Getting Your Irish On

In honor of St. Paddy's Day, we present 4 great family movies for putting your Irish on.

Rudy (1993) - Starring Sean Astin in the true story of Rudy Ruettiger, who dreams his entire life of attending Notre Dame, and playing on the football team, despite the fact that he comes from a poor family, lacks the good grades, and the athletic talent.  Through persistence, perseverance, and belief in himself, he's able to make his dreams come true.

Return to Me (2000) - Starring Minnie Driver and David Duchovny.  Minnie is a heart transplant recipient who falls in love with the widowed husband of her donor.  Co-starring some terrific character actors, among them Carroll O'Connor, Robert Loggia, David Allen Grier, Bonnie Hunt and Jim Belushi.  O'Connor and Loggia play Minnie's grandfather and uncle, co-owners of the Irish-Italian restaurant where she works, and first meets Duchovny.  Sweet and funny.

Knute Rockne, All-American (1940) - Speaking of Notre Dame, this is the story of Notre Dame's great football coach, Knute Rockne, played by Pat O'Brien, and how he turned the football team into a national powerhouse. Co-starring the Gipper himself, Ronnie Reagan, as legendary player George Gipp, who tells Rock with his dying breath to go out and "win one for the Gipper".

The Quiet Man (1952) - Starring The Duke as a former prizefighter who goes home to Ireland and falls in love with Irish Lass Maureen O'Hara.  There's plenty of feuding, fighting, and drinking, all of it masterfully directed by John Ford and co-starring several regulars from his stock company, Victor McLaglen, Mildred Natwick, Barry Fitzgerald, and Ward Bond, to name a few.  A movie my family treasures and quotes from on a regular basis.