Connie is a young, pretty war widow with a son to take care of and an exhausting job as a department store comparison shopper. You’d think that a handsome successful lawyer who loves her and her son would be the answer to all of her problems, but Connie continually turns down proposals from her long-time friend Carl. It seems that she’s really just interested in maintaining the status quo. That is, until a funny sort of sales clerk comes into her life.

Steve Mason is an idealistic fella who took a job as a sales clerk in the toy department after giving up a successful job in banking. It seems like he’s there for the kids, but that doesn’t mean he’s not on his toes. When Connie comes in to spy on his department for another store, he figures her out right away. But after hearing about her husband’s death and her little boy, he couldn’t turn her in and cause her to lose her job. So instead, he loses his. Steve charms Connie when he helps her with the rest of her department store espionage for the day. But Connie’s beau Carl isn’t too happy about this new character in her life.

The story is a bit of a love triangle, but really has a lot more to do with following your dreams. I love how a young boy’s Christmas wish for a train set is sort of turned into an allegory for the wishes and dreams of adult kids too. I don’t really go in for many Christmas movies about Santa being the spirit of Christmas, and so I really liked that this movie still includes all of your traditional American Christmas themes, without focusing on Santa. (I promise, I’m no Scrooge! But I have certain opinions on how to handle the whole Santa thing.)

Holiday Affair is a great family movie about good old fashioned romance, family, and wishes coming true. It’s a great Christmas movie to watch with adults and kiddos alike, and might be a fun undiscovered film to add to your annual holiday rotation!

They teach you in physics class that in nature opposites attract, and you learn in life that the same goes for love. Barefoot in the Park is a delightful example of this law of attraction and all the havoc it can wreak on the first few days of a marriage. Paul Bratt, an even-tempered conservative lawyer, has just married Corie, a crazy, free spirited girl who just wants to run barefoot in the park.

The story starts out with Corie’s idyllic vision for the Bratters clashing with Paul’s sensible mindset in every way. But they’re newlyweds, so it’s really nothing a kiss can’t work out. At first, that is. But quickly Corie’s free-spirited antics begin to wear on Paul, beginning with her dream apartment- a fifth floor walk up with a broken glass ceiling, a too-small bedroom, and a flirtatious, imposing neighbor whom against Paul’s wishes, Corie befriends. She finds all of Paul’s annoyances charming and doesn’t understand why he doesn’t lighten up. It finally takes her mother’s worrisome adopting of Corie’s carefree attitude to instil some sense into the young bride, but by that time Corie’s afraid she may have lost Paul forever.

Barefoot in the Park is one of Neil Simon’s hysterical and relatable play-turned-movies, which is actually based on his first marriage. It’s full of wise insights into human nature, but the story is never slow or dry. Robert Redford also starred in the original stage production, and he played really well against Jane Fonda in the movie version. She isn’t normally a great favorite of mine, but she may have been perfect for this role! You kind of love her and hate her at the same time. (Phil still talks about how annoying Fonda’s character was! But he’s more of the even-kealed Paul type guy.) I enjoyed Corie’s fashion sense, their quirky just-starting-out apartment’s style, and, of course, watching Redford on screen is never dull, am I right?

Psst… recognize that poster on their apartment’s wall? I told you Corie had good taste!

Jennifer Nelson (Doris Day) is a pretty young widow who spends her work days at an aerospace research facility (think: NASA) as a tour guide, warding off flirtatious menfolk left and right. Her most recent male annoyance turns out to be Bruce Templeton (Rod Taylor), one of the bosses of the facility, and pretty charming at that. Bruce and his business partner are ready to release a new innovation to aerospace research, something that the Russians are eager to get their hands on. But Mr. Templeton soon finds himself busy creating a fake project designed to woo Miss Nelson, who he has enlisted as his new assistant.

Mr. Templeton’s plan for romance seems to be working out just fine, as Jennifer finds herself falling for him and admiring his genius work in aerospace research. But through a series of hilarious misunderstandings, Mr. Templeton’s staff begin to suspect his new girlfriend of espionage. Trickery, hilarious spy games, and romance ensue as Jennifer finds herself caught up with the real spies, and Bruce has to defend her innocence and find a way to rescue her.

The Glass Bottom boat has a great cast of tried and true comedians at its helm, such as Paul Lynde, who coincidentally played the voice of Templeton the rat in Charlotte’s Web, and whose cross-dressing role in The Glass Bottom Boat is also a bit coincidental, considering Lynde’s role as an early(ish) Hollywood gay icon.

The plot is fairly fast paced, so don’t be surprised with within a matter of days, the characters find themselves head over heals in love (You mean that doesn’t happen in real life?) and involved in an international espionage incident. Doris Day entertains us with her wide eyed charm, fabulous wardrobe, and, of course, a classic rendition of Que Sera Sera (much more fun and light hearted than the version we see in The Man Who Knew Too Much). This is my favorite Doris Day film as far as her wardrobe and styling goes (her hair is exactly what I envisioned when I went for my last hair appointment!), and the set design is pretty great as well! This movie is loads of fun, and a treat for the eyes. I don’t think anyone can help liking it!