Got rid of FIL for one night! Need film for teen to bond

[Parentsinlaw]

Help! My teen, 17 is bored and sad - don’t know why. He ACTUALLY asked if he could watch a film with us tonight .. and FIL is here AGAIN. I said brightly, great idea! Let’s watch a film in the other room and DH says he’s too tired. WTAF. FIL is here AL THE TIME. Teen off to college in 4 weeks but in the meantime really? Can we not have family time without grump grandad? I’ve told him to take FIL home but now I need to find a film quick to lure abandoned teen out of his room.
hes put up with FIL AS HAVE I, since September so he’s not spoilt
Film for 17 years olds boy please!

Yes, get him ready for college.
Create a cook book together.
Buy linen etc.

Get him to choose films.
I'd go for funny ones..
A Few Best Men
Hunt For The Wilderpeople
Condor Man
James Bond films

I understand your worries about ds, but maybe relax a little? You don’t have to feel responsible for entertaining your 17 year old all the time, although obviously it’s nice to do things as a family. Do you play board games? Go out for walks? Eat together? As long as things like this and watching films together are running through his life like a thread, and he has the opportunity to connect with family when he wants to, I don’t think you should worry too much about him spending time in his room. I grew to think of that as pretty normal after 3 teens! You sound like a very engaged parent, and I’m sure he knows that.

Also, how about getting him to cook, or helping you to cook a meal once or twice a week? Great communal activity!

Oooh next time break out the Princess Bride. The title will get rid of FIL and it should be compulsory viewing.

Thank you everyone!
great idea to get him ready for college together - it’s been a bit hot ( and he hates shopping ) but I think a forced shop and nice lunch is Going To Happen!
I suggest he finds a recipe and we’ll go get the ingredients , but he’s not interested. He says why do I need to learn to cook? It’s just chemistry and there’s you tube.

thanks maude,ovesharold that’s reassuring. We’ve had a few rough years as a family and I am probably not as relaxed as I should be. When I do see him he’s sloping about saying he’s bored, then FIL appears with attention seeking sigh and sad face. Find it exhausting! The only thing he will really do with us is watch a film ..maybe. When FIL stays for dinner son will eat as quickly as possible sitting as far away as possible. Don’t blame him really, tempted to do it myself, but obviously.
francestein Princess bride! I LOVE that film it certainly would scare FIL off.😀
i snuggled up to watch Mary popping and all I could hear was,‘what’s this nonsense’ had to eat even more chocolate to drown it out!
thank you so much, lots of films I haven’t heard of , thank you!

Sorry I missed some posts. Thank you notquiteagriwnup yes he is at that funny stage- bored but scared.
and thanks for the tips re classes. I’m bored and scared too!
son said,’you won’t have to look after me any more’ I assured him I love looking after him, but..sniff!
haddkerscoop that’s reassuring- we have dinner and try and lure him with tv/film. We’ve done all it crowd, etc.
there are some blinders here! Pacific rim and Shang chi look great!
Once upon a time in china is good too, you might like it 3luckysrtptars
💐

Run a film season- everyone takes it in turns to pick a film they think others might enjoy.

Our adult DSs picked great films that are newer than we would have seen.
We chose things like Gremlins or other big hit movies from before their time.

Everyone must choose for others to enjoy though. It isn’t a chance to inflict Grease or Seven Brides for Seven brothers on unappreciative teenagers!

The gentlemen
lock stock
snatch
maybe entice him to a series: mobland is great, top boy, the office, park and recs

or take him to a fancy cinema recliner seats, they serve you etc…

Empire Records? Only and an hour and a half long. DP and I watched it the over night to relive our youth and I was surprised that it’s not actually aged that badly. Or some of the other 80s and 90s gems.

Superbad? Inbetweeners ? Team America etc Sometimes I have to leave the room to make a drink, as too embarrassing for my teen, but he finds that sort of thing very funny (and then watches with his mates).

Could you watch a few series together? Spread it out a bit? Something that's popular now, or maybe some older stuff he hasn't seen before?

Depends on what steaming options you have!

Stranger Things
Wednesday
The Last Of Us
Alien:Earth (maybe watch the films first?)
Game of Thrones and House of The Dragon (might be a bit cringe for him with the sex scenes though!)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (see also older series, film reboots etc!)
Star Wars films and series - there are loads now.
Lost
Shameless (US or UK versions)
Prison Break
Dexter
Mr Robot

Anyway, loads of stuff to consider, depending on what you want to watch together.

I don’t know if it’s of interest but my kids used to absolutely love Red Dwarf and we all used to sit watch it . It’s a comedy about a deep space mining ship that had a bad accident that completely wiped out all their staff apart from a vending machine operator , a smuggled cat , an android, ships computer and a hologram . The main theme was the vending operator who was trying to get back to earth , very entertaining , I think there were 7 series . It may be worth a watch 😂

Last night I rewatched Nobody (2021 film) with my teenage son in anticipation of watching Nobody 2 which has just come out in the cinema. Really good action film, dark humour with great soundtrack. Sharon Stone is in the new film!

You sound like a really lovely mum OP. what will happen when your DS goes to uni? Will it be you and DH and FIL every evening??? That adjustment to empty (well for a few weeks at a time) nest is important for you and DH to re-establish yourselves as a couple in your own right rather than as parents, so in your shoes I’d be looking at how you manage FIL’s visits and setting some better boundaries.

Why aren’t you being more direct with your FIL, OP?
”what’s this nonsense?” Would be met by “it’s Mary Poppins. Please don’t call what I choose to watch in my own home nonsense, Bob. It’s bad manners. If you don’t like what we’re watching, feel free to go back home.”

Something daft would definitely be bonding. Airplane, Naked Gun, National Lampoon, Anchorman, One of the Monty Pythons. Something you can keep referring to for years.
I love lamp, Don’t call me Shirley, Tits McGee and farting in your general direction are regular phrases in this house!

I watched Arrested Development (first 4 series) with ds at this sort of age. It helped that it was lockdown, but even so… evening meal on the sofa, one or max 2 episodes, quite short, really really funny. We went on to Brooklyn 99 which was good but not quite the same.

Silly 80s/90s action films, classics and food are how I bond with my teenage nephew!

A recent selection:

Predator (GET TO DA CHOPPA!)
Big Trouble In Little China
Con Air
Passenger 57
Jaws (all of them)

The Godfather
Raging Bull
A Bronx Tale

We will both watch literally ANYTHING featuring The Rock, Nicholas Cage, Keanu Reeves or Gerard Butler, because even if the film is terrible, at least it will be entertaining. Ghost Rider is fabulously shit.

Thank you so much. Things are settling down with FIL and DH is saying we need alone time more, thank goodness.
yes it’s a funny time this last few weeks. DS is nervous about college I think, and there is a lot of moodiness about. Tonight was a success, I think/hope. We cooked DS favourite tea and inspired by the silence of the lambs suggestion, watched misery, which is still very good - she is still scary, you dirdy birds. well DS stayed till the end which is a plus!
will try him on airplane, arrested development etc. there’s some great suggestions here, thank you so much.
We have loved all graham linehams over the years- count Arthur strange, it crowd, father Ted, also red dwarf and loved flight of the condors. DS loves that kind of humor, so do I. Anything else like that very welcome!
hope you are all enjoying popcorn and bonding too , thank you xxx

afflt GET TO DA CHOPPA!)😊😊😊
fond memories of watching predator with my slightly bemused but always up for it mum.