Garry Marshall was a director, actor, producer, writer and icon in the world of Hollywood. He gave some of the biggest stars their first breaks, and has worked with the likes of Julie Andrews, Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Richard Gere, Anne Hathaway and many more. He created "The Fonz" and brought us "Happy Days," not only in the form of the television classic, but in all the films and shows he created.
Garry passed away on July 19, 2016. He is mourned by every celebrity who had the pleasure of working with him, along with the rest of the world as we lost a great storyteller. His movies were not only entertaining, but taught us some valuable life lessons.
1. The sky isn't always falling.
Just as Chicken Little learned, the world isn't always ending. Applying this mantra to every day life makes it easier to overcome the obstacles that, at times, seem overwhelming. In the big picture, they were just minor problems in an otherwise full life.
2. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
For those of you in the younger generation: in "Overboard," Goldie Hawn plays a wealthy woman who suffers amnesia and is taken to be a working-class mother of four by Edward Hermann's character. At the end, she learns her true identity, but appreciates the love and genuine way of life she came to know while staying with her fake family. Whenever big opportunity arises, we have to remember where we came from and where we will receive the most authentic love and appreciation.
3. Outward appearances aren't everything.
A classic ugly duckling turned swan story, "The Princess Diaries" taught us that having good looks doesn't lead to a better life. It's always what is on the inside that counts.
4. Running away from your problems doesn't make them disappear.
Julia Roberts' character in "Runaway Bride" tries to escape her fear of commitment by running away, only run in to another relationship she's sure will work "this time." Eventually, she realizes running away only leads to more chaos. Sometimes, facing your fears is all it takes to overcome them.
5. Hindsight really is 20/20.
"Never Been Kissed" is a movie all about going back to high school. In Drew Barrymore's character Josie Geller's case, it was for a journalism story. But all in all, I think we can take away from this movie the fact that looking back at high school, we can pinpoint every cringe-worthy thing we did, and come up with multiple solutions as to how we could have avoided it. Oh well.
6. If you throw random celebrities in a movie, it could turn out to be really great. Or at least comical.
Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, New Years Eve. Shout out to Garry Marshall for taking holidays, adding a bunch of big-name actors and actresses and creating something that is, at the very least, entertaining.7. Finding a relationship you want to be in versus one everyone else thinks you should be in is key
Mia Thermopolis is back at it again with clumsy royal rulings in "The Princess Diaries 2," but in this amazing sequel (the mattress sledding down the staircase, am I right?!) she has to choose between a suitor the royal family deems acceptable, and a man she's actually in love with. SPOILER ALERT: She chooses the one who makes her happiest because in the end, it's her life.
8. The guy doesn't always have to rescue the girl in a fairytale.
In a new type of rags to riches story, "Pretty Woman" stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere (what a dynamic duo those two are). Roberts' character is a prostitute who ends up falling in love with a wealthy, handsome, and lonely business tycoon. He not only improves her way of life, but she shows him how to love. The famous line at the end of the movie is, "So what happens after he climbs up and rescues her?” "She rescues him right back." *swoon*9. Chasing your dreams is never too far-fetched.
10. "These happy days are yours and mine."
Garry Marshall is a legend that will be missed not only by those who worked with him, but by a generation that saw the same casts churn out new classic films. A genre of people who appreciates the magic and life lessons he articulated through his films. The world lost a great storyteller, but his magic will live on.
