DIRECTOR'S CUT: 7 Movie Marriages that are Actually Healthy!
Added 2023-03-06 15:00:04 +0000 UTCWhat makes a marriage work? What are your favorite movie marriages?
Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright are diving into great movie marriages and sharing the beautiful lessons they can teach us. They discuss seven movies and lessons in marriage: Julie & Julia, supporting dreams; Father of the Bride, showing accountability; Love is Strange, accepting differences; The Legend of Tarzan, keeping passion alive; A Quiet Place, cherish each other; The Emperor’s New Groove, have each others’ backs; and Up, quality time. Don’t worry, we did a whole episode on the GOAT of movie marriages, Morticia and Gomez from The Addams Family. Marriage is often the most intimate and long-lasting relationship we have, though these lessons can be applied to any relationship. Should we do another top movie marriages video? Let us know in the comments!
Comments
This! Evie and Rick are sooo great together!
SaucyJTD
2024-06-13 01:57:34 +0000 UTCRuby and Sapphire from Steven Universe! (First gay wedding featured in a kids' show).
Kayla Stevenson
2023-12-24 03:06:42 +0000 UTCEvie and Rick from The Mummy Returns is one of my all time favorite screen marriages. They fall passionately in love in the first film, and by the second film they have a ten-year-old and they're frankly even MORE crazy about each other. #goals.
Magnus Taliesin
2023-07-24 23:31:31 +0000 UTCEmperor’s New Groove Episode= Very Crucial Conjunction
Omen the Black Cat
2023-04-27 19:14:28 +0000 UTCDefinitely make an episode on The Emperor’s New Groove
Serafina Pekkala
2023-04-10 14:46:55 +0000 UTCThe emperors new groove would be a great episode!
B.
2023-04-03 22:03:41 +0000 UTCAwww, this was such a great episode! My spouse and I have been together just short of 20 years, and I saw quite a lot of our relationship reflected in what you talked about here. We are polyamorous, but like you said at the end, relationship structure doesn't really have that much bearing on what matters for a healthy relationship. There are certainly some extra conversations we need to have, but there's also some we get to skip. It's a difference in logistics and boundaries, but not a difference in connection and care. Up always makes me reflect on how my second biggest fear in life is ending up alone due to life circumstances (e.g. death, like in the film), but an even bigger fear is my spouse ending up alone for the same reasons. And yet these fears never once translate into "this isn't worth it," not even for a second. It's something I accept that will be part of our lives, just like death itself is inevitable. And I'd rather live in a world with us together than in a world where I don't have a relationship(s) like that.
Bryan Hughes
2023-03-24 04:47:16 +0000 UTC+1 to what Kristine said, I'm also sad there's not more polyam relationships in media. My spouse and I have been poly for a decade of our relationship, and it's worked very well for us (and I'll be the first to admit it's not for everyone, just like monogamy is not for everyone). It's not really a film about marriage, or even explicitly about polyamory, but I think Spike Jones' film Her is the closest film I've seen to really exploring the benefits and struggles of polyamory in a mainstream film.
Bryan Hughes
2023-03-24 04:07:54 +0000 UTCI'm sad there's not more polyam relationships in the media because I really want to hear Jono's take on them. I love the Gottmans and their Method, but it's been a struggle to adapt it for polyam folks since, by Dr. John's own admission, they've had difficulty getting research data on them.
Kristine Amdor
2023-03-21 15:03:10 +0000 UTCEmperor’s New Groove is so underrated, please do an episode about that!!
Jary Gonzalez
2023-03-19 18:15:34 +0000 UTCMarge and Norm Gunderson in Fargo!
Andrea Aase
2023-03-19 02:27:17 +0000 UTC“I’m looking at you Bluey” *Jumps out of chair and high fives partner cuz it’s our favorite show and we don’t even have kids*
Roxy Sanchez
2023-03-18 05:04:13 +0000 UTCI LOVE that movie!
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-17 14:40:05 +0000 UTCOmg, Emperor’s New Groove épisode pleasssse!
