It’s the first day of summer! There are plenty of reasons to always have a great title at the ready. Distracting the kids. Waiting in line at the surfboard rental place. Do people do that? Maybe I’m thinking of the movie Gidget. But I do know you could watch an entire movie standing in line at Disney World waiting for one ride. So you should always have something in your queue standing by in case of emergency.
The Andy Griffith Show
It is never winter in Mayberry. At least I can’t ever remember seeing an episode where everyone is bundled up in huge coats and pushing cars out of snow drifts. Nope. It’s always nice, there is always a breeze blowing, and Aunt Bee is always making something lovely. It’s the perfect escape. They drink lemonade on the porch and sing, for goodness sakes. It’s a peaceful distraction you’ll be glad to have when your kids start screaming at each other. It just makes you happy.
Moonrise Kingdom
Remember when you were young and summer was magic? In this wondrous tale a girl and a boy, both 12, run off to a remote inlet on an island. The movie itself looks like summer with the filtered yellows and blues. It reminds you of being small and wishing for more.
Moana
This is a fun movie that really is for the whole family. Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson star in this story about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. She must seek the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, defying the odds. The lush animation will deliver you right to the Islands.
Sharknado
If you’ve never taken the time to watch a cheesy film from The Asylum, you are really missing out. This has everything you could possibly want in a summer movie. Action. Sharks. The guy from 90210. It has it all. Originally a small movie aired on the Syfy channel, this film took off like no one could have possible predicted. Trust me. You need this in your life.
Wet Hot American Summer : First Day of Camp Netflix Original
A prequel to the 2001 cult film Wet Hot American Summer, Netflix managed to round up the original cast for a raunchy trip back to Camp Firewood. A huge feat considering some of the names—Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Bradley Cooper and Amy Poehler to name just a few. It’s a merry trip back to the days of camp if that camp was run by the guys from Animal House. Bonus: It’s bite sized so you can squeeze it in between all those family obligations.