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The Sun
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Emotional family flicks
MOVIES have a special way of bringing families together and more often than not, the most powerful films are the ones that move us feel deeply. Showcasing the bond between parents and children, the pain of separations and even the joy of reunions, these films remind us of the unbreakable connections families share. Here are eight emotional family melo-dramas that will leave you reaching for the tissues with movie nights filled with heartfelt moments, love, loss and redemption. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) Few films capture the struggles of parenthood as powerfully as The Pursuit of Happyness. Based on a true story, it follows Chris Gardner (Will Smith), a single father fighting against homelessness while trying to secure a better future for his son. Despite overwhelming challenges, Chris refuses to give up, showing us the depth of a parent's love. The final scene, where he finally gets a job after countless rejections, is one of the most emotionally satisfying moments in cinema. Wonder Wonder (2017) A deeply touching film about acceptance and family love, Wonder follows Auggie Pullman, a boy born with facial differences, as he attends school for the first time. Beyond Auggie's personal journey, the film also explores how his family copes with the challenges, his protective older sister, his supportive parents and the people who learn to see beyond appearances. It is a story that reminds us to treat others with empathy and love. A Monster Calls (2016) Not all family movies have happy endings, and A Monster Calls is a perfect example. This film tells the story of Connor, a young boy struggling with his mother's terminal illness. To cope with his emotions, he imagines a giant tree monster that visits him at night, telling him powerful stories that reflect his real-life struggles. The film is a beautifully crafted tale of grief, healing and acceptance, making it one of the most heart-wrenching yet necessary movies to watch. Marley & Me Marley & Me (2008) A movie about a dog may seem lighthearted at first, but Marley & Me is about the journey of life and loss. Following the lives of John and Jenny Grogan, the film showcases their ups and downs as they raise their mischievous yet lovable Labrador, Marley. Through marriage, career struggles and parenthood, Marley remains a constant companion. The emotional weight of this film truly hits when it explores the heartbreaking reality of saying goodbye to a beloved pet. The Lion King (1994) A Disney classic that still brings tears to audiences of all ages, The Lion King tells the story of Simba, a young lion cub forced into exile after his father's tragic death. Beyond being a beautifully animated film, it explores loss and redemption, as Simba must face his past and reclaim his place as king. The scene where Simba sees the ghost of his father Mufasa, reminding him of who he truly is, is one of Disney's most powerful moments. Up Up (2009) It is rare for a children's movie to break hearts within the first ten minutes, but Up does just that. The film begins with the love story of Carl and Ellie, a couple who dreams of adventure but never gets the chance to fulfil it together. After Ellie's passing, Carl embarks on a journey, carrying the weight of his grief. Despite its sorrowful beginning, Up ultimately becomes a story about new friendships and rediscovering joy, proving life's adventures do not have to end with loss. Coco Coco (2017) A visually stunning and deeply emotional film about family and love beyond death, Coco follows Miguel, a young boy who dreams of becoming a musician. When he accidentally enters the Land of the Dead, he embarks on a journey to uncover family secrets and understand the true meaning of remembering those we have lost. The emotional climax when Miguel sings Remember Me to his great-grandmother is one of the most tear-inducing moments in animated history. Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) No list of emotional family movies is complete without a Bollywood classic, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is the ultimate family tearjerker. This iconic film follows the Raichand family, torn apart by love, class differences and a father's pride. When Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) is disowned for marrying Anjali (Kajol), the family is broken. Years later, his younger brother Rohan (Hrithik Roshan) embarks on a mission to reunite them. With soulful songs and moments of intense heartbreak, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham remains a timeless Bollywood family drama that resonates across generations. These movies remind us family is about love, hate, sacrifices and the moments we share. So, grab that tissue box and get your loved together for some quality family viewing.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The Friend review: Disjointed elements make this frustrating pooch drama one for the doghouse
