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Heartwarming / Overboard (1987)

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  • According to Mrs. Mintz, having a baby means "you won't be the baby anymore". Yet, she herself is Joanna's mother, and lovingly keeps in touch with her from time to time.
    Joanna: Bye-bye, Mommy!
    Mrs. Mintz: Bye-bye, Sweetie!
  • Joanna starts a water hose fight with Dean and the kids. It shows that she's developing a good-natured sense of humor for a change instead of responding to life with a bad temper.
  • Upon returning home one night, Dean finds that Joanna has cleaned the house like he's never seen before. For once, the house looks like, well, home.
    • After finding out she caught poison oak too, Dean offers that she can sleep on the bed tonight while he takes the couch.
      • Topped off with a (made-up) story about Joanna's life, about the time she used to work at a fast-food joint and saved a customer's life. (Slightly crosses into CMoF).
  • Joanna fawning over how Travis has seemingly found himself a girlfriend. At this point, she's invested in his life as though she were his mother.
  • The montage where Joanna bonds with Dean and his family.
  • Joanna discovering that, to make ends meet, Dean has taken a night job shoveling manure. He's sacrificing his dignity to keep a roof over their heads. She's simply moved by this discovery.
    • Later, when Dean tries to tell Joanna the truth about her identity, she thinks the confession is about his manure job and confides that it doesn't bother her. In fact, she tells him she's proud of the lengths he goes to make sure their family is provided for.
  • After Dean proposes his idea of a mini-golf course to some potential benefactors, he returns home... to say they accepted! Joanna is so thrilled with the news of her 'husband's' success, it's hard to believe she's even the same bored, lazy Joanna who used to take money for granted. Talk about Character Development.
  • When Dean tries (and fails) to tell Joanna the truth, he instead "confesses" that he had forgotten her birthday. And so, he takes her out on the town to have a good time.
    • The next morning, he and his sons buy and surprise Joanna with a brand new washing machine as a birthday present.
  • It was really cute watching the kids get attached to Joanna.
    "We like her, Dad!"
    • It's also a Tear Jerker when Dean feels his sons are beginning to like her even more than their own father.
  • On the opening day of their new Mini-Golf Course, Dean proposes to Joanna (in the form of "getting her a new wedding ring")
  • Fridge Heartwarming: When she had amnesia, Joanna was told that her mother was not only a drunk, but dead from her excessive drinking. She looked genuinely devastated to learn this. But upon regaining her memory, it must've felt good to learn she still had a living mother.
  • After getting her memory back and returning to the yacht, Joanna is seen playing drinking games with her staff. Despite mistreating them earlier, they quite enjoy the company of the "new" Joanna.
    • After Andrew makes a playful impersonation of Joanna, she earnestly apologies to Andrew for how much of a Spoiled Brat she's been and for all the times she's mistreated him. He is overwhelmingly touched by this sentiment.
    Joanna: I've behaved so badly, I don't know how you put up with me for so long. You've done so many wonderful things for me and I've never even once said 'thank you.' I'm sorry.
    Andrew: Oh no, madam. I cannot let you do this!
    Joanna: What?
    Andrew: Not without a life jacket!
  • Joanna bothering to note she'll call her mother. Given her one redeeming aspect at the start of the film, she's not letting go of it.
  • Joey on the coast guard radio, equally hilarious and heartwarming.
    Joey: (in Pee-Wee Herman voice over the radio) STOP THAT BOAT IMMEDIATELY AND LET ME GET MY MOM!
  • When Dean finds out that Joanna is rich and not her "former" husband Grant. Doubles as a CMoF.
  • And just before that:
    Dean: CATARINA!
    Joanna: ARTURO!
  • Once Dean and Joanna are reunited.
    Dean: But it got me to thinking, though. What could I possibly give you ever that you don't already have?
    Joanna: A little girl.
  • Joey making a macaroni necklace for Annie/Joanna, which she even dons when Dean and his sons come to her rescue in the end.

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