Drama, faith, romance, comedy? It’s all here.

*****

Sometimes there’s nothing like gathering a few girlfriends, breaking out the ice cream (we won’t tell), and settling in for a good flick. Here are ten (all highly rated by RP editor Jon Dykstra) for you to consider. Click on the titles for longer reviews and movie trailers.

Little Women
Drama
1994 / 118 min.
Rating: 9/10

This particular version of Little Women pulls off the somewhat quaint and sentimental original story – an American Civil War-era tale of four sisters and their “Marmee” – with just the right mixture of humor and pathos. A great choice for a cozy evening with the girls.

The Song
Drama / Christian
2014 / 116 min.
Rating: 9/10

Loosely based on the life of King Solomon, this is the all-too-human story of likable young country singer Jed King, who wins the heart of the lovely Rose. Then he makes it big (catapulted to fame by a song he wrote for her) and falls prey to all the temptations – including infidelity – of his new superstar status. Light and fluffy it is not, but the script is thoughtfully done (including multiple references to Solomon’s own writings), and the acting and soundtrack are a good cut above most Christian films. And thankfully Jed and Rose’s story ends, satisfyingly, by reminding us of the power of grace.

Pollyanna
Drama
2003 / 99 min.
Rating: 8/10

You’ll be charmed by this somewhat more sophisticated take on the 1913 story of cheerful young orphan Pollyanna, who has her hands full trying to win over the heart of the prickly aunt with whom she’s gone to live. Thankfully, Pollyanna is up for the challenge, and has plenty of kindred spirits rooting for her. If you’re a fan of the book, you’ll find this a faithful adaptation, except that it’s been transplanted to England – but that only adds to the pleasant quaintness.

Pride and Prejudice
Romance / Comedy
2004 / 104 min.
Rating: 8/10

Of course, if you have the 5+ hours, the serialized BBC Pride and Prejudice is a classic choice. If you only have one evening, though, and possibly aren’t all Jane Austen die-hards, try this very fun (if slightly goofy) adaptation.

There are a couple of other Pride and Prejudice spin-offs that may catch your fancy as well.

Beyond the Mask
Christian / Drama
2015 / 103 min.
Rating: 8/10

Sometimes you just want a good old 18th-century drama involving a Reformed assassin leading a double life, a young Christian woman who has her doubts about this supposed “vicar” she’s falling for, some American Revolutionary history (hey, even Ben Franklin shows up), and good resulting doses of intrigue, action, and romance. If so, this pretty decent Christian film may be just the one for you.

The Shop Around the Corner
Drama / Romance
1949 / 99 min.
Rating: 9/10

If you’re up for a bit of a trip back in time, try this classic romantic comedy (the original for You’ve Got Mail). Head salesman Alfred and new employee Klara have two things in common: a mutual annoyance with each other, and secret pen pals they’re both falling in love with. How they eventually find each other, and love, is an entertaining journey with plenty of ups and downs.

Tangled
Animated
2010 / 100 min.
Rating: 9/10

Sometimes you just need to indulge that inner Disney princess. This refreshing update on “Rapunzel” is one of Disney’s stand-outs, with a heroine and hero to get behind, and a villainous mother-figure to make things complicated for both of them.

Casablanca
Drama
1943 / 103 min.
Rating: 10/10

If all of your girlfriends haven’t yet seen Casablanca, it’s time for an intervention. Eighty years after its release, this WWII drama remains in a league of its own, with a great storyline, characters that intrigue us and have us rooting for them despite their flaws and foibles, and, of course, a love story for the ages.

The Giver
Drama
2014 / 97 min.
Rating: 8/10

This dystopian drama, adapted (quite well) from Lois Lowry’s award-winning novel, is one to sink your teeth into. At times gritty and slightly disturbing, it’s a thought-provoking story, perhaps even more so for Christians – as we see, brilliantly, how human “solutions” to the problems of our flawed world can only lead to devastating tragedy. And we can cheer on the young protagonists who are determined to find a better way, even if they do fall short of recognizing the only One who can truly rescue us.

Sarah, Plain, and Tall
Drama / Romance
1990 / 98 min.
Rating: 8/10

Put on the tea and settle in for this gentle, old-fashioned tale (based on the award-winning novel by Patricia MacLachlan). You might want to keep the Kleenex handy, too, but rest assured that all will turn out in the end for Sarah, young widower Jacob, and the kids.