Feel-good sci-fi movies aren’t the norm. So much of sci-fi has a dark, nihilistic tone. But with plenty in the real world that challenges our hope, couldn’t we use a tug in the opposite direction?
I’ve selected five feel-good sci-fi movies that run the gamut from campy to introspective.
5. The Fifth Element (1997)
This quirky film by Luc Besson lets Bruce Willis shine as Korben Dallas, a down-and-out 23rd-century cab driver who has a chance meeting with an otherworldly being named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich). A reluctant hero, he helps Leeloo save Earth from destruction. The fun campiness is enhanced by Gary Oldman’s portrayal of the villain, Zorg. The restrained glee with which he demonstrates the ZF-1 gun (“the always efficient flamethrower…my favorite”) is worth the price of admission. And Chris Tucker’s over-the-top performance as a cosmic radio host with a penchant for wild wardrobes (why dress up for radio?) is brilliant. Don’t look for anything serious in this boy-meets-girl-and-saves-the-world flick. Just action within a world that mixes the familiar with the peculiar.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
James Gunn’s masterpiece set a new bar for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With characters not widely known to the general public, the cast clearly had fun introducing these misfits to us—and their chemistry remains a joy to watch. Chris Pratt became a household name as Peter Quill (a.k.a. Star-Lord), and the phrase “I am Groot” entered cinematic lore. Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) are captivating in their own right. And juxtaposing the dark earnestness of the villain, Ronan (Lee Pace), with Quill in a final dance-off is one of the funniest good vs. evil scenes ever. At once humorous and heartfelt, this movie bears up under multiple views. You can’t help but root for this dysfunctional intergalactic family. And the soundtrack fits perfectly as both a plot device and a reflection of the film’s exuberant tone.
3. Back to the Future (1985)
This classic by Robert Zemeckis was the perfect vehicle (pun intended) for Michael J. Fox, whose persona as Marty McFly was as charming and relatable as the actor himself. And Christopher Lloyd took the mad scientist trope and turned Doc Brown into a big-hearted eccentric (“Great Scott!”) who will literally take a bullet for a friend. No other film has had such fun with time travel’s grandfather paradox—or, in this case, the father-meets-mother dilemma. It’s endearing to watch George McFly (Crispin Glover) evolve from his first bumbling attempts to court Lea Thompson’s Lorraine (“You are my density…”) to finally finding his courage (“Hey you, get your damn hands off her!”). Oh…and let’s not forget about the ultra-cool DeLorean—a fan favorite at any Comicon.
2. Wall-E (2008)
Do I even need to explain why this animated gem by Andrew Stanton made the feel-good list? When the humblest of mechanical heroes finds love and revives a broken world, what’s not to adore? And those twitchy, soulful Wall-E eyes are irresistible (Exhibit One: the photo here of my daughter with the robot she loves even more than R2-D2). It’s dystopia injected with compassion and hope. The social commentary on overindulgence and waste is done with wry humor, not heavy (robotic) hands. But the heart of the story is the bond between Wall-E (Ben Burtt) and EVE (Elissa Knight)…or, as Wall-E so tenderly intones, “Eeeee-vaaa.” Grab some Kleenex…
1. Interstellar (2014)
Christopher Nolan’s space epic may seem an odd choice to top this list—but stay with me. No other movie captures the heart of a dad for his daughter—and the tension with his larger purpose—quite like this one. We see how Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) is torn between answering the call to go save the world and staying home with Murph (Mackenzie Foy, later Jessica Chastain). The scenes of Cooper watching recorded videos—representing all the time lost back home—are gut-wrenching. And the raw regret Cooper expresses in the tesseract (“Stay! Stay!”) cuts to the heart of any parent who has tried to serve with integrity yet feels the cost to their family. (As a military veteran, this resonates deeply with me.) Yet for all that aching emotion, this film ends with hope. Cooper keeps his promise to Murph to come home. The reunion scene is a tear-jerker. And in a masterful twist of the child becoming the mentor, the feeble Murph blesses her father to get back into the cockpit, back into life…and to pursue love again. Bravo!
This is by no means a complete list of feel-good sci-fi movies.
(Yes, I left off E.T.—Spielberg’s masterwork—only because it was so obvious).
What other feel-good sci-fi movies would you add to my list? Comment below!
Until next time,
Dan
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