Thursday Movie Picks: Summer Break

 

For the 29th week of 2021 as part of Wandering Through the Shelves' Thursday Movie Picks. We go into the theme of summer break as summer is the time for family vacations and a need to get away from the insanity of life. Here are my three picks:

1. Summer Rental

From the late yet great Carl Reiner and starring the much-missed and legendary John Candy is a 1980s comedy that is widely considered essential when it comes to genre. Starring Candy as an overworked air traffic controller who takes his family on a vacation to Florida, the film has Candy deal with a smug sailing champion who often puts Candy and his family into bad living situations by renting a decrepit home while Candy endures a leg injury and later befriending a band of misfits to challenge that smug piece of shit sailing champion to at least get free rental and such. It is an entertaining and fun film that does feature amazing supporting work from the late Rip Torn as a local restaurant owner and the late Richard Crenna as that asshole sailing champion who tries to fuck Candy over and over again.

2. One Crazy Summer

Savage Steve Holland’s summer comedy starring John Cusack, Demi Moore, Bobcat Goldthwait, Joel Murray, Curtis Armstrong, William Hickey, Joe Flaherty, Mark Metcalf, Rich Little, and Jeremy Piven is a hilarious comedy about a high school graduate, his buddy, his buddy’s little sister, and her injured dog go to Nantucket where they meet a struggling musician trying to save her grandfather’s house from a bunch of rich assholes. Sailing is once again in the mix for the film’s climax yet it is a film with funny scenes but also some notable life lessons. One, never bury yourself in a sand or else some fat guy eating chili is going to sit above you and fart on your face. Two, when you’re trying to win money in a radio contest. Make sure you have a cordless phone but if that guy fucks you over for money. Get the bazooka. Three, if you’re some rich kid who likes to bully people and hit some mischief’s little brother. Boy, you’re going to fucked as you will have no idea what that man will do to your fucking car.

3. White Water Summer

A lesser-known 80s summer film that was shot by the legendary John Alcott who would unfortunately pass before the film’s release stars Kevin Bacon as a wilderness survival guide who convinces rich parents to send their teenage son in Sean Astin to go to the woods and have a wilderness trip. Yet, danger and hilarity ensue where Astin gets a harsh dose of reality but also proves to be a challenge to Bacon’s character as he tries to get other young kids to tough it out in the woods. It is an underrated film with some intense moments but also some notable moments that showcase the unique chemistry between Bacon and Astin.

© thevoid99 2021