Sucked In

There are those movies...you know the type...the ones that you just happen to catch while flipping the dial and just can't resist watching no matter how dumb they are.

Last night, I was all prepared to get to sleep, being completely exhausted after a long week. Before turning off the TV, I decided just to peek at what might be on.

Big mistake.

Because then I ended up watching Lost and Found...

Now that isn't a great film by any stretch of the imagination. David Spade tries to woo the hot Sophie Marceau by kidnapping her dog. Simple. No thought involved.

But for some reason, it's entertaining...even...dare I say...endearing.

I remember when people used to refer to me as a movie snob, thinking that I only enjoyed the so called "important" films...the classics. They didn't believe I could enjoy a stupid movie and accept it on it's own merit for just being fluff.

Staying up an extra hour and 45 minutes to watch Lost and Found should blow that theory right out of the water.

Of course, that's not my favorite diversion when it comes to films, but it fits the bill nicely.

No, were I to choose other films that I will watch no matter what point I happen to catch them on would be quite the long list. But here are just a few of the ones that suck me in...

My all time favorite would have to be Just One of the Guys. Girl dresses as boy so that people will taker her seriously as a writer. Hilarity ensues. Add to that the fact that William Zabka once again plays the asshole boyfriend. In fact, he just might be the one actor who would sum up the 80s mentality. I only say might because he ultimately redeemed himself by playing the Equalizer's son on TV as well.

Close to that film would be Houseguest. The late Phil Hartman and Sinbad team up in a case of mistaken identity. Hilarity ensues. This is probably the only thing I ever liked Sinbad in and I don't know why. It just goes without saying that Hartman was a genius and could make anything funny.

Next up is Airborne where a California surfer "dude" is sent to live with family in Cincinnati and teaches the locals a thing or two about friendship and just being cool, man. Hilarity AND poignancy ensues. Plus it's got a great finale with a downhill race.

Next we come to Summer School where slacker gym teacher Mark Harmon pursues Kirstie Alley and teaches a bunch of outcast students how to learn about life and their studies. Hilarity ensues.

Finally, being a sports nut, I think that there's a very underrated baseball film out there that the whole family can enjoy. A 12 year old inherits the Minnesota Twins and decides to manage them in Little Big League. Hilarity once again ensues.

I think the one thing that all of these films share that most of today's movies don't is heart. Sometimes sentimentality is all you need to suck you in!