5 Summer Movies to Get You Through the Winter
The Way, Way Back
This movie is about a 14-year-old boy named Duncan who is forced to spend his summer with his mom and her asshole of a husband (played by the one and only Steve Carrell) at a beach house. Duncan ends up working at a nearby water park for Owen, a sarcastic manager played by Sam Rockwell. In Owen and his coworkers, Duncan finds friends and even a father figure, making it a summer that changes his life forever. The Way, Way Back is a hilarious and touching coming of age movie that you’ll re-watch every summer.
Do The Right Thing
Spike Lee’s famous 1981 film Do The Right Thing takes place on one swelteringly hot summer day in Brooklyn, and follows Mookie, played by a young Lee, who is a pizza delivery man. He works for Sal, the Italian-American pizzeria owner, and his sons Pino and Vito. Throughout the day, tensions arise between Mookie’s friend Buggin’ Out and Sal, Vito, and Pino. The movie tackles issues such as race relations, family, friendships, and more, with the end of the movie causing the viewer to sit back and think - it’s up to you to decide what is the “right thing”.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
If you haven’t seen this 2005 classic, go turn it on right now. It has all the best things - cute jeans, an endearing friendship between four teenage girls, a romance in Greece, early 2000s nostalgia, and a story that will make you laugh at times and cry at others. The movie follows the four friends as they send a pair of “magical” jeans between them as they each embark on different journeys one fateful summer. There’s a sequel too, but the first movie is perfect on its own.
Wet Hot American Summer
Wet Hot American Summer is a hilarious movie set in the early eighties with an all star cast - what’s not to love? Bradley Cooper, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, and Paul Rudd are some of the more recognizable names, but there are plenty of beloved character actors in the film as well. The movie follows counselors on the last day of summer camp navigating their relationships with each other, preparing for the talent show, and of course going on zany adventures all before the day is through. There is a Netflix series based on the movie, with the original stars reprising their roles, if you finish the movie and need more.
The King of Staten Island
The Pete Davidson stans have definitely already found this one, but for the rest of you, The King of Staten Island is about a 24-year-old high-school drop-out named Scott, who lives in, you guessed it, Staten Island, with his mom and sister. Scott wants to be a tattoo artist, but otherwise he’s pretty aimless, as he struggles to grow up as well as deal with his mental health issues. A lot more goes on in the film - Scott deals with his mom’s blossoming relationship and eventually gets himself in some trouble, but it’s Davidson’s trademark deadpan delivery and perfect blend of funny and serious that makes this film a must-watch.
