Most Joyous Scene

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I can watch this clip over and over. Puts me in the greatest mood. That's all.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 22, 2010 at 12:58 PM

comment #1

Jonathan Spuij says ...

The final shot when coming from the elevator is the greatest thing about the scene. It really gives it the finishing touch.

Posted by Jonathan Spuij at February 22, 2010 1:03 PM

comment #2

PCP says ...

Bloody hell shame i can't get my browser to see what this is. Dang it!

Posted by PCP at February 22, 2010 1:04 PM

comment #3

Gabriel says ...

I saw this movie on Friday night. This scene was the first one that displayed ANY kind of real emotional truth (as opposed to the virginal indie boy fantasy-kind). That tells you how well the thing went over with me.

Posted by Gabriel at February 22, 2010 1:04 PM

comment #4

scottfeinberg says ...

Couldn't agree more... I love this scene and I love this movie.

Posted by scottfeinberg at February 22, 2010 1:11 PM

comment #5

MrTribeca says ...

Yes, it's great and all but it's also very similar to the opening credits of Get Over It and the Ferris Bueller Chicago parade sequence - crowds dancing to an AOR tune, marching band joining in halfway through etc.

Posted by MrTribeca at February 22, 2010 1:22 PM

comment #6

Snoop Marlo says ...

Nothing beats the scene when Dave Stoller crossed the finish line in 'Breaking Away'.

Wish I could find the clip.

Posted by Snoop Marlo at February 22, 2010 1:23 PM

comment #7

bluefugue says ...

If I had to pick the most joyous scene in a movie, I'd probably give the first 3 or 4 spots to Singin' in the Rain. Title track, Moses Supposes (look at the sheer pleasure that Kelly and O'Connor take in their skill!), Good Mornin', and Fit as a Fiddle and Ready For Love -- all of those scenes are basically like an IV drip of bliss.

Musicals really may have an edge in this category -- when your characters can dance it makes it easier for them to express happiness. Any number of Astaire/Rogers numbers would be up there as well. And Twist and Shout from Ferris Bueller. Can't Buy Me Love from A Hard Day's Night (and the HDN parody at the opening of Austin Powers).

Among non-musicals I'm blanking a bit. Oddly I'm thinking of Gwyneth Paltrow in "Emma" -- the way she smiles in closeup at the climactic moment. It's such a great reaction shot. The other-wise excellent BBC production from the '70s is almost ruined by a lack of properly "landing" on this key moment that the whole story's been building up to. The right closeup at the right time can convey astounding emotional punch.

In a completely different way, there's joy and transcendent grace in the shuttle docking sequence from 2001. And in, dare I say it, the dragon taming scene in Avatar, which is the best thing in that movie by a long way.

Posted by bluefugue at February 22, 2010 1:27 PM

comment #8

googs says ...

@ Snoop
Such a great film. I was watching it the other day and Dennis Quaid in his Daisy Dukes made me laugh. Also never realized Jackie Earle Haley was in it either. Never made that connection after he was nominated and started getting all these big roles.

Anyway, I love this scene too. 500 is everything romantic comedies should be. It's one that guys and girls can both enjoy. I only wish there was more of these instead of being bombarded with The Bounty Hunter or whatever bullshit Aniston, Heigel, and Kutcher are doing these days.

Posted by googs at February 22, 2010 1:33 PM

comment #9

Dzayson says ...

This isn't a movie moment, but I cannot stop watching this thing. It's gotta be one of the funniest and most brilliant commercials of all-time. Not to get all DZ on everyone, but give it a click. I'm on a horse.

http://www.youtube.com/user/oldspice?feature=pyv&ad=3379911317&kw=old%20spice%20commercial&gclid=CLj938n7hqACFRcvagodDSEelg#p/u/0/owGykVbfgUE

Posted by Dzayson at February 22, 2010 1:40 PM

comment #10

DeeZee says ...

Xanadu for hipsters?

Dzay: I dig the Bruce Campbell spot myself.

Posted by DeeZee at February 22, 2010 1:49 PM

comment #11

Rusty Never Sleeps says ...

Cameron Diaz shaking her pantied bootie in Charlie's Angels does it better for me.

Posted by Rusty Never Sleeps at February 22, 2010 2:12 PM

comment #12

joefilm1 says ...

The only enjoyable scene in a horribly written, confused movie with one of the most lame female lead roles ever imagined.

Posted by joefilm1 at February 22, 2010 2:57 PM

comment #13

Orotund Vowel says ...

"Love Actually" is practically built out of set-ups to these kinds of life-is-pretty-damned-grand scenes. I agree they're a lot of fun. I also agree it's easier to find them in musicals or with musical themes.

Favorites for me: the scene in Dirty Dozen when Donald Sutherland is pretending to be a general, and the cliff scene in Harold and Maude. You just can't beat the joy of destroying a jaguar XJ hearse.

The Traveler's insurance commercial with that dog worrying about his bone is so enjoyable I fear for my sanity a little bit.

Posted by Orotund Vowel at February 22, 2010 3:11 PM

comment #14

LexG says ...

Valentine's Day > 500 Days of Summer.

