TheRetroCritic

It was never going to be easy for this 1994 remake of the Christmas classic Miracle On 34th Street to capture the charm of the beloved original. Writer and producer John Hughes was no stranger to holiday-themed movies after the success of the Home Alone franchise so if anyone was going to make it work, it would have been him. The inspired casting of Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle right away should have been a clue that we were in safe hands. Indeed, there aren't many on-screen Santas who are more charming than Attenborough's in this film and that's with no confirmation at any point that this Kris Kringle is the real thing. Real or not, this Santa certainly feels like the real deal. Elizabeth Perkins plays Dorey, a mother who fears any kind of disappointment, going as far as to teach her daughter Susan (Mara Wilson) about how Santa doesn't exist, and who is reluctant to give a relationship with Dylan McDermott's friendly lawyer (paradox?) a chance. Whe

The very definition of a classic family flick, Mrs Doubtfire is one of those rare movies you watch and enjoy loads as a kid but then re-appreciate as an adult. And, following the heartbreaking loss of comic genius Robin Williams, this is the perfect movie to watch as a tribute to the late actor as, chances are, you first saw this one when quite young so you'll get to revisit why you and everyone fell in love with the guy and this film all these years ago. Mrs Doubtfire's premise is, at heart, a rather sad one: a father is told he can only see his kids once a week after his wife demands a divorce (on her kid's birthday, no less) and, out of desperation, passes himself off as an aged female British nanny just so he can spend time with the kids he loves. As you do. Ok, so it's not exactly plausible but it's a comedy so you kinda have to buy it even if it's highly unlikely that a family would get fooled this easily in real life. Williams plays a Mel Blan