With summer comes the summer thunderstorms, which are perhaps the best reasons in the world to crank down the air, grab a blanket and some chips, and remember why you love that certain summer movie. Behold, the classics (in my mind) and reasons to watch them:
Salty, Scary and Campy
Meatballs: A 1979 version of Bill Murray, before he got so damn serious.
Forces of Nature: Perfect for the first hurricane warning of the season.
Captain Ron: Been to Disney World one too many times?
Wind: As Matthew Modine would say, sometimes you have to make your own wind.
Blame it on Rio: Because apparently before iPhones group vacations turned into vaguely illegal orgies.
50 First Dates: A Volkswagen Thing, Hawaii and Drew Barrymore.
Along Came Polly: A ferret, Hank Azaria and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Six Days Seven Nights: Because Harrison Ford is a sexy motherfucker.
Jaws: Hey, now that great whites can find their way to John's Pass, we definitely need a bigger boat.
Summer School: A young, hot Mark Harmon. Also, it makes California look almost as much fun as Florida.
The Birdcage: Hank Azaria, Nathan Lane and Robin Williams. If you get high (no judgment) you've got hours of fun trying to find the splice in the opening dolly shot.
Summer Rental: Look, it was filmed here. If you don't watch it you have to move to North Dakota. It's the law. #TrueStory.
Weekend at Bernie’s: Two words: Ultimate Wingman. Also, they'd never have gotten away with it if those Royal Pains doctors had been on the Hamptons back then.
Blue Crush: Oh, man, does this movie make me wish for waves.
Beach Blanket Bingo: Try and picture it with Selena Gomez and Channing Tatum. Better yet, Ellen and Portia.
Clambake: A Florida classic. Spoiler alert: Elvis gets the girl.
Follow that Dream: A totally accurate movie about Florida, wherein Elvis catches tarpon with a cane pole and apparently falls in love with his… step sister? What's up with that? Meh. Still a great flik.
One Crazy Summer: John Cusack, in his "adorable" phase (ca. 1981-?)
Scream (all of them): Remember when Courtney Cox was fun?
Dirty Dancing: Because nobody puts Baby in a corner.
Caddyshack: If you've ever been a lifeguard, admit it: You've tried the Baby Ruth thing.
Porky’s: Based in part on Gulfport, apparently before Geckofest was a thing.
National Lampoon’s Vacation: What if you got to Florida and it was closed?
Ruby in Paradise: Better than an actual trip to Panama City Beach (which isn't that hard to do, but still, a legit tourist movie).
Frogs: If this movie has a plot, I've yet to find it. So bad it's funny, and it's Florida-made. #WatchLocal
Creature from the Black Lagoon: Made in Florida also. Rabbit hole: Google "Who is the real Creature from the Black Lagoon".
Devil Fish: Another truly awful film, so much so, it's goddam art. Best part: Everyone's an Italian actor, except the Everglades locals, because you just can't fake that shit.
Sharknado 3: Oh hell no!: Is it just me, or are these damn movies starting to grow on you, too?
This article appears in May 26 – Jun 2, 2016.