Jenna Tomlinson
2023-03-17 03:08:56 +0000 UTCThe parents in Dan in Real Life
Kaitlin Martin
2023-03-16 22:43:28 +0000 UTCAnd Fiddler on the Roof
Kaitlin Martin
2023-03-16 22:42:47 +0000 UTCMORE GREAT MARRIAGES: Hope Springs, Couples Retreat, Meet the Robinsons, What To Expect When You’re Expecting, Painted Veil
Kaitlin Martin
2023-03-16 22:41:47 +0000 UTCWe've gotten so many comments like this, so we'll probably do it!
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-16 20:32:22 +0000 UTCWould absolutely love an Emperor’s New Groove episode! The comedy in that movie never gets old.
ElizabethJustElizabeth
2023-03-16 18:54:09 +0000 UTCJono here. I'm covering Bluey over on my other channel ;) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK24FjqQ-nA
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-16 18:13:43 +0000 UTCFANTASTIC movie!
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-16 18:12:54 +0000 UTCI'd love to see you guys talk about Golde and Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof (also would love to see a whole episode dedicated to that film)!
Graeme Allen
2023-03-16 06:12:13 +0000 UTCPlease do a Bandit and Chili from Bluey episode.
Sarah Moreno
2023-03-16 04:54:28 +0000 UTCOh, the Warrens! I love how they are presented as a married couple and a christian couple. So beautiful!
Karrie
2023-03-14 02:30:43 +0000 UTCWash and Zoe are fantastic.
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-13 15:29:23 +0000 UTCI'm so sorry. Real love is out there, but it definitely requires work.
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-13 15:28:56 +0000 UTCGood call. All around.
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-13 15:28:07 +0000 UTCGreat choices!
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-13 15:27:58 +0000 UTCROFL, I meant on top of the money I already give you.
Klrtink
2023-03-13 04:59:40 +0000 UTCI would love to know what y'all think about "The Story of Us", a movie about a marriage on the verge of falling apart. And while it is based on real people, I think that Jim and Marilyn Lovell in "Apollo 13" qualifies as a healthy movie marriage. This next one is more friendship and appreciating what you have, but I would also love to know what y'all think about "The Shaun the Sheep Movie". And yes please to a full episode on "The Emperor's New Groove"!
Heather Hegefeld
2023-03-12 19:34:14 +0000 UTCNot to put too fine a point on it, but you’re one of our Patrons… you’re already paying us!
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-12 15:34:57 +0000 UTCThe Hollars-Don and Sally
Cameron Cross
2023-03-12 09:32:31 +0000 UTCOff the top of my head...Firefly-Wash and Zoe, Deadpool-Wade and Vanessa, The Hitman's Bodyguard-Darius and Sonia, Parks and Rec-Leslie and Ben, The Office-Jim and Pam, How I Met Your Mother-Marshall and Lily.
Cameron Cross
2023-03-12 08:59:22 +0000 UTCI really appreciate this. It is difficult for me to see men loving their woman because of my childhood. It always seems to be about sex or having a trophy wife so other guys will be jealous or being a gold digger (yes, men do that too) or wants her to be his mother/maid. I have only seen a man love a woman like 2 or 3 times in my 40+ years, and I have to assume it was the unfortunate way I was programmed at an early age.
Karrie
2023-03-11 17:33:40 +0000 UTCWash and Zoe had a great marriage. They had their issues but they always communicated and were there for each other.
Megan Rizzo
2023-03-11 16:03:12 +0000 UTCWill do!
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-11 15:23:28 +0000 UTCPLEASE do the emperor's new groove!!
piper pine
2023-03-10 20:55:46 +0000 UTCEmperor’s New Groove episode - yes please!! It is such an underrated Disney film that is just SOOOO good. There would be a lot of things you could delve into as well: friendships, morality, selfishness, parenting and choices (Jono) plus great ways to break the fourth wall, casting great actors, and how best to use flashbacks to supplement the story (Alan). Please do this. I love you guys and I love that movie and you put them together and it’d be better than chocolate + peanut butter or mac + cheese. 💚🦙
Elizabeth McDowell
2023-03-10 03:02:14 +0000 UTCEmporer's new groove would be groovy man XD I'm all for it!
Allison Hall
2023-03-10 02:30:14 +0000 UTCWhaddya mean, do we want a full episode on "The Emperor's New Groove?!?" Yes please, of course we do! (Or at least, I do. :) I still remember watching this for the first time and just being floored by all the comedic elements woven into the animation and script.
