LISTS… Great Garry Marshall Gems

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Reliving the great movies of Garry Marshall…

 

Here are some of the movies I remembered him for as a director.

 

With Julia Roberts

With Hathaway and Andrews

 

OK, as you may know, I am not a big fan of romantic comedy. These especially of the contrived boy meets girl movie kind. But I was sad to hear that Garry Marshall had passed away. For me, he was the director of some of the films I saw as a hopeless romantic. This was way back before I met darlin’ husband and then believed in fairytale endings.

Here are 5 of the movies he directed that I loved then and now will indulge in if in the need of romance from the multi-talented Garry Marshall. Marshall in 1964, was credited as an actor and can be seen in the Bond film, Goldfinger and in having an appearance in Soapdish (1991).

 

The Princess Diaries (2001)…

The Princess Diaries – Trailer, DisneyMoviesOnDemand

Before her character really, really annoyed me in Interstellar (2014) Anne Hathaway was the young star of this movie, her debut. Tells of a dowdy unpopular school girl, Mia who inherits the throne of Genovia much to her surprise. The Dowager Queen Clarisse tells her the truth about her parentage and she is shipped off to Genovia to learn how to be a princess before you can say “What’s going on?”.

Clarisse is played delightfully by Julie Andrews, and you may be like me in that you will expect her to sing on more than a few occasions. As we know Andrews is of course more famous as the singing nun in The Sound of Music (1965) film. Of course, Mia then becomes wildly popular at school, learns the true value of love and friendship and then the film makes way for the rom-com sequel. Which tbh, was as unneeded and unnecessary as the rom-com sequel that followed the excellent Kick Ass (2010). But hey ho, Andrews still doesn’t sing, so avoid it for that reason alone.

 

Beaches (1988)…

BEACHES (1988) – Official Trailer, xirstom1

Marshall directed Beaches (1988) a classic weepie of the 1980s with Barbara Hershey and Bette Midler. This is the ultimate girl’s night in movie where also chocolate, tissues and in most cases an Outlander box set are compulsory. OK, as well as a weepie, it’s a showcase for Midler – then an 80s movie must have – who sings her way through this soundtrack.

Midler stars as singer C C Bloom who receives a note from her old friend and then travels to see her. On the way, she gets flashbacks to their friendship over the years. She tells of how the two wee girls met on holiday and flashbacks tell the stories of their loves, career, friendship, and fallings out and this all leads to the weepie bit.

This bit of the film which you will need handsqueezed for so make sure you have a good friend handy. Also starred John Heard (Kevin’s dad in Home Alone (1990)) and the lovely James Read from North and South (1985) as romantic interests  – and eye candy – like me you were a hopeless romantic singleton when watching it.

 

Overboard (1987)…

Overboard Official Trailer #1 – Goldi Hawn, Kurt Russel Movie (1987) HD, Movieclips Trailer Vault

This romantic comedy starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn is a definite weeper. This was one of the few films I’d seen Russell in before meeting Darlin Husband. He introduced me to the fantastic Escape from New York (1981) recently.

Overboard tells of a rich heiress Joanna (Hawn), who both criticises his work and then doesn’t pay handyman Dean (Russell) after he’s carried out some work for her. She then falls overboard from her yacht and loses her memory. So he pretends she’s his wife and mother to his four boys. Of course, she settles into “relearning” her role in the household as his wife and mother.

It all gets a wee bit complicated when the couple falls in love.. and then she gets her memory back. Hawn and Russell have undeniable chemistry onscreen, and at the time they were also a couple off-screen too.

 

Runaway Bride (1999)…

Runaway Bride – Trailer, Paramount Movies

Reuniting Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, his Pretty Woman (1990) co-stars was probably a good idea, due to their chemistry and appeal as the romantic ideal screen couple. And yes, I did sob at this one. And yes, it is contrived from the outset. And the only excuse is my age at seeing this.

In Runaway Bride, Roberts stars as Maggie who has the Runaway Bride as a nickname after jilting 3 men at the altar. So a New York reporter –  Ike (Gere) – is sent in to find out more about her. He hopes to redeem himself after he publishes an unverified story about her… with his job on the line.

Meanwhile, Maggie is getting ready to marry her fourth fiance. During the wedding preparations, Maggie opens up to Ike and tells her side of her story behind these failed nuptials and they warm to each other. And it isn’t rocket science to tell you what happens next! Gere and Roberts once again get you reaching for the tissues to sob.

 

Pretty Woman (1990)…

Pretty Woman Trailer, Sima Movies

Julia Roberts was the envy of most girls in this timeless blockbuster for love interest Richard Gere by many. But in my case, her incredibly long legs were always the reason. She also is the recipient of possibly one of the most romantic lines ever in a movie. But not going to tell you this line and let you sob uncontrollably once you hear it.

In this movie, probably one of the most loved rom coms ever, the story tells of how Richard Gere’s hard-headed businessman Edward picks up a prostitute with a heart Vivian (Roberts) after he gets lost in LA. He then hires her for a week as his escort. As you do. The couple gets closer and talks more and learns more about themselves. And of course, the inevitable happens and yes, you will need tissues for this rollercoaster of will they won’t they leading to the fairytale ending.

So now I’m off to watch Soapdish again to see if I can spot this man famous for being in front of and behind the camera, in front of the camera in an all-star movie…

 

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