Whether you’re staying home for Valentine’s Day or going out for a nice meal, the time comes when you’re looking to get the romance portion of the evening off to a solid start. A natural choice is to cuddle up in front of the TV and watch a romantic movie. There are dozens of popular choices to choose from. Classic movie buffs often turn to “An Affair to Remember” with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and those whose tastes cling to the contemporary will often go with “Titanic” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, “The Princess Bride” with Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, the star-vehicle “Valentine’s Day” with Julia Roberts and Bradley Cooper, or perhaps one of my favorites, “Serendipity” with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
But if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, I recommend Disney’s “Fantasia 2000”, available on Netflix. Yes, a Disney animated feature, complete with frolicking forest creatures. But this one’s made for adults to enjoy and, in stark contrast to the very dry original “Fantasia”, lots of humor. Best of all, it’s chock-a-block with romantic with stories like “The Steadfast Tin Soldier”. And if the “Pomp and Circumstance” sequence with Donald and Daisy doesn’t put your sweetie in the mood, you didn’t stand a chance in the first place. It’s got nice long stretches with great music and no dialogue so you can pay proper attention to, ahem, the task at hand.
If you’ve got a good sound system, be sure to crank it up a notch for the “Rhapsody in Blue” sequence. It’s outstanding music set to an amazing animated sequence by Disney animator Eric Goldberg, who made an homage to the great caricaturist Al Hirshfeld. I love a Gershwin tune, how about you?
The pink flamingos sequence (also directed by Eric Goldberg) will have you rolling on the floor. Eric’s best known work is undoubtedly his creation of the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, featuring the late, great Robin Williams. So you can believe me when I say this movie is something special. There are lots of celebrities doing the the introductions. Steve Martin, James Earl Jones, Itzhak Perlman, Quincy Jones, Bette Midler and Penn Jillette all have some great laugh lines.
“Fantasia 2000” is one of those gems that few people would ever consider watching unless somebody tells you about it. With a running time of just over an hour, you can always watch another movie afterward, too! Even if you don’t try it tonight, be sure to put it in your Netflix queue so it’s handy for your next staycation evening at home. You will thank me.