This entry will soon be a key feature in a therapist's file on me.

Clearly for the last month neither Dave or I have done much worthy of writing about (except moving to Switzerland, but the Swiss are fairly taciturn and really who wants to hear about that?) . Between exams and unemployment, I'm in a perfect position to write a glowing review of tea, but since there's sure to be a unanimous "Tea is awesome" response, that's pointless in and of itself.

Today I was quite hungover, and after waking up mid-afternoon, indulged in a day of comforting "Cure Movies" (and tea, oh was there tea). It was lovely, and happily seemed to arrange itself in accordance with each level of hangover, so without much ado, here are my Top 5 Hangover Movies:

The First Wives Club
Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn, wreaking revenge on their cheating, cradle snatching husbands. I love this film an indecent amount. Sarah Jessica Parker as Midler's shallow, anorexic nemesis, and Maggie Smith as a jaded New York socialite, are just perfect in this dark comedy about sisters doing it for themselves (ugh, sorry, but that song DOES feature, and during a montage too; the best montage EVER). Essentially, when I'm older I want to be these women, teaming up to use underhanded methods to get what's theirs damn it!

Hangover Stage: High spirits, full of delightful memories of a friend filled night, perhaps still slightly drunk, happy to talk to the television as if it were a person.


Favourite Scene: Midler, Hawn and Keaton reveal their elaborate plans to their gobsmacked ex-husbands, who slowly realise that their lives have been thorn asunder. (Also Brenda holding Elysse's Oscar and saying "Does it say 'I beat Meryl?'". All the LOLs).

Legally Blonde
Everyone has that movie that they can watch over and over, without it losing an ounce of its original charm. For me that movie is Legally Blonde. Its also one of the few movies that makes me cry nearly from beginning to end, with or without hangover. Yes, Legally Blonde, the feel good comedy, makes me cry almost continuously. I cry when she gets the required SAT scores, I cry when the mean girls trick her into dressing like a whore, I cry when she's unjustly accused of of sexing her way to success, I cry when she makes her glorious return.. Elle Woods for Prez.

Hangover Stage: Sobering up, want a friend around to give reassuring cuddles and morning after chats.. LB is that friend.

Favourite Scene: The final cross-examination when Elle tricks Whitney into revealing her murderous secret.. (Ugh, seriously, I'm so sorry).

Strictly Ballroom
WHY HAVEN'T MORE PEOPLE SEEN STRICTLY BALLROOM!? Definitely my favourite film on this list, and possibly any list. Everything I love about Baz Luhrman; sparkly, cheesily tongue-in-cheek, endearing. I shouldn't be as sensitive to the backwards world of Australian Ballroom Dancing as I am but this movie just makes me wish I could Rumba. Scott is too handsome to engage in such a sport; the best part is Fran's gradual and *cough* subtle progression from dowdy loser to stunning ballroom dancing superstar, its responsible for 74% of all my self-image perceptions. Its about passion, not the rules. A PASSION FOR BALLROOM! I'm too emotionally attached to write a logical synopsis of this movie. Everyone just watch it.

Hangover Stage: The beginning of hangover depression/The Fear, desperately trying to pull out of it with a movie that fills with joy.

Favourite Scene: Scott and Fran's learning to dance/learning to love montage, to the absolute gem of Time After Time.. Tears. Laughter. Dancing. All together now IF YOU'RE LOST YOU CAN LOOK AND YOU WILL FIND ME.... TIME AFTER TIME. (Alternatively Love is in the Air to close on.. This film is eclipsed only by its soundtrack.)


Moulin Rouge
So at this stage I'm in the Baz Luhrman zone, and what better than possibly his most ridiculous film to make it a Luhrman double feature. Having descended into full-blown, alcohol deficient depression, Moulin Rouge is tragic enough to indulge in some unjustified moroseness, but showy enough to distract me from a full blown weeping session. And I can sing along to the songs!

Hangover Stage: Bleak.

Favourite Scene: ROOOOXXXXXXANNE!

Monsters Inc
So by now I'm emotionally spent, and tired from my lack of sleep last night anyway. So I want something to soothe me into gentle, welcoming unconsciousness.. My favourite Pixar movie, it restores my faith in humanity, quite a feat considering it features one human, who is too young to have developed any empathetic  tendencies thus far... But shes pretty frickin aborable.

Hangover Stage: That's enough being alive for one day.

Favourite Scene: The very last scene when Sully opens the door, looking expectantly in, to hear "Kitty!" Tears. As usual.

Join us next week, when I'll be discussing my unruly emotions that seem to be accompanying my drinking problem. Yikes.

Niamh