May 04, 2018
Looking for more than romantic comedies? Consider upping your game for your next girls’ night in.
By: Rebecca Haber
Tired of the same old chick flicks, boring popcorn and everyday bottles of wine? It might be time to give your movie nights a bit of a makeover. But don’t worry—there plenty of compelling female-centric films that pack a punch. Combine your favorites with a carefully curated selection of cleverly themed recipes, and you’ve got yourself an evening to remember. Here’s a guide to hosting a fun, modern, girl-tastic movie marathon. All of these movies and more are available to stream as part of the Female Directors collection on Cox On Demand. Happy viewing!
SNACK: LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
First up, Little Miss Sunshine. Directed by husband and wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the film follows the Hoover family as they drive halfway across the country for seven-year-old Olive’s child beauty pageant. In the opening scene, the Hoovers endure a tense family dinner over a bucket of takeout fried chicken. This gourmet, miniature fried chicken version of the American classic makes for a great utensil-free, binge-worthy snack.
WHY IT’S GREAT: While utterly hilarious, Little Miss Sunshine manages to address serious issues such as body image, self-worth, and what it means to be successful. At its core, the film is a celebration of individuality, self-expression and acceptance.
DESSERT: CLUELESS
Directed by Amy Heckerling and based on Jane Austin’s novel “Emma,” Clueless portrays the ever-popular Cher (Alicia Silverstone) as she helps the new girl at school discover love, friendship and elevated social status. In one famous scene, Cher nervously prepares for a night alone with her current love interest. In doing so, she drops a log of cookie dough into a hot oven. It burns of course, but in reality, an entire baked cookie log sounds pretty good. Here’s our ode to Cher — a decadent cookie dough log topped with the ice cream of your choice, garnished with peanut butter M&Ms, duh.
WHY IT’S GREAT: Clueless is often overlooked as entertaining fluff, but if you read between the witty lines, this film is full of progressive ideals and feminist thinking. Despite the fact that its characters enjoy shopping for designer clothing, the film depicts strong young women who take charge of their sexuality and always put sisters before misters.
DRINKS: LOST IN TRANSLATION
For a thought-provoking end to the night, there’s nothing better than Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. This comical yet poignant film depicts two Americans who are not only out of sync with their current surroundings (Tokyo), but with their relationships and careers as well. In one hilarious scene, character Bob (Bill Murray) films a commercial for Suntory Japanese Whisky. Interestingly, director Coppola told The Daily Beast that the scene was based on her father’s experience shooting a whisky commercial with famed director Akira Kurosawa! Why not join in the fun with a deliciously refreshing Japanese whisky cocktail? We recommend The Smash.
WHY IT’S GREAT: This film seriously hit the American psycho-emotional zeitgeist in 2003 with the pensive, charmingly sarcastic Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) searching for her purpose in life. Ultimately, the film is about loneliness, isolation and the desperate need for human connection.
