Quoted from robbiedoo:I am trading my X Files in, because it got old kinda fast, and my wife found it too difficult. Those ramp shots really are tough sometimes, so I want a pin that we can both enjoy. One that has depth but one that also an amateur can pickup quickly.
I have all 4. Based solely on this comment above I would avoid JM. Don't get me wrong. JM is an awesome game, but if you don't hit your shots with some regularity you'll have some really short ball times. A casual play might find that hard to enjoy at least at first.
My personal choice is RS. It is a deep game that seems to have appeal to the casual players that come to my house. So much to see and do, and once you get the hang of it the linear nature kind of disappears once you start getting further west with regularity. Make sure your wife is not "creeped out" by the heads(also Funhouse). I'm serious about this. Some people can't stand looking at them.
The dark horse is DM. It gets the most play from casual players by far at my place. It is not deep, but it is really engaging if that makes sense. Fast, flowing wide body. The handles are awesome in my opinion. I don't think you can go wrong with DM either.
I like Funhouse, but I don't know if it is worth the extra cash for what you are hoping to get. The other games you mention just seem to offer a little more gameplay at much less cost. There is a reason Funhouse costs more. It is a true classic, and I don't doubt it would be a hit with your family, but I'd go with the others first.
Not to add to your dilemma, but I'd also suggest Congo. It has a ton of shots, and the theme is cheesy enough to be really fun and entertaining. It is usually "friendly" to newer players, but it still offers some challenge once you get used to it. Just my 2 cents.