Once every April, Moscow bustles with mothers and their children. There are countless events to attend during Moms’ Weekend, but sometimes it’s just as nice to spend a night in with your three best friends: your mom, some wine and a movie.
Here are the best movies to chill out and spend time with your mom this weekend.
“Mama Mia!”
This film is filled with Abba musical numbers, beautiful Greek island scenery and Meryl Streep. What could be better? Donna, played by Streep, is a single hotel owner preparing for her daughter’s wedding with her oldest friends. Sophie, Donna’s daughter played by Amanda Seyfried, knows little about her real father. But, Sophie sets plans to invite three men from her mother’s past in the hope of finding which man is her biological father. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard all play vastly different father possibilities for Sophie, bringing a little mystery to this film.
This classic mother-daughter story should be on your list before “Mama Mia! Here We Go Again” hits theaters in July.
“Hairspray”
Two versions of this film, one from the ‘80s and one from 2007, make this story double the fun. But, because everyone loves Zac Efron, “Hairspray” from 2007 takes the cake.
Starring Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, a dance-crazed teen in the ‘60s auditions for her shot at a spot on a TV dance show. Tracy becomes a dance sensation overnight and encourages her mother, played by John Travolta, who never leaves the house, to join in on the groovy fun.
With actors like Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifa and Christopher Walken, there is so much to love about this quirky cast and class film. If this film doesn’t make you want to get up and dance, nothing will.
“Freaky Friday”
For the mothers and daughters who don’t always see eye-to-eye, “Freaky Friday” is the way to go this weekend. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan play Tess and Anna Coleman, two strong-headed women who rarely get along.
When they simultaneously eat two fortune cookies, their lives become connected more than they could have ever expected — literally. Tess becomes stuck in her teenage daughter’s body and Anna must live in her mother’s body.
As Tess learns more about her daughter’s interests and school life, she begins to fully understand Anna. As Anna lives Tess’s daily life as a single mother and professional working woman, she starts to recognize the two have more in common than she thought.
A staple in mother-daughter films, this one will bring laughter, great music and you and your mom closer together.
“Thelma and Louise”
Not all mothers come in the form of an actual mother — sometimes they happen to be your best friend.
Thelma, a timid housewife played by Gina Davis, joins Louise, played by Susan Sarandon, for a girls’ trip over the weekend. Along the way, when they run into trouble with the law at a bar and make a run for it, their adventure truly begins.
With a dash of excitement, thrill and young Brad Pitt, this film is the ultimate throwback.
Whether your mom is your best friend or your best friend is like a mom, this film should be on your weekend list.
“Mrs. Doubtfire”
Sometimes, the best mother is a father. That sentiment is best shown in the classic “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
When Daniel Williams, played by Robin Williams, loses touch with his children after his divorce, he dresses in disguise as an older British woman and becomes their nanny. As he begins to win over his three children and learns how to become a better father, everyone involved become more attached to “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
The perfect family film for anytime of the year is especially great on Moms’ Weekend.
“The Blind Side”
A true story, a book and a film, “The Blind Side” will make you laugh and cry.
Not all mothers are biological ones, and this film shows just that.
Michael Oher, played by Quinton Aaron, a homeless teen in Memphis has wandered around aimlessly without a stable home for most of his life. When Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock, and her family take Michael in, he realizes what home really means and they find family is more than they originally thought it to be.
Bullock and Aaron shine as actors in this film and bring out the best in an on-screen mother-child relationship.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Hailey_ann97