< Previous20 April 22 – May 19 2020 timeoutdubai.com FEEL-G FILM PRESENTIN Lift your mood with the 20 - 25_TOD_2012_FEEL GOOD MOVIES_11227595.indd 2021/04/2020 13:22:17timeoutdubai.com April 22 – May 19 2020 21 -GOOD LMS ESENTING... h these upbeat movies 20 - 25_TOD_2012_FEEL GOOD MOVIES_11227595.indd 2121/04/2020 13:22:47Feel-good films 22 April 22 – May 19 2020 timeoutdubai.com AS WE KNOW life isn’t always as rosy as it is in the movies. But if you need an escape and a sunnier mood, Netflix is the antidote and escapism you can get from daily life. However, with so many titles to choose from, it can be hard to know which films will leave your spirits high. Fret not, we’re here to help. From rom- coms to movie musicals, here is our pick of the best feel-good movies streaming on Netflix MENA right now that are guaranteed to cheer you up. All you have to do is grab the popcorn. Always Be My Maybe (2019) Director: Nahnatchka Khan Cast: Ali Wong, Randall Park Netflix continues its rom-com reign with this touching and funny film about childhood friends Sasha and Marcus who have a falling out and don’t speak for 15 years. Brought back together when Sasha, now a celebrity chef, returns to her hometown of San Francisco to open a new restaurant, she finds her former friend to be a happily complacent musician still living at home and working for his dad. Naturally, things become complicated. Clueless (1995) Director: Amy Heckerling Cast: Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd Based on Jane Austen’s Emma, Clueless follows Cher Horowitz (Silverstone), a teenager obsessed with shopping and clothes, as she guides newbie Tai (Murphy) through high school. It’s much more than a teen movie, however – for a film that’s over 20 year old, Clueless still holds a lot of cultural clout, whether it’s inspiring music videos and regressive but in a whoops-just-snorted-my- drink-everywhere-laughing kind of way. Eat Pray Love (2010) Director: Ryan Murphy Cast: Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, James Franco, Viola Davis Julia Roberts stars in this soul-searching bildungsroman that follows an unhappy Manhattanite on her journey of self-discovery, spirituality, food and love. It’s cheesy at times, emotional at others, and filled with some fabulous shots of pasta. It’ll make you want to take an extended gap year. Falling Inn Love (2019) Director: Roger Kumble Cast: Christina Milian, Adam Demos, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman The concept of this film is preposterous: an American woman loses everything but then happens to win a New Zealand inn, which she attempts to renovate with the help of her contractor. Essentially it’s a hit of sugar and who can complain about that? Ghostbusters (1984) Director: Ivan Reitman Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd Eat Pray Love La La Land fashion trends. Mostly, though, it’s that stellar performance from Silverstone that gives this film so much charm and wit. Plus, the script is full of LA sass: ’Ugh, as if!’ Coming to America (1988) Director: John Landis Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones Just a few years after he became the biggest box-office draw in America, Eddie Murphy’s golden period was already drawing to a close. But this tale of African princes and fast-food heiresses is a scrappily suitable swansong for the Eddie we loved in the ’80s, offering his signature blend of crudity, sweetness, wit, style and vague politicking, all wrapped up in a high- concept rom-com package. Dirty Dancing (1987) Director: Emile Ardolino Cast: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey Nobody puts Baby in the corner; they put her on Netflix instead. Revisit this 1987 classic for ’the lift’, Patrick Swayze’s moves, top tunes like (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life, and more romance than you can shake a feather boa at. Dumb & Dumber (1994) Directors: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels Imagine the contents of your hyperactive little brother’s brain splatted on to a TV screen and you have Dumb & Dumber. Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels star as a pair of stupendously stupid no-hopers who head on a road trip across America to return a woman’s briefcase. Unapologetically gross-outs, it’s totally 20 - 25_TOD_2012_FEEL GOOD MOVIES_11227595.indd 2221/04/2020 13:23:00Feel-good films timeoutdubai.com April 22 – May 19 2020 23 When New York is invaded by ghastly ghouls, who you gonna call? You know the answer: four self-styled Ghostbusters ready to dash in and zap the spirits into oblivion. Much of this sci-fi-comedy’s charm lies in its have-a-go- heroes: these underdogs are thrown into the spotlight with delightful results. Happy Gilmore (1996) Director: Dennis Dugan Cast: Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald No movie list would be complete without at least one Sandler movie. The goofiest film of a seriously goofy career, it’s a treasure trove of oddball characters, weirdo cameos, dumb- but-smart one-liners and outright surrealism. And Sandler’s performance is just a delight, walking the perfect line between loveable, obnoxious and just plain nuts. Hitch (2005) Director: Andy Tennant Cast: Will Smith, Eva Mendes The classic early noughties flick is the epitome of a feel-good romcom. It follows dating guru Alex Hitchens – who is usually the one giving his clients all the expert tips on how to woo the woman of your dreams – as he struggles to follow his own relationship rule book when he meets gossip columnist