The Friend ★★☆☆☆ 4 4 THE tale of a reluctant owner falling in love with a problematic pooch has played out many times on the big screen. Turner & Hooch, Marley & Me and Beethoven had generations of cinemagoers sobbing over their popcorn. And now The Friend has given this well-trodden dog walk a go. Iris (Naomi Watts) is a novelist dealing with the suicide of her friend Walter (Bill Murray) — a fellow writer and troubled genius. We see snippets of their complicated friendship through flashbacks. According to Walter's wife, he requested that Iris look after his beloved rescue dog, Apollo. Iris lives in a tiny New York apartment that doesn't allow dogs and, unfortunately for her, Apollo is no chihuahua. He's actually a 150lb great Dane with a bad case of the doggy blues. Since Walter's death, Apollo has become deeply depressed. He won't eat, won't play and spends hours lying on top of one of Walter's old T-shirts breathing in his dead owner's smell. And Iris, who declares herself a 'cat person', has to try and get him out of this fog while learning a lot about herself in the process. But it's Apollo who seems so much sadder about his owner's death than any of his ex-wives, daughter or, in fact, Iris. Which is one of the many disjointed elements in this slightly frustrating film. Horror fans go wild for 'horniest' new movie after X-rated scenes in blood-soaked film_1 The viewer is invited to believe that Walter and Iris have this powerful friendship, yet she barely seems to have shed a tear over his death and even lazily arrived late to his funeral. The conversations about him lack information and left me craving another Bill Murray flashback so I could try to understand who he was myself. And the character of Iris feels weak. She doesn't finish sentences, she stares off into the distance a lot and can't seem to do a day's work without there being some sort of slightly pathetic disaster. I wanted to see her get mad or sad . . . something. Apollo is superbly cast, though, and with his big, mournful eyes and expressive head turns, he often resembles Bill Murray trapped inside a canine. And there are some lovely New York Brownstone home interiors to stare at during the Woody Allen-style dialogue. But, sadly, this pooch drama is one for doghouse. THE ACCOUNTANT 2 (15), 124mins ★★★☆☆ 4 BEN AFFLECK returns as Christian Wolff in a belated sequel to the 2016 hit that delivers plenty of guilty-pleasure action. Chris has been quietly living off-grid in Boise for a few years and is still working on shady financial jobs through his handler Justine. When a tragedy draws him back into the fray, he reconnects with Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) and his estranged brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal), an assassin now living in Europe. Where the first film took itself slightly too seriously, this follow-up embraces a more playful tone. It's a mishmash of crime syndicates, missing children and hitmen, all barely held together by a rather weak premise. But that's surely part of the appeal. Affleck keeps Chris cool and calm, while Bernthal's Braxton does what he does best: Fight first and ask questions later. Sure, the plot's a mess and the portrayal of neurodivergence might raise an eyebrow, but director Gavin O'Connor pulls off a decent crime caper as unapologetically ridiculous as it is fun. The Accountant 2 is clearly having way too much fun to worry about making perfect sense. ★★★★☆ 4 THIS striking debut from Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt reimagines the classic Cinderella fairytale. The film blends gothic horror, dark humour, and feminist critique, transforming the story into a grotesque, visually impressive body-horror drama with surreal undertones. Following the death of her wealthy new husband – he croaks it mid-cake at their wedding – cynical Rebekka (Ane Dahl Torp) is left broke and obsessed with marrying off her plain daughter Elvira (Lea Myren). Neglecting basic decency by leaving the corpse of her newly dead husband to rot while pouring resources into brutal beauty treatments for Elvira, Rebekka hopes to attract Prince Julian at a royal ball. Meanwhile, Elvira's rivalry with glam new stepsister Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Naess) intensifies, especially as Elvira resorts to ingesting a tapeworm to satisfy her cake cravings. Rather than recycling clichés, Blichfeldt interrogates patriarchal ideals and fetishised beauty, pitting young women against each other. A smart, bold, and visually rich work that both enchants and challenges. By Linda Marric
