When your symptoms worsen and you’re confined to the realms of your bedroom, the most obvious way to pass the time is to watch films. So, as I’ve had a lot of practice in this department, I have compiled various lists of feel-good movies to cheer you up during a flare. This list is dedicated to some of my favourite modern teen flicks, so sit back, relax and enjoy!
1. Mean Girls
I would be surprised if anyone hadn’t seen this teen comedy classic starring Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams. Based on the novel Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman, the film exposes the damaging effects of high school social cliques on teenage girls by following the life of new student Cady Heron (Lohan) who moves from rural Africa to bustling Illinois and becomes involved with the popular clique “The Plastics”. This will always be a great teen movie, perfectly combining comedy with a harsh portrayal of high school life which everyone can relate to in some way.
2. Freaky Friday
Continuing with the Lindsay Lohan theme, this is another classic feel-good movie. When Jamie Lee Curtis and her daughter undergo a mystical body swap as a result of a magical fortune cookie, some seriously hilarious antics unfold. This truly is a laugh-out-loud film which everyone can enjoy and it’s also a fascinating exploration of mother-daughter relationships. What’s more, the bond between Curtis and Lohan seems so legit that you wouldn’t be surprised if they really were mother and daughter! It’s great light-hearted viewing with fast pace comedic chaos and some great one-liners- I definitely would recommend.
3. 17 Again
17 Again is another brilliant fantasy teen movie which follows the life of Mike O’Donnell, who somehow becomes his 17-year-old self once again after a mysterious accident which gives him the chance to turn his life around. Like Freaky Friday, this a film which moves fast enough that you aren’t focusing on the occasional plot hole, but instead on the unique character dynamics and fantastical storyline. This movie is weird, wonderful, awkward and hilarious all at the same time and it’s definitely one to watch when you’re feeling under the weather.
4. She’s the Man
Okay, now this one might divide people; you either love it or you hate it. It’s one of those movies which I think is supposed to be quite ridiculous and unbelievable, and I personally think this makes it all the more loveable. It stars Amanda Bynes, a teenage girl who goes to her brother’s school, pretending to be him that is, in order to play on the boy’s football team after the girl’s team at her school gets axed. Based loosely on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, this is a film that relies heavily on physical comedy and slapstick, which admittedly isn’t to everyone’s taste. But ultimately this is a playful and feel-good flick that really captures your attention and pulls at your heartstrings. Plus, Channing Tatum is totally gorgeous in it which helps…
5. Step Up
And for all you Channing Tatum lovers (or those of you that need converting), you NEED to watch Step Up. Famously where he met his (now ex) wife Jenna Dewan, this vibrant dance movie set in Baltimore follows a disadvantaged teen (Tatum) who finds himself paired up with a privileged modern dancer (Dewan) for a school showcase and, as you may have guessed, they really hit it off. The plot is well-written, the dancing is first-class, and the chemistry is so real that you’ll find yourself falling in love with these two characters. And although their love story reached an end in real life (sad times), you can still get your fill of the romance by reverting back to this good old film.
6. 10 Things I Hate About You
Another movie based on one of Shakespeare’s plays (I mean, he did write some good stuff), is this old-school 90’s romantic comedy. It stars a young Julia Styles along with the ever-talented Heath Ledger and follows a similar course to The Taming of The Shrew. In this new version, new student Cameron (Joseph Gordon Levitt) is taken with Bianca, the popular girl at school. The only problem is that her dad won’t let her date unless her sister, the ill-tempered Kat (Julia Styles), dates as well. So, bad boy Patrick (Heath Ledger) is enlisted to go out with Kat in order to get around this house rule, but evidently it doesn’t all go to plan. This film is a timeless hit. Its edgy, funny, engaging and a must-watch for those in search of something a little different from your classic teen movie.
7. Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
This film is quintessentially British, and I love it. It’s one of those movies that’s so stupid but funny at the same time that I never get tired of watching it. It’s about a fourteen-year-old schoolgirl called Georgia who lives in Eastbourne and is desperately trying to find a boyfriend. She sets her sights on adorable new boy Robbie (played by a super cute Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and various plans unfold (and go wrong) as she tries to get his attention. This film is comedic gold but, although its rather silly on the surface, it also explores important issues for teenage girls and examines ideas of friendship, first love, body image and family.
8. The Duff
Another important film which uses humour to explore body image and teenage relationships is The Duff i.e. The Designated Ugly Fat Friend. Starring Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell and Bella Thorne, this American teen comedy is a postmodern twist on the classic teen movie which incorporates the traditional tropes but turns them on their head. It seeks to explore teenage stereotypes by focusing on Bianca, a high school student who is devasted to find out that she is known, in comparison to her two popular and beautiful best friends, as their “DUFF”. So, as a result she recruits her neighbour, a handsome jock, to help her reinvent herself and get the guy she has her eyes on. At some points this film is honest and brutally so, but it has an inexplicable charm that really draws you in.
9. The Edge of Seventeen
In my opinion, this is one of the most socially important teen films out there. Hailee Steinfeld really excels in this coming-of-age drama, which could happily sit somewhere between 16 candles and The Breakfast Club. It’s about a teenager who navigates the trials and tribulations of school, complicated romance, friendship and mental health. It somehow manages to have all the conversations that need to be had in today’s society but maintain a comedic tone nonetheless, despite its often-candid exploration of teenage life. It’ll have you laughing at some points and crying at others, but it is certainly gripping all the way through.
10. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Only released on Netflix last year, this flick stands up to all the other films on this list. It follows Lara Jean Covey, an unassuming teenage girl who writes letters to all of her past loves. Of course, she never intended on sending them, but when her mischievous younger sister mails them out, she has various boys (and her sister, who’s boyfriend received a letter as well- yikes) to answer to. This heart-warming film starring the up-and-coming actor Noah Centineo and Lana Condor is Netflix’s answer to the classic teen romcom and, whilst traditional aspects that we all love remain, the film has a real freshness about it which roots it in millennial culture.
So, there you have it! I hope you enjoy these movies while you’re having a bad flare day- they certainly should put a smile on your face and give you a great way to pass the time.
Me and My Crohn's 