Filmmakers often look to the past when drawing inspiration for their art, and when a widely used technique is given a clever twist, audiences hardly notice that they’ve seen it before. A charming, stunningly crafted, and heartwarming coming-of-age tale, Disney Pixar’s latest film, Luca, tells the story of a teenage sea monster who finds himself with an obsession to become part of the human world.
It’s a brilliant and very literal “fish out of water” story, and its strong characters, typically ingenious writing, and beautiful visuals will have audiences everywhere enjoying an adventure quite unlike anything they’ve seen before. When the idea is done right, it can result in a unique and timeless classic.
10 Coco Is A Magical Adventure In The Afterlife
One of Disney Pixar’s most adored additions to their catalog in recent years. 2017’s Coco stole, broke, and warmed the hearts of fans around the world with its endearing story and unforgettable musical numbers. The movie takes inspiration from the Mexican holiday Day Of The Dead, taking the main character, young musician Miguel, out of the land of the living, and dropping him into a beautifully realized land of the dead.
The film was praised for its deep respect for Mexican culture and ended up winning two Academy Awards. One for Best Animated Feature, and another for Best Original Song, for the uplifting tearjerker, “Remember Me.”
9 Twins Is Arnold Schwarzenegger At His Funniest
An action star with few equals, Arnold Schwarzenegger would make an exceptional transition into comedy roles in the late 1980s. There was such uncertainty regarding Schwarzenegger’s comedic abilities at the time, however, that the former Mr. Universe took no salary for the film, opting for a share of the profits instead.
Twins tells the story of a man raised on an isolated island, searching for his long-lost brother in the big city. Schwarzenegger’s chemistry with co-star Danny Devito worked wonders, the film was a huge success, and the pair would work together again a few years later in Junior.
8 Miss Congeniality Swaps Guns For Glamour
A tough cop being forced out of the comfort zone in order to catch their bad guy may feel like it’s been done to death at times. But the 2000 comedy film, Miss Congeniality, offered the same old formula with a brilliant yet simple twist, they made the cop a woman and dropped her from badass to beauty queen.
Sandra Bullock displays her usual talent in the lead role, commanding scenes with charm and humor, as she reunites with fellow Demolition Man star Benjamin Bratt. The movie also features appearances from screen legends Michael Caine, Candice Bergen, and William Shatner.
7 Austin Powers Swings From The ’60s Into The Future
Mike Myers was once one of Hollywood’s hottest properties, the former SNL star rose to prominence in the ’90s with starring roles in Wayne’s World and So I Married An Axe Murderer, but it was 1997’s Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery that solidified Myers as a true household name.
A delightfully funny send-up of ’60s culture, the spy genre, and James Bond movies, in particular, Myers shines as a 1960s secret agent released from cryostasis into 1997 Britain. Myers wrote the film himself, bringing his signature brand of humor to audiences around the world, and catapulting him into the A-list as a bankable leading man.
6 From The Grit Of Detroit To The Glitz Of Beverly Hills
If you were to crown one movie star as king of the “fish out of water” trope, Eddie Murphy would have a serious claim to the throne. The legendary funnyman’s career is littered with characters being forced out of their comfort zone. Trading Places, 48 Hours, Coming To America, The Nutty Professor, and even Shrek all use the technique to perfection.
Yet Murphy’s finest may well be 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop. Axel Foley, Eddie Murphy’s streetwise and reckless detective, has no choice but to team up with a by-the-book Los Angeles police force. The results were both thrilling and hilarious, and the film stands tall today as one of the most-loved of the entire 1980s.
5 The Intouchables Is The Best Of Heartwarming Cinema
French film The Intouchables juggles multiple uncomfortable subjects, but it does so with such care and sensitivity that the result is a touching and thought-provoking look at disabilities, social class, and race issues. The movie tells the story of Philippe, a wealthy man injured in a paragliding accident, and his new live-in caregiver Driss, played by Omar Sy.
The movie holds as one of the most successful in France’s history, and it helped Omar Sy on his way to Hollywood. Since The Intouchables, Sy has appeared in multiple American releases, including Jurassic World, and X-Men: Days Of Future Past. The film also donated a portion of its profits to help paralyzed people.
4 Will Smith Made This Look Good In Men In Black
From fighting street punks as an inner-city cop to taking on the meanest and most terrifying the galaxy has to offer, Will Smith’s Agent J made quite the jump in his crime-fighting career in 1997’s Men In Black. With some star power from Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Sonnenfeld’s direction, and special effects legend Rick Baker’s makeup, the film made megabucks, won awards, and spawned two sequels and a spin-off movie.
The movie’s soundtrack album featuring Will Smith’s original song, “Men In Black,” would spend 2 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also featured the debut of Destiny’s Child, so you could say that without the Men In Black, Beyoncé may never have made it to the big time.
3 Elf Spreads The Christmas Cheer In The Big Apple
Elf sits firmly on many a fan’s go-to list for when the holiday season comes around, the Will Ferrell Christmas comedy is about as loved by fans as a movie can get. Ferrell plays Buddy, a human raised by elves who travels to New York City in search of his true belonging.
Ferrell gives one of his greatest performances alongside top talents James Caan and Zooey Deschanel, and Jon Favreau’s direction shines throughout the film, with Elf being one of the movies that put The Mandalorian and Iron Man director on the map as a filmmaker.
2 Elle Woods Makes The Courtroom Look Cool In Legally Blonde
Another constant in cinema is the courtroom drama, and in 2001 the subgenre received one of its most welcome, and most unique additions, the Reese Witherspoon-starring Legally Blonde. The film centers around a fashionista who decides to prove her ex-boyfriend wrong by attending Harvard Law School.
Praise from viewers and critics followed the film’s release, including some from Roger Ebert himself. The verdict was overwhelmingly positive. And in May 2020, after the continued success of the film and its sequels, MGM Studios announced that a third installment would be coming to cinemas in May 2022.
1 For The Trope At Its Finest, One Need Only Go Back To The Future
For the finest example of the “fish out of water” trope done right, look no further than the all-time classic Back To The Future. To call the film iconic would be an understatement, it launched a multimedia juggernaut of a franchise, as well as the careers of all involved, including star Michael J. Fox.
Time-travel movies almost always use the “fish out of water” technique to develop their characters and stories, but there is a strong argument that none have ever done so quite as effectively as Back To The Future.
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