Sara. It’s a guaranteed laugh. Isn’t It Romantic (2019) Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson Cast: Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth New Yorker Natalia is fed up with her job and lifestyle. One day, during a typical New York subway mugging, she gets knocked over and hits her head. When she wakes up, she’s in an alternate universe and things get even weirder when she finds out that she is the leading lady of a real life romcom. We know. It’s a bizarre one but hey, you can always count on Rebel Wilson for laughs to lift your spirits. La La Land (2016) Director: Damien Chazelle Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone What could be more feel-good than a musical that pays homage to the classic movie musicals of Hollywood? While not completely free from fraught romance and moments of melancholy, it captures the go-getter spirit of LA and the wonder of those old-fashioned big musical numbers, while telling a story about going out and achieving your dream. Lost in Translation (2003) Director: Sofia Coppola Cast: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Anna Faris Worlds collide in director Sofia Coppola’s pitch-perfect tale of a movie star Bob Harris (Murray) and newlywed Charlotte (Johansson) in Tokyo. Coppola approaches each of her characters with a warmth and sensitivity that exudes from the screen – and ensures that The Pretenders’ Brass in Pocket will remain a karaoke favourite around the world (pink wig “Cheesy at times, emotional at others” Made of Honour 20 - 25_TOD_2012_FEEL GOOD MOVIES_11227595.indd 2321/04/2020 13:23:13Feel-good films 24 April 22 – May 19 2020 timeoutdubai.com optional). Why has the film endured so vividly in viewers’ hearts? Maybe because it captures those gloriously melancholic moments we’ve all experienced that seem to be gone in a flash, yet linger forever. Made of Honour (2008) Director: Paul Weiland Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan When Hannah (Monaghan) tells her college best friend Tom (Dempsey) that she is engaged, it immediately hits him that he has been in love with her the whole time. She makes him her Made of Honour but in true romcom form, he sets out on a mission to win her love so they can live happily ever after. If you’ve seen Julia Roberts’ ’90s classic My Best Friend’s Wedding, expect a similar plot from this feel-good 2008 release. Notting Hill (1999) Director: Roger Michell Cast: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant A stellar ’90s classic, Notting Hill is the type of film you can watch over and over again – especially if you’re a hopeless romantic. For starters, it’s got Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant as its leads, need we say more? The brilliant romcom follows British bookseller William who meets and falls in love with a famous American actress during an unexpected meeting and while the feeling is mutual, the two find it hard to navigate a relationship due to their opposing social statuses. But will true love conquer all? Enjoy a few laughs as you find out, in this comedy from Richard Curtis, the name behind other top flicks including Four Weddings and A Funeral and Love Actually. Roald Dahl’s Matilda (1996) Director: Danny DeVito Cast: Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, Pam Ferris Danny DeVito’s snappy, kinetic visual adaptation of this Roald Dahl classic fits the cartoon feel of the source material, and the cast is great. It’s a modern-day pantomime about childhood solidarity and self- empowerment: the real joy here is the view of generational war, the children’s assumption of zero tolerance for injustices inflicted by absurd adults, and the recognition that the big meanies should be punished, by fair means or foul. Set It Up (2018) Director: Claire Scanlon Cast: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu Director Claire Scanlon brings us this amiable caper. The premise – two put-upon assistants (Powell and Deutch) try to trick their nightmare bosses as payback for their own stresses – is relatively well-trodden territory, but it’s executed deftly and boasts no little heart. There are even a few genuine laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled among the romantic fare, with Lucy Liu proving that when it comes to comedy she knows how to deliver. Set It Up Someone Great 20 - 25_TOD_2012_FEEL GOOD MOVIES_11227595.indd 2421/04/2020 17:43:59Feel-good films timeoutdubai.com April 22 – May 19 2020 25 Shrek (2001) Director: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson Voices: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz Who doesn’t love that age-old tale about an outcast ogre, a talking donkey and a princess locked in a tower guarded by a dragon? Of course, this animation totally subverts all the fairy-tale tropes with delightful results, while promoting the message that true beauty is subjective. The voices are hilarious and this is one cartoon that’s not just for kids. Someone Great (2019) Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, DeWanda Wise This romcom might not be the most original or ground-breaking addition to the overpopulated genre, but sometimes if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Instead, focus on friendship and the “It’s well- trodden territory, but deftly executed” To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before chemistry that this film’s three female leads have in abundance. There are some top names in there too. The Kissing Booth (2018) Director: Vince Marcello Cast: Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Joel Courtney, Molly Ringwald Starring the ’80s queen of teen Molly Ringwald, this Netflix Original movie follows all the gloriously sweet teen tropes. Best friends Elle and Lee have one rule: no getting involved with each other’s relatives. This gets a little complicated, however, after Elle becomes involved with Noah, Lee’s bad-boy older brother. Sure, it’s all fairly fluffy, but we’re really not complaining. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) Director: Susan Johnson Cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo This Netflix original movie, based on the book of the same name by Jenny Han, has been praised by all corners of the internet, especially for the performances of Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, who plays love interest Peter Kavinsky. Romcom is officially back and once you’ve finished the movie, you can move on to its 2020 sequel: To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. 20 - 25_TOD_2012_FEEL GOOD MOVIES_11227595.indd 2521/04/2020 18:55:4626 April 22 – May 19 2020 timeoutdubai.com 33 brilliant books to lose yourself in Become a bookworm 26 - 31_TOD_2012_BOOKS_11227596.indd 2621/04/2020 13:27:00timeoutdubai.com April 22 – May 19 2020 27 WITH ALL THIS time at home it’s easy to spend a lot of it staring at a screen. Whether you’re working at home on your computer, playing games online, watching a Netflix series on TV or doing endless quizzes on your phone – it’s time to have a screen break. And what better way than by delving into a book – as everyone needs a little escape. We’ve rounded up 33 top books to lose yourself in. For more things to do at home visit timeoutdubai.com/timein. Must-read classics Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë This classic is a regular fixture on English literature syllabuses and is much-loved all over the world. When Jane Eyre gets sent to live with her guardians the Reeds, aged ten, she suffers a troubled childhood. After a falling out with the family she’s sent to Lowood Institution, a school for orphaned girls, where she stays on to become a teacher. Her experience her sees her move to Thornfield Hall where she meets the dark, brooding and mysterious Mr Rochester. What secrets are hidden in the house? And what will become of Jane? A riveting read and a top romantic classic. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen Another romantic classic that’s been made many a time for big and small screens, most notably with Colin Firth as Mr Darcy for the BBC 1990s remake. The story is set in rural England and tells the tale of the Bennet family – who have five unmarried daughters that Mr Bennet would like to see married. The story of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth is one of the all-time great romances. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, J. R. R. Tolkien Admit it. You’ve seen the films but you’ve never picked up the books. Well, you’re missing out. As much as Peter Jackson nailed the cinematic version, it skips over so many of the subplots and side stories of the Tolkien masterpiece. Dive into Middle-earth and follow the journey of Frodo Baggins and his legendary 26 - 31_TOD_2012_BOOKS_11227596.indd 2721/04/2020 13:27:15Brilliant books 28 April 22 – May 19 2020 timeoutdubai.com22228228228282828888228222828228228822222222 ApAApApApApApApAApApApAAA rilrilrilrilril 22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 –– MMMaMaMaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyaayayyyyyayyyyyaaayyyaaayyMaayyyyyayyyyayyayyyaayyaaayMaaaayyayyyayyyMMMaaaayaayMayaayyyy 191919191111191919919991919111119111919191119191991999119999111199 202020202020202020200202020202020200202020220022222020002020202220202020202020222020222000200202022220220202022222 timtimtimtimtimtimtimtimtimtimtimtimtimtimimmmmmtimtimitimimmimmtimimimmmtimit meoueoueoueoueoueoueououueoueoueeoeoueouueoouueouee uueoeeee uuee ueeo tdutdutdtdutdutdudutdttdudutdutdutdutdudutdutdtduttduddutdtdutddududuuttttdddduttddutdd bbaibaibaibaibaibaibaibaibabababbbba .co.cooco.cococco.c.cocoooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm pals, as they battle orcs, cast spells and fight tyrannical forces. Plus, once you’ve spent all that time at home, you’ll fit right in with that wizard’s beard you’ve been growing. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald The flamboyant 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows the pursuit of the American dream. Starring millionaire Gatsby, who’s known for his lavish parties, it’s set in Long Island in the jazz era and focuses on the obsession with what’s new, exciting and material. It’s told by Gatsby’s former neighbour Nick Carraway and is a somewhat cautionary tale. Remade many times, most recently with Hollywood hero Leonardo DiCaprio – check out the original book for a glance into American life at the turn of the 20th century. Crime/Thriller The Couple Next Door, Shari Lapena An easy read, but an unsettling one nonetheless, especially for parents. This psychological thriller stars Anne and Marco Conti, a happy couple with a baby. But when their little girl Cora disappears while they are having dinner with their next door neighbours, their world unravels. But who took the child? It’s a jumpy read, with a plot twist. Lie With Me, Sabine Durrant This thriller is, as you’d expect by the title, based on lies told by the leading characters. Lead character Paul can’t help but spin a few mistruths, but soon they become out of control, snowballing rapidly as he strives