Oct. 12, 2026 by Haley Hammer (‘29)
Bells ringing, paper jammed in folders, and hours upon hours of homework, now that’s school season coming back! The long-awaited summer break has ended, many of us are trying to find ways to get back into our school time groove. Whether it is a little bit of studying every night, or even picking out our new wardrobes, we can each find something that makes the transition a little bit easier. Another thing that can help us transition seasonally can be films and culture. Many people around the world associate fall with pumpkin lattes and Gilmore Girls, while Halloween is associated with Hocus Pocus. These are only a few examples of how easily culture and film can impact our society and how we view a certain event. Now, with that out of the way, let’s review some lighthearted movies to get you in a good mood, manifest 5s on every AP exam, earn all A’s, and achieve academic greatness.
The Lego Movie
Okay, now this movie has transcended the game. I mean, it pushed the limits on what we can do with animation! Whoever thought that Legos could be one of the most interesting movies of our era? Emmett just starts off as ordinary, as most of us are, and lives his linear life day to day, with no want for anything new or outside his comfort zone. And it’s not just him; it’s the whole town. We meet the ‘mind builders’ which represent the creative people in the world, who strive to fulfill their life to the best they can, and stand as leaders to change the society for the better. As they get to know Emmett, they further bond, mainly because they believe he is someone who he isn’t. However, they start to open up his mind to what his life could be outside his linear mindset, and furthermore they convert him to lead a revolution against the suppressive government and President Business. Now that I think about it, it’s kind of like the Matrix… in Lego? The fact that the kid is creating this whole world in itself is just really cool to think about. With many funny side characters such as; Unikitty, and Petruvious, the film is just such an amazing masterpiece and it definitely inspired me to do amazing things like using my creativity for good, and living life to the fullest…and it manipulated me into buying more Legos.
Mr. Peabody and Sherman
What can Ty Burrell not do? From playing a 40-year-old dad to a Sheldon Cooper-like dog that talks and can create time travel, talk about range! I thought that Sherman was such a loveable character, and they wrote him so adorably, insanely relatably, and pretty socially clueless. I think the whole premise of a Brian Griffin inventing a time machine is just so creative, and Ty Burrell adds such a serious yet light tone to the character which makes Mr. Peabody somewhat unpredictable and a very enjoyable character. Additionally, what makes the movie is Mr. Peabody’s relationship with his son, Sherman. Their relationship is incredibly wholesome, and is shown when he fights to gain custody of him throughout the show. When they go back in time, it is just so interesting and mind capturing, and adding layers to when Penny gets stuck in Ancient Egypt makes the story even more enticing! I really did love the bulk of this movie, and when they time travel, it somehow makes you feel even smarter for a second. I do think this whole movie could have EASILY been avoided if Penny used her brain for 2.5 milliseconds, but hey, it makes the plot more interesting. This movie was very special to me, and watching it gives me a sense of happiness, so I will continue to watch it for many years to come since it’s amazing. The journey of this movie asks us what loving someone really means, and how we let new people into our lives. Oh, and time travel!
