Movies come and go, some stick with you in the back of your mind with pleasant memories, and others make you so excited that you get all jittery at the mention of its name, or *ahem* see a quote on Facebook. One of these movies for me, is Clue.
Upon learning that someone has not seen it, my brain does something like this:
I have to tell myself, "Don't hype it up...don't hype it up...don't hype it up..." When a movie gets too many reactions such as "OH MY GOD YOU HAVE TO SEE IT! IT'S SO GREAT!" You are just asking for someone to be disappointed or disinterested. Attempting to interest the semi-uninterested is a difficult process and a delicate game to play. If you want somebody to watch a movie you enjoy, encouragement is the key element. You must encourage the new possible viewer why they must see the movie without going overboard.
Case in point:
I was saddened last year at the over emphasis of the joys of Animal House to two friends who weren't sure about watching it in the first place. If several people spend 10 minutes before the movie starts quoting and joking about the film and being slightly obnoxious, the new viewers will now have a stigma attached and it will take a certain amount of finesse to change their minds. Otherwise, months or years may pass before you will get the opportunity to introduce the possibility once again. Though, lucky for us, Animal House is a certain type of college humor that is a bit rough around the edges, so it isn't for everybody. While movies like Clue or Three Amigos can really be enjoyed by anybody if they are given a chance to absorb the humor.
As with any debating or coercion, calm, upbeat tones are necessary to emphasize the joy that comes from having seen the film you are trying to emphasize. In this case, we'll go with Clue. In our day and age I can tell somebody, "Hey check it out on IMDB or Google search it" and the images can speak for themselves. But we do not always have such things at our disposal, so one must rely on words rather than images...
Yes, the movie is quite amazing and I'm sure you will find it very entertaining, but it is also a film that has many more elements of fun entertainment if you watch it with the right group of people. No party poopers. Seriously. As with riding in a car or playing board games, the enjoyment you receive from watching a movie can be largely effected by how comfortable you are with the group in which you are doing the activity. You would not go underwear shopping with just anybody, now would you? Okay, maybe that's an extreme analogy, but for me, if I know I want to like a movie I have not seen, I'm more inclined to pay full attention and have fun if everybody else is finding some kind of entertainment out of it as well. After all, movies, music, and other pop culture items are how we socialize with fellow human beings, communicate with friends, and make connections with the world around us. No matter how personal movies and music are to you, they are a social medium which is why the industries continue to thrive.
So, if you must use coercion to encourage the viewing of one of your favorite films, I recommend these little tidbits, though some of them are much easier said, than done:
1) Don't freak out, even if they've never heard of it.
2) Keep the details simple or you may spoil the awesomeness that is why your movie is so great.
3) Keep the quotes to a minimum (though we all know how difficult this can be.)
4) Know how to obtain a copy of this film: Netflix, Hulu, a video store, etc... If you get me all hyped to watch a movie, but it is nowhere to be found--I may have to call you a jerk for a while.
5)If you must use the phrase "best movie ever!" in your description, try not to sound too much like a crazy person.
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