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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June Movies To Check Out

   We’re heading into the second week of June and it's time for my June movies to check out. I’m a little late in getting this out but as they say better late than never.
   So far this month “Captain Underpants” based on the children's book was released and I heard it was a very funny, engaging family movie with a good story. If you’re looking for a family film I would recommend that.
   Released this past weekend was a reboot of the Mummy, what was suppose to jumpstart a planned Universal Monster Universe may have killed the project before it began. I was really looking forward to this movie and had plans to see if….but reading reviews I changed my mind at the last minute. I’ll wait until it comes on cable.
   I would be remiss without mentioning “Wonder Woman”, if you have not seen it yet I highly recommend it. It was the best film of the DC movie universe released so far. Gal Gadot did a great job as Wonder Woman. The story made you care about the characters and didn't overstay it welcome. It also benefitted from not having to cram nods to the other films planned in the universe. While the nods are fun it can become cumbersome and forced which alot of the Marvel movies suffer from.
  Releasing this week is the biopic of Tupac “All Eyez on me” a legend in the hip hop game this film is highly anticipated. With the backing of his estate and a actor who looks the part hopefully this film does Tupac's legacy right and is one if the better biopics released in recent years. I already have my plans to see it opening night.
  Also dropping this week this time for families is “Cars 3”. I’ve never watched any of the Cars films to judge how the latest one may play. Pixar has a strong track record and Disney is the undisputed king of marketing to families and kids so it’ll probably be worth checking out.
  For the females, releasing this week is “Rough Night” starring Zoe Kravitz, Kate Mckinnon, and Scarlett Johansson. This dark comedy is about a bachelorette party that takes a wrong turn. Its molded in the vain Bridesmaid so it has potential to be hilarious, we shall see.
  Next up released next week is “Transformers: The Last Knight”. I think the less is said the better. The first two while flawed were mindless enjoyable fun, the third one dragged on and tried to be “smart”. The fourth one which was a “reboot” of sorts went far left and I really don't think anyone was asking for this one. With all that being said it’ll probably make alot of money to justify a sixth film.
   “Baby Driver” coming out June 28th starring Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, and Ansel Elgort. It’s a familiar story of someone in the crime business doing one last act to escape the business for good. Ansel Elgort is the star of this film as a getaway driver who listens to certain tunes when driving. We’ll see how the soundtrack helps the film.
   Back to the family side of the spectrum “Despicable Me 3” comes out june 30th. The story sounds interesting villain Gru has to team with long  lost twin brother against a common enemy. This is another franchise the kids love so it’ll probably be decent and make alot of money.
    Last movie to think about checking out this month is “The House” with Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell. The duo are a couple who starts a illegal casino in their home to help pay for their daughter's college education. The basic story seems funny enough and relatable and both stars are very funny individuals by themselves. This film has potential to be highly funny like StepBrothers and Talladega Nights or it could be Get Hard the potential is there but it fails somewhere.
   This are some films to check out in June some heavy hitters, some not sure about, and a dud. Check back next month for my July recommendations.

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