Guilty Pleasure movies: time to drop the shame!

Watching the Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift and enjoying it immensely got me thinking about how people enjoy films and how we value them. I had a blast watching Fast and Furious and I very much think there is a place within cinema for that kind of film, and I do not think there should be the shame that comes often with stating that you enjoy them.

I think that this needs to be prefaced that not every film deserves this pass so to say. I think a lot of modern cinema is nothing more that studio dross that exists for the sole reason to make money, rather than to express a story or a vision. I think what gives independent films this supposed elevated status is the type of story it tells. A lower budget and less studio pressure often forces filmmakers to be more creative and focussed on their own vision. That creative freedom often leads to interesting stories presented in different ways. The big budget film often fails to capture the magic of a more personal story. However, I can think of many examples of big Hollywood films that might be considered surprising for me to love. I think this stigma needs removing.

When I first started taking a deeper interest in film, there was certainly this aura surrounding certain movies. If you were passionate about cinema, you liked old, unknown movies from France that are 4 hours long and have no clear plot. I personally think this is a silly and lazy generalisation, but I can see where it comes from. There is certainly a level of snobbery that exists in some people when it comes to movies. Like any form of art, there are people who want to appear omniscient and more worthy because they have seen films that others have not. It comes in all forms of art, literature, paintings, music and certainly cinema. I think shaming someone for what they enjoy is the wrong way to go about talking about a passion of yours. If you have a passion, surely you want to share that with as many people as possible? Obviously not everyone is going to have seen these obscure films so deterring them before they can get to that point is a stupid thing to do. That being said, some films are genuinely terrible and there is no justifying supporting them, *cough* anything made by Michael Bay *cough*.

When I am talking about a guilty pleasure though, I am not just talking about big budget films. I think it is very well known that the Dark Knight and Mad Max: Fury Road are amazing films. They utilise known IP and a big budget to bring these stories to life in ways that could only be done with a blockbuster budget. Similarly with last year’s Top Gun sequel, the commitment to the visual experience resulted in a fantastic film that you would be hard pressed to dislike. When I talk about guilty pleasures, I mean films that are not renowned for being great films, but you still enjoy. My attitude to cinema is that there needs to be a wide variety of styles and genres, levels of intensity and complexities. IF every film was an Avant Garde, art house entry, it would be a pretty boring world. The fun of film comes from the variety of voices and stories that can be told. For me, guilty pleasures bring about a connection to the film that might not be present there for others.

I spoke about Tokyo Drift and the connection I have to that film. It brings a level of nostalgia back to my childhood, when the only thing that mattered to me was cool cars doing cool things. It is not as simple as a reconnection with my inner child though, both this and the original film tap into a specific counterculture from a very specific time that fascinates me. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a time capsule. For similar reasons, one of my favourite films is Dazed and Confused. The feeling that film evokes is special, capturing a time, a moment in time in a very particular place that feels so authentic and genuine. It is a special film that reinvents the linear story. Nothing will ever replace the feeling this movie gives me, but films that evoke similar feelings will always get a special allowance from me. It is like having a small snack, sure the full meal might taste better and satisfy you more, but sometimes you are only in the mood for something light!

Another film that comes to mind when I think of personal guilty pleasures is Surfs Up! This film is so undeniably charming and enjoyable I challenge anyone to watch it and not have fun. For me, there is nothing guilty about my love for this film, but I guess if you were thinking of films, even animated films alone, that are fantastic, this one would not necessarily come to mind. I love the medium of animation; I think it is an incredible tool to create worlds that are not possible in reality. When a film uses animation and explores the creative possibilities that are possible with the technology, a lot of fun can be had, Surfs Up! Being a prime example of this. A mockumentary within a medium that is not real is a wickedly smart concept and immediately displays the tongue in cheek tone that this film carries with it throughout. This is a kid’s film and so does have a standard, underdog triumphing story that comes with it. You could take the plot of cars and this film and hold them up against each other and see a mirror image. What this film does have though, is genuine passion. The interviews with the professionals are ripped straight from real surfers and shows the love and beauty that comes with this sport. These sequences are stunning and encapsulating. This is what I mean, you can make any film and it can have value, if you are passionate about it! What also separates this movie from the typical run of the mill children’s cheap animation is the humour. I am not ashamed to say that I find Surfs Up! Genuinely hilarious. There is a permanently stoned chicken that learned to surf on a lake without waves and whose Dad was turned into a KFC bucket. I do not care how high your standard of film making is, that is undeniably funny; I could picture that character in any of the Coens’ rogue galleries. The mockumentary satire is done in a creative way and the generic tropes you would find in a sports documentary can be found here. The satire is genuinely good with some poignant commentary on display. If you did not manage to check this out in your childhood, you should now, the brilliance will not be wasted on your adult version of yourself.

I totally understand the concept of guilty pleasures and why they exist, but I am here to say, have a little less shame about the cinema that you enjoy! If a film has merit and genuine care and attention paid to it by the filmmakers, it deserves the credit. There is a time and a place for all kinds of movies, no film is more worthy of praise than others… unless that film was made by Adam Mckay, that monster deserves the shame surrounding his creations, if not more!