You Can't Take It With You (1938)

This movie is about a young couple who fall in love, but are from two very different families. The man, Tony, is the son of a big time banker. The family is wealthy and ruthless, and proud of it, but Tony never felt like he belonged. The woman, Alice, is Tony's secretary and is from a middle class family, but not just any middle class family. Her grandfather is a revolutionary in his perspective on life. He lives every day of his life doing what he wants to do, and encourages others to do the same. As a result, their family is far from normal. Alice's sister is constantly dancing around to crazy music, being played by her husband. Her father and two other men make fireworks in the basement, and there are always minor explosions going off, and her mother writes plays. Not because she wants to, but because a typewriter was mistakenly delivered to the house one day. Needless to say this is a very bizarre household.

Alice and Tony are very much in love, but Tony's parents aren't very keen on having Alice for a daughter-in-law, and Alice won't marry Tony unless she has their consent. After an unfortunate meet the parents episode, they all end up in jail and Alice's grandfather winds up telling Tony's father off, instructing him on what's really important in life. During the court hearing, Alice decides that she's had enough and dumps Tony then and there. How will the two ever be together now?! And will Tony's father always be the heartless man we know him to be? Who knows?!?!?

This is one of my favourite movies. It's a bit of a romance and that's always nice, but the main theme deals with what one values in life, and how one should live in accordance with those values. We all work so hard in life, trying to be happy. Some of us work really hard at our place of occupation while others just worry themselves sick. It's so common to hear people complain about how much they hate their jobs, the dreams they have of what they would do if only they had this or were that, things they could have done but gave up on for various reasons. So many people settle for jobs they hate, people they don't like, places they can't stand, and for what? Because they're too afraid of what might happen?

This film was made 70/80 years ago and it's still relevant. Timeless I'd say. It's funny and romantic, but thought-provoking at the same time. A definite must watch.