Photo: Screenshot
By Lucy Corry and Dan Slevin
The September school holidays start this weekend - great news for people who have the wherewithal to lavish lots of time, money and precious annual leave days on their kids, but a bit tough on the rest of us. If you're scratching around for things to do, it's not a cop-out to let the goggle box come to your rescue. The trick to feeling better about it is to find adult and kid-friendly telly or movies that won't make you or any other nearby adults wish they were back at work. Here are our tried-and-tested top selections.
Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, directed by Wes Anderson. Photo: Screenshot
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Take a lesser-known Roald Dahl story about a rich man who learns how to see with his eyes closed, add director Wes Anderson and a great cast (Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Ayoade, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley). Mix well and you have this hotly-anticipated short film, the first in a series of Andersonian adaptations of Dahl stories. Available on Netflix from Wednesday 27 September. LC
Lightning McQueen, 'star' of Cars, Photo: Screenshot
Cars
If keeping the young folk quietly occupied with (relatively) wholesome screentime is a priority, a Disney+ subscription is essential. I could have chosen dozens of options from the Disney/Pixar/Star Wars options but have elected to nominate a classic.
My two-year-old nephew came to visit last year, and Cars kept him enthralled as much as it did for my stepson when he was the same age. Absolutely merits repeat viewing. If Grandma wants to know why she should be watching it too, tell her that Paul Newman is in it. Available on Disney+. DS
Charly Houtos and Japanese shiba inu Tobi both star in Junior Dog Handlers. Photo: supplied
Junior Dog Handlers
It's not quite Best In Show (and therefore a bit more kid-friendly), but this is still engaging telly featuring a group of dedicated tweens and teens all strutting their stuff in the hope of getting to Crufts. Lots of cute dog action, so brace yourself for the inevitable 'can we get a dog like that one?' questions after watching. Available on TVNZ+. LC
Antonio Banderas plays Puss in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Photo: Universal
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Puss (Antonio Banderas' signature role) made his first appearance in Shrek 3 but soon became the best thing in the franchise. The most recent film has a tinge of melancholy that older viewers will be touched by, and a dazzling freshness to the animation. on Neon and Prime. DS
Klaus, Violet and Sunny Baudelaire face one misfortune after another in A Series of Unfortunate Events. Photo: Screenshot
A Series of Unfortunate Events
With 25 episodes, the story of the ill-fated Baudelaire twins and their baby sister Sunny will keep your whanau solidly entertained for these holidays and beyond. Jason Patrick Harris is brilliant as comic villain Count Olaf, while adult Seinfeld fans will recognise Elaine's boyfriend David Puddy (actor Patrick Warburton) as narrator Lemony Snicket. Warning: the theme tune is a complete earworm. All three seasons streaming on Netflix. LC
Westley (Cary Elwes) and Buttercup (Robin Wright) in The Princess Bride. Photo: Archives du 7e Art/20th Century Fox via AFP
The Princess Bride
It might be 36 years old (how did that happen?), but this tale is still an entertaining watch, no matter how many times you view it. All kids (and adults) need to know about ROUSs, the Cliffs of Insanity and 'my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die'. Available on Prime Video and Apple TV+. LC
Toi Time is an entertaining way for younger viewers to engage with New Zealand culture. Photo: Screenshot
Toi Time
The most exciting thing about the screening of the new Paw Patrol movie I was at yesterday was the 30-second advertisement for Toi Time, the best money that NZ On Air spends every year. Definitely for the younger viewer, it's an essential and entertaining way to connect with New Zealand culture. Available on TVNZ+ and
YouTube. DS
Annie, starring Aileen Quinn as Annie and Carol Burnett as orphanage mistress Miss Hannigan. Photo: Screenshot
Annie
It's a hard knock life alright, but the original all-singing, all-dancing Annie has still got what it takes to help you wile away a wet afternoon indoors. Cuter-than-a-button Aileen Quinn holds her own as li'l orphan Annie against a killer cast of adults, including Tim Curry, Carol Burnett and Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks. It might also make your kids grateful to live with you, rather than in a grimy orphanage having cold mush for lunch. Available on TVNZ+. LC
The Heeler whānau in Bluey. Photo: Ludo Studios
Bluey
There aren't many shows for kids that also manage to capture the hearts and minds of their parents (and adults without children). Bluey is that rare unicorn of an animated show that manages to bring a little bit of something for everyone.
Available on TVNZ+. For similar magic, though best for older kids and adults, see The Simpsons (weeknights on Duke and TV 2, or all 34 seasons now streaming on Disney+). LC
Asa Butterfield plays Hugo in the 2011 film by Martin Scorcese. Photo: Screenshot
Hugo
Watching movies with your kids isn't just about shared fun times, it's also a way to generate long-term shared values, especially if those values include Martin Scorsese pictures. Hugo is also about the magic of movies and why we should pay attention to them, care for them and preserve them - all done with invention and panache. It pains me to think that we may never see it in 3D again but it remains a classic, nonetheless.
Available to rent from Aro Vision or Apple TV+. DS
