3 DIY Wedding Movie Party Games #saturday #atozchallenge #atoz #trivia #karaoke

 

“Maybe you might be more than just a one night lady. Maybe you might be matrimony trying to save me.”

“Matrimony: Maybe You” by Maxwell often delivers the necessarily relaxation that I’m seeking when I listen to this tune. Although it’s not among my top favorite Maxwell songs, I found the track to be appropriate for today’s post as the A to Z Challenge hits Letter M. I like this song for it’s smooth melody but the lyrics could use a little more variety because they tend to get repetitive after about one minute or so. Once the tune starts to play, it’s not unusual to start thinking about weddings, which got me wondering “what’s my favorite wedding movie?”

I don’t think I have one yet but for today, I’ll select “The Best Man” starring Taye Diggs and Nia Long, directed by Malcolm D. Lee. This movie is filled with lots of drama after an advance copy of one of the main characters’ autobiographical book titled Unfinished Business ends up in the wrongs hands.

Controversy and secrets brewing in a wedding party made up of childhood friends began to jeopardize relationships in the hours leading up to the big day. Inspired by the happenings in this romantic comedy-drama film, here are three wedding movie party games that I put together for you to play in celebration of your big day -- or someone else’s if you are in the wedding party or if you are among the happy in-laws.

The Battle of the Wedding Party: Groomsmen vs. Bridesmaids Games: 

1. Host a karaoke game of Groomsmen vs. Bridesmaids teams where each team sings songs from wedding movie soundtracks and the Bride and Groom serve as judges, scoring these performances. The team with the highest score by the judges, wins this game. You could also assemble an alternative judging panel made up of guests in attendance if this wedding movie party game is being played during an engagement party or wedding reception.

2. Host a trivia game where Bridesmaids and Groomsmen have to compete against each other by naming as many movies that contain any variation of "wedding," "marriage," "bride" or "groom" in the title as they can -- within 60 seconds. You can provide each team with notebook paper, posterboard or a large chalkboard to list their answers.

Give the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen one point for each correctly identified movie title that they list on their sheet. The group with the most points wins this movie trivia game. So, to keep in line with these rules, movies about weddings or marriages that do not contain any of the aforementioned words in the title, such as "27 Dresses" and "Fools Rush In" -- even my favorite flick “The Best Man,” perhaps, do not qualify as a point for any of the playing teams.

Just for spontaneous kicks, I’m putting a spin on the 2nd game for the sake of this post and challenge YOU to also name the wedding movie in the following photo -- right here, right now, in the comments section!

WEDDING MOVIE SCENE:

Movie Title: ______________________________

3. Host a reverse movie guessing game where both the Bridesmaid and Groomsmen teams perform short scenes from movies about marriage, weddings or relationships and the bride and groom have to guess the name of the movie. The key element here is the guests of honor are playing on behalf of their entire wedding party. So, if the bride guesses correctly, the bridesmaids team wins a point. If the groom guesses correctly, then the groomsmen team wins a point.

You can also mix this 3rd game up by placing the bride with the groomsmen and the groom with the bridesmaids -- but someone has to keep score, so designate a parent, friend or wedding planner to do so. This wedding movie guessing game is suitable to be played during an engagement party, since there are more choices for someone to keep score -- unless the wedding party is large. In cases of large wedding parties or circumstances where outside guests are not available, choose either the Maid of Honor or the Best Man to keep score.

Can YOU name the wedding movie depicted in the photo in this M blog post?

How many movies containing any variation of “wedding,” “bride” or “marriage” can YOU name within 60 seconds? Ready, set, go!

Also, which one of the three games mentioned here would YOU be likely to play if you were getting married or chosen as a member of someone's wedding party?

Just the Way You Are with Gender Benders in Film #wednesday #atozchallenge #trivia

 

“Don’t go changing to try to please me, you never let me down before -- I would not leave you in times of trouble, we never could have come this far. I took the good times, I’ll take the bad times. I’ll take you just the way you are...”

I‘ve played “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel on repeat on a few occasions and it’s among the older songs that I rarely get enough of listening to. The song reminds me of how greater life can be when unconditional love is present, whether it comes from a parent, friend, romantic partner or even a stranger -- it is something that no one should ever take for granted. Families are often expected to have unconditional love for one another, so when anyone lacks even that much, it is very hard to find that elsewhere, out in the world. I find “Just the Way You Are” to be a wonderful tune, however, because it also illustrates the joy that comes from giving it, not just receiving it.

Expressing love or compassion toward another human being can be powerful with regards to changing one's perspective on what is considered normal and abnormal, as well as possibly even helping people see themselves in a new light.