Nicole Robertson
2023-03-09 18:50:51 +0000 UTCTrying to think about ones y’all haven’t done, because like you said, you’ve talked about the Addamses. You’ve talked about the Weasleys. You’ve talked about the Incredibles. The Potters were by all accounts happily married, but we only learn about them secondhand. I would say Tony and Pepper, but there’s really not a lot about them while they were married, but what we saw was an undeniably strong marriage. The Parent Trap kind of splits the difference, because the people are falling in love again after divorcing once, but the relationship was already established. Waymond and Evelyn work through an entire multiverse of relationship problems, so they could definitely work as an entry in the next marriage episode.
tropetweeter
2023-03-09 18:40:35 +0000 UTCI mentioned them in the last episode suggestion period, but Tom and Maddie Wachowski from the Sonic movies (which have fairly simple plots, but they're so gosh darn fun!)
Not_a_Simple_Hobbit
2023-03-09 08:27:57 +0000 UTCPlease do Emperor's New Groove!! Me and my partner (mostly my partner lmao) would love that
Aether
2023-03-08 22:04:24 +0000 UTCRick and Evie! They fall in love in the first movie and the 2nd movie they're married with a son. They definitely have a healthy marriage. It'd be cool to have a comparison episode with Rick and Evie vs Imhotep and Anck-su-nanamun.
Elizabeth Rivera
2023-03-08 19:53:30 +0000 UTCYes, please review The Emperor's New Groove! I don't cry much at movies (except occasionally crying laughing) but Juno leaves me a blubbering weeping mess, especially when Vanessa frames the note...and then asks how she looks..."Like every new mother, scared $hitle$$"...😭😭
Deb
2023-03-08 18:51:39 +0000 UTCYes, PLEASE do an Emperor's New Groove episode!
Shawna Keyes
2023-03-08 15:00:33 +0000 UTCI agree!
Christina Cupp
2023-03-08 00:49:20 +0000 UTCEMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE MUST HAPPEN. That is all.
Reilly Willoughby
2023-03-07 22:53:33 +0000 UTCAlso thank you for the positive poly comments
Arlynad
2023-03-07 22:31:40 +0000 UTCThrowing in my money for an episode on Emperor's New Gove.
Arlynad
2023-03-07 22:31:21 +0000 UTCSeconded! I hated that the dads were essentially ciphers, but the way they stood up for their wives, gave their wives room for the story, Agustin stood up for Mirabel... there's some great support with them. I can discuss Enneagram ego typology with all of the main characters... EXCEPT Felix and Agustin. (Then again the only other story I can do that with is Firefly... so that's saying something about the amazing ensembles in both!)
just me
2023-03-07 20:06:38 +0000 UTC(SPOILER - Bridgerton Season 1) For historical feminism done properly but then skewered in modern media because we forget their reality, check out the kerfuffle around Season 1 of Bridgeton. You can be Daphne from Bridgerton and desperately want to be a wife and mother... and still be furious that you have no agency in a marriage and your husband has consistently used your naiveté to lie to you about one of the most vital things in your world. If you go read Julia Quinn's interviews after the series - and how Daphne abuses Simon's trust - you'll see it is HER way of taking ownership in one of the few ways she has due to the culture's lack of agency for women. Yes, I'm aware of the 2020s optics (particularly the narrative around race)... but how many people jumped on those optics without thinking of the 1810s reality that women were essentially considered *property* in upper class marriages?
just me
2023-03-07 20:01:31 +0000 UTCYES!!! That movie was FORMATIVE in my impressionable teenage years - and 12 years and 2 kids later I have my wonderful nerd husband... does this mean *I'm* the Rick?? It's also feminism done mostly right in the period it's set! I'd LOVE to see A&J chat with Abby Cox or Nicole Rudolph about how feminism in drama / movies does NOT equal the depth and richness of our fore-mothers. (See Abby's video on the Not Like Other Girls trope... which is another one that needs to die a quick and final death.
just me
2023-03-07 19:57:59 +0000 UTCThe eyes on the dark are a total callback to Looney Tunes - bonus points for being cheap! I love the slapstick humor. LT is peak slapstick, but there's so much that tries so hard it fails. ENG has a great balance and almost gets to the perfection of LT.
just me
2023-03-07 19:50:05 +0000 UTCPepa and Felix Madrigal from Encanto. And Julieta and Agustin Madrigal.
