Time to Kick Back and Unwind…It’s Summertime!

Let’s be honest here, people. Is there anyone who doesn’t get stuck in a bit of a time warp over the summer? Suddenly, it’s Weds when you could have sworn you had another 2 days to turn in that presentation. Looking at your bank statement Monday morning finds you woefully missing 200 dollars and only the smell of your cubemate’s mint flavored gum brings you back to those 5 lost hours imbibing mojitos on the roof. So in the spirit of understanding and enjoying the outdoors (yes, I consider a potted palm tree next to a rooftop air vent “outdoors”), I hope I shall be forgiven for ignoring you, my fearless readers for the past few months. I give you now an entirely incomprehensive list of summer films I have been working on for that entire time (and certainly did not bust out just in time for Labor Day Weekend) ….

Wet Hot American Summer (2001): This is one for any hapless soul who ever had to spend their summers trapped at a camp making sure kids didn’t kill themselves while, at the same time, mostly trying to hook up with the Hot Swim Instructor. Literally everyone from Bradley Cooper to Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks to Christopher Meloni star as mostly distracted camp counselors at Camp Firewood. Between a talking can of soup and an innocent trip to town that goes awry, Wet Hot American Summer is the cult classic that makes you long for the smell of lake water and bug spray. Also see: Caddyshack, Meatballs, Dirty Dancing (a more serious tone but still pretty hilarious. Come on… Patrick Swazye busting out “Love is Strange”? Yes, please!)

Now and Then (1995): Ok so this one is mostly for the girls. Starring the coming-of-age-in-the-90’s trifecta of Christina Ricci, Thora Birch and Devon Sawa (swoon!) plus mom’s favorites including Demi Moore and Rosie O’Donnell, it’s another one chock-a-block of famous faces. Taking place in the summer of 1970, 4 best friends uncover a local murder mystery as they face first love, a barrage of family problems and the “power of friendship.”  Also see: Stand By Me (basically, the male equivalent), My Girl

Blue Crush (2002): Though perhaps not one of the most critically acclaimed cinematic experiences of all time, you are lying to yourself if you didn’t at least seriously contemplate picking up and moving to Hawaii. Kate Bosworth stars as a badass surf girl trying to get ready for a major surf completion while also trying to juggle the hot NFL player she’s landed – cause yea, that’s a real problem for all of us. Though perhaps not a summer movie per se, still an awesome motivator to get that bikini body in shape and hit the beach! Also see: Jaws (not exactly the same sentiment)

Heavyweights (1995): One of my absolutely all time favorites, Heavyweights is a true David and Goliath tale of overweight campers fighting for the right to bbq's, GoKarts and just some good ol’ fashioned R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Starring Ben Stiller as the tyrannical head counselor with a serious case of roid rage, get ready to feel a sudden and immediate need for an inappropriately large plate of ribs and an afternoon on “The Blob.” Also see: The Sandlot

Friday the 13^th (1980): Ok so maybe this one doesn’t quite make you long for hamburgers from the canteen or solo hiking adventures in the woods quite as much as, you know, hiding inside and steering clear of psychopathic, ax wielding mama’s boys. Still, what would the summer be without a couple of sexually provocative camp counselors being chopped to pieces? The one that started it all, Jason  gets his first big break in the classic film franchise that would go on to span approximately 1,847,305 sequels (really 11 and a tv show) and scare the living daylight out of millions of camp goers. An excellent one to show at Camp Movie Night if you want to keep the kiddies in their cabins and finally track down that Hot Swim Instructor. Also see: Sleepaway Camp (I’ve actually never seen this although I have heard it is terrifying/ hilarious. Want to see something really scary…. Watch I Know What You Did Last Summer. It terrifies me that at 1 time this was a really popular and “good” movie)