Movies with mum

Watching movies with my mother was always a fraught process, one that could end in catastrophe at any minute. As a devout Christian she had strong opinions on anything that verged on horror – this cut out not only all the Omen movies, but also the X-files. Sitting beside her young daughter, she was acutely conscious of watching any movie that featured and/or seemed to encourage promiscuity. She was also a badge-holding, placard-carrying, protest-leading member of the coalition against swearing and using the F-word.

By this point, you would have realised I am sure, that my mother and I did not watch a whole lot of movies together. But, fear not, the same fate need not befall you. Here are five very light-hearted, happy movies that you can watch with mum, but just to be on the safe side, we've included the rating. Take heed.

Calendar Girls (Rated PG-13 for nudity, some language and drug-related material)

The small town of Knapely, Yorkshire, England, is about to become infamous. Annie Clarke (Julie Walters) has just lost her beloved husband, who was ill with leukaemia. Inspired by his speech to the local Women's Institute, in which he says that "the flowers of Yorkshire are like the women of Yorkshire" and "the last phase of the women of Yorkshire is always the most glorious," she and her best friend Chris Harper (played by the divine Helen Mirren) decide to make a nude (gasp!) calendar with twelve local middle-age women to raise funds for the leukaemia treatment wing of the local hospital.

That Mr. Magorium never outgrew his toys is pretty remarkable, really, especially when you consider the dude is 243 years old. As the owner of what is surely the most amazing magical toy-store in the universe, Mr. Magorium (played by an absurdly talented Dustin Hoffman) treats every hour as if it were playtime. However, he is down to his last pair of shoes (don't ask) and has decided his time has come. He plans to leave the store to his beloved assistant, Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman). However, neither Molly nor the store is particularly happy about this. Much chaos, laughter, and several memorable lines later, this joyful, quirky tale celebrates both the wonder of life and the inevitability of death.

If anyone is in need of serious plastic surgery, it's Penelope. Born with the face of a pig, she is hidden away by her parents, until she can find "one of her own kind" to love her. But with her would-be suitors jumping out of windows in an attempt to escape her, there doesn't seem much in the way of hope. But Penelope (Christina Ricci) isn't done yet. This modern- day fairy tale, Penelope is about a young girl's inspiring discovery of herself, a mysterious family secret and its accompanying curse and above all – the power of love. Also starring (the very good looking) James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon and Catherine O'Hara, Penelope offers plenty in the way of humour and light romance.

Jenna, a waitress living in the American South, is trapped in an unhappy marriage to jealous, controlling and abusive Earl. She works in Joe's Pie Diner, where her job includes creating unique, mouth-watering pies – such as the 'I Don't Want Earl's Baby' pie (aka 'Bad Baby' pie), which she invents after her unwanted pregnancy is confirmed.

Though she longs to get out, she hasn't saved enough money to do so. Through all the chaos of pregnancy, an affair, and an abusive relationship, Jenna begins to keep a journal, addressing her thoughts to her unborn child. Between these entries and the delicious pies she creates, we are witnesses to her innermost hopes and dreams, concerns and fears, and her slowly growing feelings for the baby she insisted she didn't want.

When Tristan Thorn sets off in hot pursuit of a fallen star, he has no idea what he is getting himself into – especially since he is far from the only one seeking the star. There are murderous princes, and evil witches to contend with, and at the end of it all, his true love to be claimed.

This, the movie version of Neil Gaiman's classic Stardust – his novel for young adults – didn't look like much in the trailers, for all that it had a stellar cast which included Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes and Robert De Niro, but, surprise, the movie works as a laugh out loud, rollicking adventure. Another bonus: Sir Ian McKellen narrates the story.