5. I Say a Little Prayer | My Best Friend’s Wedding
Back in 1997 this light rom-com, starring America’s sweetheart Julia Roberts as Julianne, was bestowed upon us. For those that don’t know, the film follows Julianne as she realises she is in love with her best friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney), who is about to marry his fiancé. We’re dropped into a scene where she is attending a big family luncheon with all the in-laws. She has brought along George (a scene-stealing Rupert Everett), her gay friend acting as her date. As he is being quizzed on how it is that they met, he begins to sing Dionne Warwick’s “I Say a Little Prayer” to describe it. So infectious is his singing that soon the fellow guests start to join in, to the point where a man sits down at a keyboard and starts playing the tune. So unfolds a scene that etches itself into the mind long after you’ve seen it.
4. You’re the Voice | Hot Rod
In 2007 comic Andy Samberg introduced himself to the world of cinema with this crazy movie about Rod Kimble: Stuntman Extraordinaire. Upon discovering his stepfather has a bad heart and months left to live, Rod decides to do one big stunt, get funding, coverage and raise the money for the heart surgery. As our stuntman makes the walk towards his epic stunt the backup music starts, the heavy drums of John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice” pounding, Rod’s crew start walking with him. Soon an entire crowd is marching behind our protagonists and as the chorus of the song erupts, so does the crowd. Folks stand and stare off into the distance as the crowd provides back-up vocals. To cap the scene off, the result of having such a big crowd ensures that a riot starts and police try to control the chaos.
3. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You | 10 Things I Hate About You
At the end of the millennium we were treated to this adoring, sweet comedy starring Joseph Gordon Levitt as Cameron, the new boy in school who wants to date Bianca. Problem is, Bianca can’t date until her older sister, Kat, does. Cameron enlists the help of Patrick (a young Heath Ledger) to help woo Kat. After a couple of sweet bonding moments Patrick accidently upsets her and has to try win her over, so he gets his hands on the school microphone and begins to publicly sing “Cant Take My Eyes Off You” from the bleachers while she is on the field. This was a great scene that really showcased Heath’s range as an actor, until 2008’s The Dark Knight of course.
2. Day-O | Beetlejuice
In only his second feature film, director Tim Burton brought us this twisted dark comedy that defined his style and tone. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis star as Adam and Barbara Maitland, a couple who have unfortunately been killed in a car crash and are forced to stay and haunt their abandoned house until a new family move in and completely change everything about the home. After a disastrous first attempt at haunting and scaring the new family, they decide to try amp it up a little at a dinner party. They possess their bodies and make them all sing and dance to Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat Song (Day-O)”, all with looks of terror and disbelief on their faces.
1. Afternoon Delight | Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
In 2004 Will Ferrell teamed up with Adam McKay in this hilarious movie about Ron Burgundy, a misogynistic 1970’s news anchor with his trusty crew: sports presenter Champ Kind, on the streets Brian Fantana and meteorologist Brick Tamland. Things change for these guys when the station is forced to hire the first woman news anchor in history. At first she is hesitant towards him, but eventually his charm wins her over. When Ron’s friends enquire what love is like, he responds by beautifully singing “Afternoon Delight”. Soon they are all in perfect harmony and we are in stitches. And just like that it’s over, they carry on like it never even happened, except for one last harmonised ‘afternoon delight’.
– B.P.
