5 Underrated Summer Movies

 It's officially summer, which means freshly mowed lawns, bbq's or cookouts whatever you want to call it. It's scorching out so we need snowballs, smores, and slurpees. Of course for the kid in everyone, ice cream is consumed in abundance to cool down from the heat.

Summer also means movies, namely summer blockbuster movies. Often alongside those big blockbuster movies, are the little summer films that cater to a certain audience or are of a less popular genre. So in this blog I'm covering 5 underrated films that set in the summer.

5. Just Looking

Just Looking is a cleanish film for all the guys who were pervs when they went through the puberty stage. Directed by Jason Alexander of Seinfeld fame. Set in the 1950's the movie follows a 14 year old teen shipped to queens for the summer to stay with his aunt and uncle, and stay out of trouble. So intrigued by sex, he's on a mission to catch a couple in the act. He meets some new friends and they embark on their summer peeping tom mission.

While its not a great film. It has it ha ha moments, and is a coming of age film. That will remind you of the random things that crossed your mind when sex first came to the forefront of it.

Just Looking is currently available on Tubi and Pluto.

4.  The To Do List

Another sex based summer film. The To Do List a 2013 film starring Aubrey Plaza has its shares of laughs. Set in 1993, it follows Aubrey's character Brandy, a booksmart class valedictorian. Who decides before heading off to college, she needs to let loose and make up for things she didnt do in high school.

One thing being have sex with her crush, which she soon finds out requires a bit more work than she thought. With the help of her friends and a job at the local pool, summer season is in full swing in this film 

The To Do List is currently available on Pluto.

3. Summer of 84

Released in 2018, this film set in 1984 follows a group of kids enjoying their summer. Their small town in Oregon has grappled with the disappearance of 13 teenage boys over the years. Davey a young man in the group of friends thinks he may have a lead on who committed those crimes.

The boys spend their summer playing detective trying to make leads on the case, and convince the adults in town they have an idea of the killer. It's a typical kid summer adventure movie just a bit more dangerous in the horror genre. It's quite enjoyable though.

Summer of 84 is currently only available to rent.

2. The 4:30 Movie

This Kevin Smith directed semiautobiogrpahical film was just released last fall, and man what a  gem it is. The film set in 1986 follows main character Brian and his two buddies Burny and Belly who plan to hit the movie theater one day, and hop between film showings. A slight monkey wrench is thrown in when Brian's crush Melody agrees to go on a date with him for a 4:30 showing of a movie.

The quartet head to the movie theater and must battle with a egomaniac theater owner, hot girls, bullies, and bad ass kids. All while just trying to see a movie on a hot summer day.

The movie is currently only available to rent.

1. One Crazy Summer

This 1986 cult classic stars John Cusack and Demi Moore. Cusack plays a recent high school graduate hoping to attend an art school in the fall. To get accepted he has to write and draw a love story. So he heads to Nantucket with his friends and unintentionally falls in love with Demi Moore's character Cassandra.

In the meantime he and his friends must help Cassandra save her grandparents home from developers. While contending with some of the quirky, wacky, sometimes strange citizens of the island. While a cult classic it is still underappreciated as a film. It shows how fun a carefree summer just can be.

One Crazy Summer is currently available on Tubi.

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5 Yearly Must Watch Summer Movie's

 It's Memorial Day Weekend, which the weather is tricky on the east coast this year. But that won't stop BBQ's, heavy traffic heading to the beach, lawn mowing and beer drinking. Memorial Day Weekend also mean's the kick-off of the Hollywood Summer Blockbuster season. This year the family friendly live action remake of Lilo & Stitch (which I enjoyed), and the final chapter in the Mission Impossible film series Reckoning, set it off. So I decided to think about 5 movies, I somehow, someway fit into my schedule every summer to watch at least once. So let's dig in our popcorn bucket.

5. Super 8

It's been 14 years since Super 8 debuted, and it still is not appreciated like it should be. Written and directed by J.J. Abrams, and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, who films clearly inspired this one. Set in the summer of 1979, a group of kid's being adventurous and creative work to make their own film over the summer. They come into much bigger problems when they stumble upon a alien, and government conspiracy. It has heart, mystery, and humor to make a classic summer adventure.

4. Crooklyn

I'll admit Crooklyn came out 1994, and I did not appreciate the movie one bit until I was in my 20's. More precisely my late 20's around 2014-15. Spike Lee's 2nd best film set in the summer. Set in 1973, following the Carmichael family with a particular focus on the only girl out of five children Troy. The film focuses on her coming of age that summer. I don't think I can describe how great this film is enough, just know it is one of my summer favorites.

3. Adventureland

Adventureland, this 2009 cult classic stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Kristin Wiig, Bill Hader and Ryan Reynolds. Set in 1987, it follow's Jesse Eisenberg's character James as he spends the summer working at a local theme park. In the process learning about love, heartbreak, and himself. The film is full of dry humor if you appreciate that kind of humor. It also has a funny depiction of the inner workings of a theme park, which workplace comedies are always appreciated.

2. Independence Day

It's a tradition at this point, every year once the fourth of July rolls around Independence Day is on the screen. Whether it's the marathons on TV, availability on streaming, or maybe I pull out the DVD or even the VHS. I'm watching the film that made Will Smith a star and had human beings on the edge of their seat about the possibilities of an alien invasion. What's the summer movie season without some action? which makes ID4 an absolute every year.

1. The Sandlot

An unforgettable summer with your friends, I think that is every kid's dream. That's just what 1993's Sandlot is about. Set in 1962, the film is about friendship, learning something new, and life experiences you'll never forget all over the course of one summer. 30 plus year's later younger Gen-X'ers and Millennials quote this movie daily. We dress up as characters from the movie for Halloween, and I sit down it watch it at least once every summer. That fourth of July scene with Ray Charles signing, the fireworks against the night sky, and kid's playing baseball is what summer is all about. 

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