By June L.
Jun 16, 2008, 13:06 GMT
We all love success stories, and the more rags to riches they are, the better we like them. Is it any wonder that Cinderella is a favorite romantic theme or that stories where the underdog rises up and takes the prize thrill us more than chronicles of a slow and steady progress to winning?
It is in our natures to want to see the small guy make it big. We pull for the down and out fellow to have a turn of luck and find a fortune, we will the plain unlovely girl to become loved, valued and turn into a princess, and we cheer loudly when the cellar-dweller team makes it up to the light of victory. This is heady stuff in entertainment!
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins comes to DVD on June 17th, and while it isn’t so much a poor boy finding fortune, it is the story of a misfit who has done well, and is having to prove himself yet again to his toughest critics, his family.
Those who come from large families who are emotionally close will recognize the killer blend of love and teasing (torturing or tormenting) that poor Roscoe Jenkins (Martin Lawrence) has endured, and sympathize with the frustration that drove him to become Dr. RJ Stevens, self-help guru, television host and creator of The Team of Me.
Now the question remains, will his family allow him to be Dr. RJ Stevens, Man in Control, or will they love, push, drag, tease, and subdue him into being the less than perfect brother, cousin, father, and man, Roscoe Jenkins.
In talking with friends and family about this movie, a discussion developed about other rags to riches stories. Like other topics, I discovered that “rags to riches” meant different things to each person, and as we talked I could understand the reasoning behind their choices of favorites.
What developed was such a mixed bag of treats it just seemed natural to turn them into a list to share with others. The terms “feel good” and “funny” were mentioned often with these films as well as “made me almost cry” or “I did cry, but in a happy way,” and “applauded,” “cheered” or “laughed out loud” seemed to be primary reasons why people love these films.
Some of these are old, some more recent, and with such a variety, there should be something for everyone. In no particular order, here are our “divisions” and selections.
ROMANTIC RAGS TO RICHES –
Pretty Woman –
Cinderella –
Ever After –
Jane Eyre –
Working Girl –
Pride and Prejudice – WINNER'S CIRCLE –
Rudy –
Miracle –
Chariots of Fire –
Seabiscuit –
Bend It Like Beckham –
Hoosiers –
The Final Season - FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS –
Dreamgirls –
How She Move –
The Unsinkable Molly Brown -
Enchanted April – FAMILY –
Oliver –
What a Girl Wants –
Sweet Home Alabama –
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins –
The film industry has always been a source of these good movies, stories which allow us to escape our reality for a short time, and to come away not only entertained and uplifted, but feeling rejuvenated, or inspired to take up our life battles again and this time succeed. These are just a few, and I’m certain that there are many more to be added to the list.
If we’ve left out your favorite, please add it, as these are some of the most beloved types of films.
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