disfigurement is a modern version rather than the beast you’d expect. Kyle has tattoos all over his body and face and has metal throughout his body as well. He has no hair and is forced to watch a tree tattoo grow on his arm to indicate his left time. Of course, he and Vanessa Hudgens’s character, Lindy, come together, and with the help of a blind caretaker and teacher (Neil Patrick Harris), these two find love.
The movie shows that we are highly fixated on physical appearance and do not care what is going on around us. Kyle comes from a rich father, and he does not receive much attention from him. The moment Kyle is disfigured, the father does away with him, worrying about what others will think. This film may be just another retelling of beauty and the beast, but it does put into perspective just how much we focus on outer beauty and possessions rather than what people have to offer and who they are. The life lesson that we focus far too much on material items and physical appearance to see what is most important is blatantly visible in this film and story. Alex Flinn said, “Those who do not know how to see the precious things in life will never be happy.”
The Film Dumplin’ is based on the book written by Julie Murphy and stars Danielle MacDonald, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Benward, Dove Cameron, and Odeya Rush. The film focuses on Willowdean Dixon, a plus-size teenager who seeks out to prove a point by participating in a beauty pageant in honor of her late Aunt. Willowdeans mother (Aniston) was a former beauty queen herself and is a pageant director. She insists on Willowdean dropping out of the pageant as she just does not fit the typical look of a pageant queen. Willowdean is joined by a couple of other girls who wish to turn the pageant industry upside down with her. While proving a point, Willowdean realizes that the industry may be all about outer beauty, but it does not have to be that way. She proves she and even her group of very different girls can all be beautiful in their way. The film’s lesson is that the world may say one thing, but it doesn’t mean it is right. Beauty resonates further than just your dress, hair, and makeup. It’s also how you see yourself and how much you believe you can do something. Confidence is what Willowdeans aunt had, and she drew that confidence from the incomparable Dolly Parton. A movie about being yourself and not giving in to what others say, a lesson that goes far beyond the screen but trickles into our everyday lives.
The film Pitch Perfect is based on a book written by Mickey Rapkin. The film has a great cast of people that bring to life a story of a ragtag group of acapella singers and their journey through collegiate a capella. Anna Kendrick stars as Becca, a girl who has a fantastic voice but is not considered for the a capella group initially because of how she looks. Even though she is beautiful, the way she dresses is regarded as an alternative look, and she has an attitude. The rest of the girls who join the group are far from the perfect look and must be molded into a capella group that Aubrey wants. Sure, the film is about a ragtag group making it to the end and overcoming the hardships of being very different and, of course, changing up the way they perform, but it also changes up the looks of what a capella is known to be. Rebel Wilson’s character Fat Amy is a hilarious and talented singer that doesn’t let her size or what others think about her stand in her way of being happy, sharing laughs, and doing her thing. She is confident, funny, and overall a breath of fresh air in a world of faux perfection. While many of the girls who join are different, have funny personalities, or not what Aubrey would have picked, she learns that differences and changes are needed to grow and win. The overall life lesson is that being different is good, changes are not always bad, and accepting each other for who we are can help you work together to achieve a common goal. Everyone has something to offer, and that thing might help you reach your end goal, and hey, you might make some new amazing friends when you open yourself up to new people and ideas.
The show centers around a woman named Zoey. Zoey can hear and see someone’s emotional plea in the form of a song or performance. She will see big musical numbers or intimate performances, telling her how they feel. Zoey makes it her goal to help those around her if Zoey can. While she finds her new power to be strenuous or odd, she also finds how it affects her life and encounters with friends and family. Zoey finds herself in uncomfortable situations, but she has also discovered her newfound powers can help her work life and home life. While the show is drama, it does lace it with a bit of comedic relief and a lot of emotional content; it also has lessons of the heart, family, and friendship. We often struggle with communication, and while we do not have Zoey’s powers, we can relate to the ability to communicate with others and express what we are feeling. Zoey must maneuver through challenging real-life scenarios that the audience is familiar with as well. A loss of a loved one, friendship, romance, family drama, workplace issues, and choosing what is best for ourselves even if we do not love the outcome. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist takes the audience through a whirlwind of emotions laced with the ability to overcome some of life’s most demanding challenges.
