‘On the couch’ with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda,

HOW do we agree on a movie as a family?

I’m so sick of scrolling through trying to locate a movie everyone will enjoy.

Heather P.

Dear Heather,

You are right. Trying to find a movie that incorporates everyone’s interests is a nightmare.

How is it possible, for example, to find a movie where a swashbuckling pirate discovers a solution to the climate crisis while finding/losing/finding a romantic partner, creating a genetic mutation that saves humanity, meeting a loyal dog, and forming a singing/dancing troupe that wins the national titles.

That is what it would take to find a movie that satisfies everyone in my household.

We have such divergent tastes, that it is often easier to part ways (armed with our laptops) so we can be entertained without causing friction.

This solution does mean that we are not enjoying an activity as a family, but the alternative, where everyone talks over the top of each other, falls asleep, or keeps asking for plotline explanations, is hardly enjoyable either.

The only way around this conundrum is to give each family member a turn.

You could, for example, each select a movie you’d like to watch, and then have someone draw a movie selection out of a hat.

This can continue until all suggestions have been enjoyed (or totally pulled apart), and then the process can start again.

Though not every family member will be happy, it may give you a chance to explore each family member’s interests, and perhaps you will learn something new about them (a secret desire to sing in an acapella group, for example or, more worryingly, an obsession with serial killers).

There are so many movie options with streaming services, that we are spoiled for choice.

I miss the days when we would go to the video shop to select a new release.

Others will no doubt remember when the only movie choice was whatever was on free-to-air.

Perhaps a family board game night could be a nice alternative to your dilemma.

Now, will it be Monopoly, Scrabble, The Game of Life, Uno or Rummy-O?

Carpe diem,
Jasminda.