Best movies like Lake Effects
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Sara and Lily grew up at Smith Mountain Lake. Sara became estranged from the family and without explanation moved to Los Angeles to study law. Her sister Lily, an artist, teaches locally and lives with their parents, Ray and Vivian, until Dad dies in an accident. Sara returns to help settle his estate, and all our ladies cross paths with an eclectic group of local oddballs, as they search for a Loch Ness-style monster they believe lurks in the lake's depths. A few real Smith Mountain Lake characters make appearances. The next week at the lake is filled with adventure, tears, and laughter as Vivian and her two daughters finally understand, through the guidance of Dad's spirit, if they still belong on the lake, even though Ray is gone. All paths converge at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival, on course for a heart-warming and hilarious collision. Written by Mike McKay.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 653
Genere: Comedy, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: touching, realistic, humorous, emotional, captivating, sentimental, semi serious
Best tv shows and movies like Lake Effects (2012):
Similar in 90%
Personally Yours (2000)
Plot Summary:
In Alaska, Susannah Stanton and Jesse Stanton divorced two years ago. They have two daughters, the teenager Bridget and the young girl Hannah, and a young son, Sam, and they are good friends. Jesse lives in an isolated ranch, where he receives guests for fishing and tracking, and he depends on his plane to go to the city of Anchorage, where Susannah has a restaurant. They separated because Susannah felt bored and lonely in the ranch. Susannah is dating a lawyer, and their children decide to find a woman for Jesse, sending a letter to a popular magazine called Alaskan Love. He receives a large number of replies, and the children later feel that probably his perfect match is Susannah, and they try to arrange a plan to bring them together.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 664
Genere: Comedy, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, emotional, sentimental
Similar in 81%
An Evergreen Christmas (2014)
Plot Summary:
Leaving her seemingly glamorous Hollywood life on hold, Evie Lee is forced to return to her small hometown of Balsam Falls, Tennessee and her family's once-thriving Christmas tree farm to attend her father’s unexpected funeral. As the eldest sibling, she finds herself executor of an estate that owes a massive inheritance tax, much to her younger brother's dismay. Torn between pursuing her music career and saving her family's legacy, she must decide what it really means to find her place in the world. Charleene Closshey stars amidst a colorful cast including Robert Loggia, Tyler Ritter, Booboo Stewart and Naomi Judd in this heart-warming musical holiday tale about facing your past, rediscovering your voice, and fulfilling your dreams.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 483
Genere: Family, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: sentimental, uplifting, touching, realistic, light, humorous, feel good, captivating, serious
Similar in 88%
Your Love Never Fails (2011)
Plot Summary:
Your Love Never Fails is the story of Laura (Elisa Donovan), a working mother who just wants to spend more time with her daughter Kelsey, 9. Unfortunately, her demanding boss Paul (Fred Willard) has other ideas. When Kelsey’s father, Dylan (Brad Rowe) files for joint custody, Laura is forced to take Kelsey to Texas, where she confronts the lifestyle, church and father (Tom Skerritt) that she left behind. With the help of the local church Pastor, Frank (John Schneider), Laura and Dylan will find their way back to the commitment they made to each other and to Kelsey.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 891
Genere: Comedy, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, captivating, feel good, entertaining, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Checking Out (2005)
Plot Summary:
A famed stage actor reunites his family for a party, and plans to commit suicide after-wards, unless they are able to convince him not to.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 735
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, realistic, sincere, spoof, offbeat, semi serious, black comedy, dark comedy, parody
Similar in 82%
Hollidaysburg (2014)
Plot Summary:
Home for Thanksgiving break after their first semester at college, five friends discover just how much things change (and don't) after high school.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, light, feel good, captivating, realistic, independent film
Similar in 75%
Love and Other Four Letter Words (2007)
Plot Summary:
In this warm-hearted romantic comedy, Stormy La Rue, a rising star T.V. Talk Show host in Philadelphia must dig her way out the hole she creates by telling an innocent white lie. Stormy's relentless aspirations of becoming the next talk show superstar are sidelined when her nana, the only person in the world who means more to her than her precious career, is diagnosed with a fatal illness. Stormy would do anything to please her Nana, even if it means lying to her on her deathbed! So when Nana's dying wish is to have her favorite granddaughter married, Stormy tries to pull off the biggest show of her life - faking her own wedding!.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 179
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, captivating, light, touching, realistic, sexual, sexy
Similar in 79%
Hard Promises (1991)
Plot Summary:
A man who doesn't like stable work environments has been away for too many years, and finds out his wife has divorced him and is planning to remarry. He comes home to confront her, trying to convince her not to get married, aided by the daughter, who loves him despite his wandering ways. The couple finds out they still have feelings for each other but must decide how best to handle the contradiction of their lifestyles.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 683
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 90%
Crazy Kind of Love (2013)
Plot Summary:
A broken family finds their relationships to one another changed by a new arrival in the household.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, emotional, realistic, independent film, captivating, indie film, serious
Similar in 76%
The Family Holiday (2007)
Plot Summary:
A selfish con-man must show that he can be a family man to inherit his uncle's estate. As he tries to set up his scam family, he realizes that he really wants to have a one.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 481
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, captivating, light, entertaining, touching, realistic, family comedy
Similar in 86%
Just Add Water (2008)
Plot Summary:
An offbeat romantic comedy about a decent guy, Ray Tuckby, with a dead-end life in the dead-end town of Trona, CA. After encouragement from a stranger whom he happens upon, Ray begins to dream again. He sheds the parasites in his life, musters the nerve to pursue his childhood love, and finally takes back his community by toppling the local teenage Meth-baron.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sentimental, humorous, touching, realistic, semi serious, entertaining, dark comedy
Similar in 87%
Gretchen (2005)
Plot Summary:
Gretchen has bigger problems than abysmal fashion sense: She's 17, painfully awkward and stuck in the most unforgiving place on earth - high school. When her obsession with school bad boy Ricky gets out of hand, her mother sends her to an emotional treatment center to recover. She has to travel elsewhere, however, to truly begin to understand why she fixates on the wrong kind of guy.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 286
Genere: Comedy, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, captivating, entertaining, indie film, touching, realistic, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 86%
An American Reunion (2003)
Plot Summary:
The reality of life slams into the proverbial wall when a group of necessitous best friends and ex-lovers are reunited at a milestone reunion, igniting an already passionate and combustible past.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: touching, humorous, captivating, sincere, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 83%
Wake (2009)
Plot Summary:
When things get tough for offbeat Carys Reitman, she does what any emotionally isolated, modern girl would do - she goes to strangers' funerals.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: humorous, captivating, psychological, atmospheric, romantic, indie film, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 79%
Mariachi Gringo (2012)
Plot Summary:
A stifled, small-town man stuck in a dead end life, runs away to Mexico to be a mariachi singer. MARIACHI GRINGO is a musical tour-de-force exploring the reality of "following your dreams" across cultural, personal, social and geographical borders.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 483
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: realistic, touching, humorous, light, captivating, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Love Hurts (2009)
Plot Summary:
After his wife leaves him, middle-aged Ben Bingham slips into a funk and refuses to change out of his pajamas. Justin, Ben's 17-year-old son, has the cure for what ails his depressed dad: he gives Ben a makeover and pushes him out into the singles scene. Soon Ben is the most popular guy in town, but when Justin falls in love for the first time, Ben must refocus his priorities and set about trying to win back his wife.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, light, captivating, feel good, romantic, touching, realistic, witty
Similar in 82%
Surprised by Love (2015)
Plot Summary:
The story of a young businesswoman who tries to convince her uptight parents to accept her current boyfriend and instead finds herself falling for an old high school flame.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Romance
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: semi serious, humorous, captivating, light, feel good, emotional, sentimental, realistic
Similar in 89%
The Town That Banned Christmas (2006)
Plot Summary:
The competition heats up at the annual Greenlawn Christmas Decorating Contest when Norbert Bridges moves to town and stirs up trouble with the reigning champion Donnie Manning. But when the town outlaws Christmas after things get out of control it s up to the feuding neighbors to save Christmas.
IMDB Rating: 3.2
IMDB Votes: 213
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: feel good, light, entertaining, captivating, sentimental, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 86%
Grand Champion (2002)
Plot Summary:
'Grand Champion' weaves the tale of a spunky young boy named Buddy and his prize-winning calf, Hokey, as they climb from the underdog position and up through the ranks of several Texas stock shows to ultimately win the coveted title of Grand Champion. People from all walks of life help Buddy and Hokey make their way across Texas by cheering them on to a toe-tapping surprise ending. Written by Sujit R. Varma.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 805
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, realistic, semi serious, feel good, humorous
Similar in 75%
Short Track (2008)
Plot Summary:
Carolinian Blake Beckett (Pepper Sweeney), the son of a stock car racing legend, is a 4-time short track racing champion. Blake never made it to the speedways of the National Cup Racing circuit, but surely he could still have a shot? The daily life experiences of Blake's family and crew are exposed through unique characters that work and play through the weeks that culminate in 120 mph Saturday nights.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 139
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, touching, realistic, exciting, independent film
Similar in 85%
Tyler Perry's Aunt Bam's Place - The Play (2012)
Plot Summary:
One weekend, Aunt Bam's nephew-in-law Stewart is granted a court-ordered visitation with his children. Although his new, much-younger wife Mona is a bundle of nerves, Stewart seizes the opportunity to reconnect with his children, whom he loves dearly. Then their mother, his ex-wife Gloria, shows up drunk. It will take Madea's partner-in-crime, Bam, to tame this situation and set a few things straight.