17 Again stars Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sterling Knight, and Thomas Lennon. The movie is about Matthew Perry, a man who is getting divorced and is a bit disconnected from his teenage children. He has lost sight of what is most important in life and what he wanted all along. However, he is given a chance to relive his high school years. Zac Efron plays a young Matthew Perry while everyone else remains their age. He gets a chance to relive his high school dreams of being a pro basketball player, but along the way, he discovers how smart his children are, the struggles they are facing, and of course, he rediscovers why he fell in love with his wife Scarlett (Leslie Mann). 17 Again contains a familiar trope we have seen time and time again. The lessons discovered in this film are ever familiar; the grass is not always greener on the other side, appreciate what you have and be thankful for the life you have. Compare this movie to The Family Man, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Shrek Everafter. The lesson is clear, you have it good, and you had what you wanted all along. Be thankful for what is rather than what is not. Sometimes what you want is not what you needed at all.
The show Pretty Little Liars is chalk filled with life lessons that many teenagers and young adults have to learn as they grow up. Of course, the show is filled with many lessons throughout its 7 season runtime. Still, one of its most significant lessons is that secrets can cause severe damage and hurt others. There are many situations that the main girls find themselves in, and how they handle it is how many teenagers would. The girls lie, and they hide the truth. However, that is a typical response for someone in fear of getting in trouble. Even adults may lie to cover things up they feel will keep them out of trouble or protect others. Over the 7 seasons, the girls realize their secrets and lies come back to haunt them and harm others. It is not an easy thing to tell the truth, or share secrets, and above all else, you have to be careful who you trust. The girls face inappropriate relationships, sexual orientation, murder, underage drinking, and much more. While not all high school students or adults face some situations, such as death, many situations are every day. Affairs and infidelity, divorce, cheating, and our morals being tested are often scenarios we find ourselves facing in one form or fashion. Overall, the lessons remain the same, and the message of looking to those you love and trust will help you get through the most challenging times.
This movie stars Sabrina Carpenter, Jordan Fisher, and Liza Koshy. The film may follow the typical storyline of being an outcast or nerd finding their true calling. It does show that you will not be perfect as you work toward a goal. Sometimes you find something you love and want unexpectedly in life. Sabrina Carpenters’ ultimate goal is to get into a particular college for personal reasons, but her journey into that college forces her out of her comfort zone. This story is an ordinary life lesson. We stumble upon other loves or passions while working towards something we want. People come into our lives unexpectedly and change our path or adjust it based on their presence. Carpenter works harder than ever towards something she wants and finds out she enjoys what she is doing. The movie also teaches you to get what you need or something close to what you want if you work hard enough. It may not be the same dream you had, but changes can be a good thing.
Mr. Iglesias is a comedy mixed with life lessons for adults and teenagers alike. The show stars comedian Gabriel Iglesias and centers around being a history teacher in a southern California high school. Iglesias sets on a goal to teach students with various backgrounds to believe in themselves. Some students appear to have a more complicated background than others. Regardless of their circumstances, Iglesias works hard to make sure the teenagers know that they can achieve their goals with work and determination. Some students face hardships based on finances, grades, or merely lacking support from family. The show touches on different family dynamics and, of course, the teacher’s personal lives as well. The show focuses more on Iglesias’ life challenges and that he is in AA and his love life. The show does not go overboard and keeps the audience laughing while still learning and enjoying heartwarming moments between Iglesias and his loyal band of followers.
Shameless is based on a British series about a group of siblings that must deal with their alcoholic father. Shameless is a mix of drama and comedy to ease a real-life issue for many people worldwide. Teenagers all over have to deal with scary life situations such as an alcoholic parent. Some children are left alone, and some have siblings that come together to push through hardships while getting through high school and maneuvering through life. There are ten seasons of Shameless filled with drama, life lessons, and even some comedy touches. Life is hard, and sometimes if we are lucky, we are given people to help us through moments or survive. Shameless gives us the lessons and examples of persevering through hardships despite the odds.
The Duff is based on a book of the same title. The movie stars Mae Whitman, Bella Thorne, Robbie Amell, Skyler Samuels, and Ken Jeong. The story is about a teenager by the name of Bianca. She has a few friends who are superficial and all about how they look and their popularity. However, they are friends with Bianca, who doesn’t seem to care what others think about her until it begins to get to her. She is labeled a Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). She enlists help from Wesley, a jock, to help change how people see her. Along the way, she realizes she is O.K. with who she is. Bianca reminds everyone that every person can be somebody else’s Duff, even if they do not fit that exact description. The most important thing is to love who you are, don’t change yourself for others, and accept people for who they are on the outside so you can get to know a great person on the inside. The show is reminiscent of mean girls, but not the extreme of that film or book. It is a clear reminder and excellent life lessons that we are all different and labels are just that. The labels need not be accurate, and we are who we want to be regardless of what others say.
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