Kristina Armstrong
2023-03-07 15:45:11 +0000 UTCYes, I second this a million times!!!
Carmen Huijgen
2023-03-07 08:32:59 +0000 UTCPlease do Emperor's New Groove. As for a marriage Clint and Linda Barton in the MCU.
Jim and Laurel Kite
2023-03-07 05:59:13 +0000 UTCI'm here to say PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE do Emperors New Groove as a full episode, if I'm having a really bad depressive episode, this is my automatic go-to movie to get me to laugh and I feel like there's a lot that Jono could talk about in terms of Kuzco's arc and his eventual friendship with Pacha, and then I'd love Alan's comments on the movie comedy aspects especially with how the humor really differs from previous disney films and leans more into an almost Loony Tunes-esque style.
Susannah Manton
2023-03-07 03:07:05 +0000 UTCI might be willing to PAY you to do an Emperor's New Groove episode. That movie is one of my all time favorites!
Klrtink
2023-03-07 02:46:59 +0000 UTCA great movie marriage from the horror genre is the conjuring! Lorraine and Ed are so supportive and tender towards each other even in times of serious danger or crisis. They work together as a team and give each other space to do their best work! And another good one is Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum in The Vow - a little cheesy and predictable at times but it deals with trauma and amnesia and Channings character really gives space to Rachel's and doesn't force any decisions on her even though he risks losing her. He gives her time, treats her with patience and respect and also learns new ways of connecting with her. They go through a lot of difficulties but it's nice to see a couple that puts in the work and makes it to the end even better than when they started. And PLEASE do emperors new groove!!
alia
2023-03-07 01:54:55 +0000 UTCI wonder if Disenchanted would could as a movie marriage. But yes please to the emperors new grove! Im interested to see what Jono has to say about it but more importantly Alan! I feel like theres a lot of filmmaking going on that really supports everything in cool and amazing ways. (And if another filmmaker like Sophie weighs in on that too that be great!)
Happynapper 69
2023-03-07 01:38:16 +0000 UTCMarge and Norm Gunderson from Fargo was always marriage goals for me
Bec B
2023-03-07 00:49:39 +0000 UTCYes omg! I love them, Rick and Evie!
Bec B
2023-03-07 00:43:33 +0000 UTCYES Please do an episode of Emperors new groove. Narcissism, ego, redemption, bonding through adversity. Metanarrative, fourthwall, comedy, performance. Please do it. Or else! (Hey you said be aggressive :))
Michael Emerson
2023-03-07 00:39:58 +0000 UTCYes! Emperor's New Groove. So underrated. I have always loved that marriage. And a pregnant woman who has real character, personality, and doesn't die (or disappear from the story) as soon as the baby is born.
Emily Powers
2023-03-07 00:14:14 +0000 UTCYes to Emperor!! Kronk is life!!!!
Cecilia Harrington
2023-03-06 23:46:14 +0000 UTCI so want an Emperor’s New Groove episode!!!
Rachel Jones
2023-03-06 22:42:57 +0000 UTCAnd if we’re talking movie marriages, everyone forgets the O’Connells from the mummy ❤️ I wanted a Rick of my very own lol but they just got each other, he was okay with her being a nerd and she was okay that he was a dork. Best couple ever :)
Jennifer Redmond
2023-03-06 22:06:57 +0000 UTCThere must be an emperor’s new groove episode! Dudes!
Jennifer Redmond
2023-03-06 22:04:18 +0000 UTCMovie couples that spring to mind for me: Nick and Nora Charles, from the Thin Man; Tevye and Golde from Fiddler on the Roof; and of course Henry and Eleanor from The Lion in Winter (just kidding! but the first two coupes are lovely.)
Abigail Friedman
2023-03-06 21:19:03 +0000 UTCEmperor’s New Groove? Yes, please!!!
Desireé (Speak91)
2023-03-06 20:47:13 +0000 UTCDefinitely need a whole Emperor’s New Groove Episode. To quote Hot Rod, “Don’t ask, just bring it!” Also, I just saw Cocaine Bear…I expect an episode about it because…well it’s a bear…on cocaine 😝 Make it work please!