to portray a perfect life. But when family secrets get dragged out of the woodwork surrounding the death of a girl many years ago, truths come out. The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins Genuinely so gripping we’ll be surprised if you can put it down. This is a thriller novel that gives narratives from three different women about strained relationships, 26 - 31_TOD_2012_BOOKS_11227596.indd 2821/04/2020 17:49:26Brilliant books personal issues and mental illnesses. It weaves the narratives continuously and you’re never quite sure of who’s good, who’s bad, who’s right and who’s wrong. A proper thriller. The Stranger, Harlan Coben Recently adapted into a TV series that’s now on Netflix, this novel from crime writer Harlan Coben is a study on relationships and lies. “The Stranger” comes to people to warn them of things they might not know, or want to know, about secrets in their family. Adam Price is approached by The Stranger who tells him disturbing information about his wife Corinne. Their lives spiral downward from that point onwards and are never the same again. The Woman in Black, Susan Hill Arthur Kipps relives his thrilling, bone-chilling tale one Christmas Eve. He recounts the time he worked as a solicitor in a small town in the north east of England, sorting the estate of Alice Drablow. What he finds when he is there is haunting – and the setting, in a house cut off from the mainland by moody, abandoned marshes makes it all the more chilling. A popular book that’s since been a play and a film starring Daniel Radcliffe. Chick Lit Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty The book that the famed US TV series is based on is set in Sydney, Australia, rather than the sunny California coast of the on-screen version. Big Little Lies follows single mother Jane as she moves to a new town with her son Ziggy and explores the relationships she develops and how secrets can have life- changing consequences. My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult A book that’s full of twists. It’s not desperately suspenseful but it’s a gripper, and focuses on the convoluted relationship between two sisters. The narrative flips between first- person accounts all the way to the end, but you’ll want to have the tissues ready and a happy show to switch on to afterwards. Roar, Cecelia Ahern This series of short stories from Cecelia Ahern (the name behind P.S. I Love You and If You Could See Me Now among others) is based around women. It’s an easy read but the stories are relatable and characters feel well developed. Some stories are funny, some are moving, some will make you think – and many you will see yourself or someone you know in. Characters include those who are swallowed up by the world due to their embarrassment and those who are literally eaten away with guilt – they are a timely look at women in society. The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger Miranda Priestly is the big boss at fictional Runway magazine. She’s a formidable character, who’s not easily pleased or impressed. So when wannabe journalist Andrea Sachs gets a PA position at the magazine, there’s lots of shocks, humiliation and turmoil in store. The book is darker than the film but is an entertaining ride through the New York publishing scene. The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks The ultimate romance book by a man well-known for his work (he’s also behind Dear John, Safe Haven and A Walk to Remember), his most famous has to be his first novel, The Notebook. The story is told through a series of diary entries and letters that Noah reads to Allie in their old age. A love story that will appeal to all hopeless romantics, but is a little sickly sweet if you’re not into that kind of thing. Autobiographies and biographies A Long Way Home, Saroo Brierley This book was adapted into the film Lion. Saroo Brierley was just five years old when he got lost in rural India. This book is told as an adult in his home in Australia, reliving his journey that led him to becoming adopted by a wealthy Australian family – and his search for his birth family 25 years later. It’s an eye- opening (and at times eye-watering) book, that’s interesting, sad and heartwarming. Blessed, George Best One of the most gifted footballers of all time, the incredible rise of Northern Irishman George Best with Manchester United thrust the mercurial talent into the spotlight. Imagine the fame of David Beckham combined with the skills of Lionel Messi and you’re close to how popular, and good, this man was. His genius was flawed, however, and he had internal battles for many years leading up to his death, becoming as famous for embarrassing public appearances as he was for his talent. Bossypants, Tina Fey This humorous book from Hollywood writer Tina Fey (the name behind Mean Girls among others) is a look into the comedian’s life penned in 2014. It’s sharp and funny, and if you’re a fan of her work then you’ll race through this. Clothes, Music, Boys, Viv Albertine The guitarist from punk’s first (and best) all female band writes vividly and honestly about her childhood and the formation of her band right through to her later years away from the music business. Albertine’s tales of the late 1970s take you back to the grotty squats, pubs and tour buses in an instant. There are some uneasy relationships along the way in this frank memoir, but the book is all the better for the rawness. timeoutdubai.com April 22 – May 19 2020 29 26 - 31_TOD_2012_BOOKS_11227596.indd 2921/04/2020 13:27:52Next >