It kinda has me thinking about that jail scene in “Boys Don’t Cry” starring Hilary Swank, where Lana tells Brandon “I don’t care if you’re half monkey or half ape, I’m getting you out of here!” -- all gender bending aside, that was a key moment in the movie because Lana could have easily ended their friendship or relationship but she chose not to because the person that Brandon was meant more to her than his real gender.

In fact, if X and Y chromosomes were switched for a brief moment, would you be able to tell the difference between who is who at your job, out in public or even while watching a movie? The next time you are entertaining guests at home, play a “Truth or False” or "Name that Movie" dinner party game where players have to answer questions about gender bending movies where actresses take on roles as men and actors portray female characters onscreen.

Here is a little Just the Way You Are: Gender Bender Movie Party Game that I put together to get you started.

Gender Bending Movie Casting Trivia Questions:

What male comedian played a woman named Jill in the movie "Jack and Jill?" _______
What Actress played a man named Jude Quinn in the movie, "I'm Not There?" _______
What male actor played a transgender female in the movie "The Crying Game?" _______

Gender Bending Movie True or False Questions:

Actor Patrick Swayze played a woman named Rachel Tensions in the movie "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar." True or False? _______
Actor James Kirk played a teenage girl named Viola Hastings in the movie "She's the Man." True or False? _______
Actress Julie Andrews played a man named Count Victor Grazinski in the movie "Victor, Victoria!" True or False? _______

Gender Bending Movie Trivia Question:

In What movie did Gwyneth Paltrow play a man named Thomas Kent? _______

Play the game by answering one or all of these questions, in the comments section....

-and/or-

Answer this: What does the phrase “unconditional love” mean to YOU?

Extra credit - the movie poster for "Boys Don't Cry" reads "A True Story about Having the Courage to be Yourself." In YOUR opinion, how can people find the courage to be themselves no matter who they are?

*Want a Just the Way You Are: Gender Bender Movie Party Game sheet, complete with an Answer Key, to play at home with your family or friends, courtesy of The Madlab Post? Just let me know and I’ll send one your way.

Feelings and Flash Mobs in Film #friday #atozchallenge

“I don’t know what to do, don’t know what to prove. This is more than me, so much more than you. Can we make it through? You and I? I can’t decide...I just can’t pretend that you’re just a friend, we took it further, passion still remains, so here we are again because we caught feelings...”

“Feelings” by Floetry is a very soulful tune that can touch the heart of anyone who can relate to the awkward limbo of figuring out if you want to be with someone -- or that uncertainty of whether feelings are reciprocated, causing knots in your belly.  

Realizing that you have developed feelings for someone can be liberating and scary at the same time, depending on how you look at it. Romantic feelings for someone can also be tough for those who may consider taking a platonic relationship to the next level, because most people seldom want to risk a good friendship for something else that has no guarantee of lasting. In addition to that, what happens when you are ok with pursuing something with a person of interest or exploring where your feelings can take the both of you, but for some reason, you just don’t know how to express what you feel? These challenges play out all too often and then a movie comes along that shows us how art imitates life.

In the romantic comedy “Friends with Benefits” starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake, one of the main characters surprises another by arranging a flash mob to express his true feelings. Timberlake plays this role and tells Mila Kunis’ character “You said you wanted your life to be like a movie!” So, consider taking a page from Dylan Harper’s (Timberlake) book the next time you celebrate a special occasion by surprising a friend, family member -- or co-worker with a flash mob in their honor. Flip the script and make life imitate art, creating feelings of joy and gratitude for those whom you care about the most.

It does not have to be romantic, in fact, here are a few surprise birthday flash mobs that may help you come up with ideas on the choreography or overall theme. One features a woman who was so clueless about what was going on that she started participating in her own flash mob, without even knowing that it was for her. I especially like the second video where random citizens put a spin on the flash mob scene by surprising their bus driver with a whole production that included singing and a fake protest that turned out to be a mob of people with birthday messages and gifts for the birthday dude!

The third birthday flash mob video includes a girl whose family surprises her with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance routine -- in a hotel lobby. Last but not least, I planned to wrap this post up with a video clip that partially inspired today’s “Letter F” A to Z Challenge post -- the “Friends with Benefits” flash mob scene. However, the video clip showing that scene is no longer available on YouTube due to a copyright infringement claim by Screen Gems. So with that said, I guess you'll just have to rent the movie. In the meantime, enjoy.....

Sasha’s Surprise Birthday Flash Mob (5 mins & 27 secs):

The Birthday Surprise for a Danish Driver (3 mins):


Tori’s 18th Surprise Birthday with Family & Friends (5 mins & 57 secs):


What makes a good celebratory flash mob, in YOUR opinion?
The size/number of participants? choreography? dress code? song selection? Or, all of these elements combined?
Which of these birthday flash mob videos do YOU like best?