Donut_Worry
2023-03-06 19:57:26 +0000 UTCAnother movie couple that comes to mind is Tom and Kate Baker from Cheaper by the dozen. But my absolute favorite couple is Amy and Bob from the TV show Good Luck Charlie. Maybe a Mended Light video on them?
Ayesha Ali
2023-03-06 19:17:16 +0000 UTCMaybe not as a happy marriage example, but Hope Springs (with the great Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, and Steve Carrell) would be a good CT video to go through with a relationship therapist. Plus on the filmmaking side, it is one of my favorite movies and I am nowhere near their target demographic - it’s just that well done. I once watched it back to back with my grandma.
Danielle Rachlin
2023-03-06 18:26:19 +0000 UTCYessss!!
Wendy Darling
2023-03-06 18:01:21 +0000 UTCGuido and Dora from Life is Beautiful.
Kristina Armstrong
2023-03-06 17:45:54 +0000 UTCEmperor's New Groove is a must. 😎 Dolittle, with Robert Downey Jr.? The short in the beginning when his wife was alive was sorta like Up. A set up for what's going on, but there was also this amazing love between them, not to mention the incredible adventures. I wish there were a prequel series or movie about that time in their lives. It seems a little Indiana Jones-ish. 😄
Lady Lost
2023-03-06 17:33:29 +0000 UTCYou did a whole video on Up but that still didn't stop you!
Traxathon
2023-03-06 17:18:57 +0000 UTCWe did a whole video on It's a Wonderful Life!
Cinema Therapy
2023-03-06 16:59:48 +0000 UTCYes, yes, Emperor's New Groove full episode.
Deb Kunkel
2023-03-06 16:37:11 +0000 UTCOne of my favorite movie marriages is Rick and Evie from The Mummy Returns. They're parents, they're clearly still deeply in love, they have great chemistry. AND it's a sequel to their falling-in-love movie, so we get to see how happy ever after worked out for them! Anyway wrt "only gay actors can play gay characters" as a queer person I agree with Alan. giving marginalized groups an opportunity to represent themselves is all well and good, but saying ONLY marginalized people can represent themselves in something like film is essentially just saying "they're a different kind of human". and that's... not good. (also full Emperor's New Groove PLS!!!)
Magnus Taliesin
2023-03-06 16:34:34 +0000 UTCShaking my head that George and Mary from It's a Wonderful Life weren't on this list
Traxathon
2023-03-06 16:30:35 +0000 UTCOh I would LOVE THIS!
Lisa Tosti
2023-03-06 16:16:45 +0000 UTCI would love to see you breakdown Robin Williams and Nathan Lane's relationship in The Birdcage. They both grow so beautifully in this movie and you couldn't have better actors playing opposite each other
Lisa Tosti
2023-03-06 16:16:16 +0000 UTCGeorge and Mary Bailey … It’s a Wonderful Life. But you guys have also done that one too!!!
Darcie Daniels
2023-03-06 16:11:41 +0000 UTCEmperor’s New Groove!!! Emperor’s New Groove!!! Emperor’s New Groove!!!
Darcie Daniels
2023-03-06 16:10:17 +0000 UTCPlease oh please do an emperor's new groove episode!! 🙏
Fell Hawke
2023-03-06 16:08:29 +0000 UTCI just started rewatching Father of the Bride and it's still just so good 😍 This scene in particular is a great reference IMO for what that should look like -- I will be going back for this to work on that skill.
Angie
2023-03-06 15:47:35 +0000 UTC...its a TV marriage and not a movie. But it's just one episode. So kind of a movie in a TV show. BILL AND FRANK!!! Actually the honestly deserve an entire episode of just them. Such a beautiful, full relationship.
Morgan Fey
2023-03-06 15:35:08 +0000 UTCYou should do the marriages in "Enchanted April"! Both start out rocky and then the couples (spoiler alert) fall back in love over a (yep) "enchanted April" in the 1920s. And, seriously, who wouldn't fall in love while staying in a villa in Italy?
Eve72
2023-03-06 15:24:36 +0000 UTC