IMDB Rating: 3.0
IMDB Votes: 340
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, sentimental, emotional, realistic, independent film
Similar in 87%
Raising Flagg (2006)
Plot Summary:
A comedy centered on a handyman (Arkin) and his lifelong competition with his neighbor (Pendleton.).
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 388
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, touching, feel good, realistic, independent film
Similar in 76%
Mr. Troop Mom (2009)
Plot Summary:
Public Defender Eddie is a widower with a 13 year-old daughter, Naomi. A classic workaholic, Eddie has been M.I.A. for most of Naomi's big moments. But when an unfortunately timed accident gives Eddie the opportunity to become the "Team Mom" for the Killer Bees, Naomi's team in the Spring Action Classic at camp Hulka's Rock, he grabs it.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 917
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, semi serious, touching, realistic
Similar in 90%
The Santa Con (2014)
Plot Summary:
Small-time con man Nick DeMarco is ordered by his parole officer to take a minimum-wage job as a department store Santa during the holidays...and he hates it. Near the end of his first shift, he hastily promises a young boy, Billy, that Santa will bring his estranged parents back together by Christmas. Nick decides to make good on his promise to the child, somehow. But after meeting the boy's mother Carol, will Nick ultimately choose to put the happiness of others ahead of his own?.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 701
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sentimental, feel good, humorous, semi serious, light, sincere, captivating, entertaining, touching, realistic
Similar in 87%
Mayor Cupcake (2011)
Plot Summary:
A hard-working cupcake maker is inadvertently elected mayor of a small town burdened with debt. Uneducated, she relies on her street smarts to clean up the town.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 685
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: humorous, sincere, captivating, entertaining, touching, realistic, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 84%
4 Wedding Planners (2011)
Plot Summary:
Romantic comedy taking a lighthearted look at a wedding planning business run by a Honolulu mom and three daughters from three different dads. Triple-divorcee Miriam is having her own lack of luck in love, her eldest daughter Lily heads home after rejecting her boyfriend's marriage proposal and her two half-sisters are running the business into the ground.
IMDB Rating: 3.7
IMDB Votes: 359
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 77 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, captivating, sincere, feel good, sentimental, touching, realistic, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 83%
Babysitters Beware (2009)
Plot Summary:
Seven-year-old Danny Parker is a good kid who loves his parents. But they have to go out on business dinners all the time, leaving him stuck with a sitter. It's not so bad when it's his favorite babysitter, Janelle but he also gets stuck with sitters like Ms. Greene who won't let him have any fun. Danny just wants to spend more time with his Mom and Dad.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 428
Genere: Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 72 min
Plot tags: humorous, feel good, captivating, light, entertaining, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 85%
All I Want for Christmas (1991)
Plot Summary:
Two New York City children who launch a hilarious scheme to get what they most want this holiday season.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: feel good, semi serious, touching, humorous, realistic, emotional, offbeat
Similar in 82%
Black Coffee (2014)
Plot Summary:
Robert picked the wrong time to meet his soul mate! After being fired from his own father's company, he feels like his luck has run out - until Morgan enters into his life.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 805
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: humorous, touching, feel good, captivating, light, erotic, sentimental, realistic, semi serious, independent film
Similar in 75%
Puppy Love (2012)
Plot Summary:
When single mom Megan Nolan moves to a new town, she feels guilty for uprooting her ten-year-old daughter Caitlin. Seeing that the little girl's only friend is a neighbor's dog, Megan decides to adopt a shelter pet for Caitlin. She immediately regrets her decision when Caitlin gravitates to the biggest, sloppiest dog in the pound, Jake. Megan's beautiful new home is now in shambles and, as Megan considers returning Jake to the shelter, handsome ballplayer Ben shows up claiming Jake is his dog, the regrettable outcome of his roommate leaving a gate open. Megan and Ben butt heads. Ben wants to take his dog and leave, until he sees that Caitlin loves Jake as much as he ever could. Now it is clear: the pound puppy everyone loves deserves no less than joint custody.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: feel good, touching, light, captivating, humorous, sentimental, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 84%
Uncle Nino (2003)
Plot Summary:
A distant, slightly dysfunctional family is brought closer together when the father's long-estranged Uncle Nino comes from Italy to Chicago for a surprise visit.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 834
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, captivating, light, indie film, independent film, touching, realistic, semi serious