Posted by LexG at February 22, 2010 3:18 PM

comment #15

Bobby Cooper Superior says ...

I prefer the spontaneous waltz from THE FISHER KING - nuns dancing with suits.

Posted by Bobby Cooper Superior at February 22, 2010 3:22 PM

comment #16

aufche says ...

not focused movie.. :(

best movie 2010
and
hot news today

Posted by aufche at February 22, 2010 3:24 PM

comment #17

Glenn Kenny says ...

But Douglas Sirk sucks. All right, then.

Posted by Glenn Kenny at February 22, 2010 3:50 PM

comment #18

citizenmilton says ...

I'm guessing most of you have already seen this, but for the few that haven't. this scene helped inspire students at a high school with a pretty cool video department make this music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7TI-AJi2O8

Posted by citizenmilton at February 22, 2010 3:54 PM

comment #19

bulltron says ...

What happened to Han Solo? That's the best part.

Posted by bulltron at February 22, 2010 4:22 PM

comment #20

jse33 says ...

This was the scene that convinced Sony execs to hire Marc Webb for the Spider-man reboot.

Posted by jse33 at February 22, 2010 4:23 PM

comment #21

Ray DeRousse says ...

Great scene. That damned song is catchy, and Joseph Gordon Levitt completely sells it. I just love that guy; he seems like one of the smartest and most talented young actors in Hollywood.

Posted by Ray DeRousse at February 22, 2010 4:24 PM

comment #22

YND says ...

I liked it better in ENCHANTED. No joke.

Posted by YND at February 22, 2010 4:24 PM

comment #23

PrisonJake says ...

The Han Solo wink seals it for me. Thanks, Fox Searchlight.

Posted by PrisonJake at February 22, 2010 5:51 PM

comment #24

lipranzer says ...

I liked this scene okay, but most joyous scene? Not even of last year. That honor, for me, went to Jimmy Page doing air guitar and listening along to Link Wray's "Rumble".

Posted by lipranzer at February 22, 2010 6:04 PM

comment #25

BurmaShave says ...

Did someone hijack this site?

Posted by BurmaShave at February 22, 2010 7:01 PM

comment #26

aris says ...

What's so great about this scene?

Place any catchy tune from the 80s into any scene (from any vanilla rom-com) where people burst out in spontaneous dancing, and it'll be the same result. In fact, I came across this sort of scene in almost every badly written, first time writer's script.

It takes no creativity to write or direct this. The music pretty much does it itself. Don't any of you imagine shit like this when you're in your car and a cool tune comes on?

I guess most of us should have been considered to direct Spiderman.

Posted by aris at February 22, 2010 7:52 PM

comment #27

online movies watch says ...

The only enjoyable scene in a horribly written, confused movie with one of the most lame female lead roles ever imagined. I lol'd

Posted by online movies watch at February 22, 2010 8:46 PM

comment #28

Nick X says ...

I fuckin hated this movie. Hated, hated, hated. Almost as bad as Juno.

Posted by Nick X at February 22, 2010 9:54 PM

comment #29

DavidF says ...

Good thing JSE33 is here - I thought I either imagined Han Solo being there in the first place or couldn't figure out why I was missing it now.

It's a little reminder that for all his crazy insularity, George Lucas does have a sense of humour and is willing to let others use Star Wars in all sorts of contexts.

I found 500 Days occasionally too cutesy for its own good but it's still a fine film and without a doubt should have had The Blind Side's Oscar spot.

Also brilliant about this scene - how the birds, wardrobe etc. are all the colour of Zoeey Deschanel's eyes.

Posted by DavidF at February 23, 2010 6:06 AM

comment #30

solus says ...

Wasn't there a similar scene in 9 to 5 ?

Posted by solus at February 23, 2010 6:14 AM

comment #31

ManhattanMadcap says ...

Wow, to say this citation scrapes the barrell would insult both barrells and the art of scraping.

Posted by ManhattanMadcap at February 23, 2010 7:34 AM

comment #32

ManhattanMadcap says ...

*barrel

Posted by ManhattanMadcap at February 23, 2010 7:35 AM

comment #33

Sean says ...

@bluefugue: NBC is being a dick about it -- not showing the clip on Hulu but also demanding it be pulled from YouTube -- but JGL did an estimable job doing Make 'Em Laugh during his SNL monologue.

The equivalent scene of 40 Year Old Virgin was also a necessary ingredient of that movie's charm (my favorite R-rated comedy of the decade).

I was mezzo mezzo on 500 Days because of Zooey's underwrittenness (though not Zooey), but for fans, the Blu-Ray is onyl $13 this week at Target.

Posted by Sean at February 23, 2010 8:22 AM

comment #34

The Hey says ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwdzcrMfoU

Posted by The Hey at February 23, 2010 8:55 AM

comment #35

The Hey says ...

From Garage Days - not a fan of the movie at all but love this scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwdzcrMfoU

Posted by The Hey at February 23, 2010 8:58 AM

comment #36

Freddie Mertz says ...

I liked it better when it was a Dr. Pepper commercial starring David Naughton.

Posted by Freddie Mertz at February 25, 2010 4:44 PM

comment #37

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comment #38