Is it me, or did the heat sneak up on us this summer? It was hiding behind some cold rain, but now, it’s official: summer has arrived. And in the theater, that means big blockbuster hits, kids’ movies, sci-fi spectacles—you know the drill. But what about those muggy days when you don’t want to leave the house? Here are some movies that are good if you just want to plop yourself down on the couch, point a fan at your face, and relax.
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| A scene from The Emperor’s New Groove. (Courtesy photo) |
For kids
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) is one of the best kids’ movies to come out in the new millennium. This cartoon, which tells the adventurous tale of Emperor Kuzco (voiced by a snarky David Spade), who gets turned into a llama by his enemies and taken far away from his castle, is filled with action, slapstick humor, and talking animals. The memorable characters and often-ridiculous circumstances make The Emperor’s New Groove quotable, lively, and great fun. I watched it again a few months ago and am happy to say it hasn’t lost much of its original humor. If nothing else, this movie is a nice return to the old two-dimensional style of cartoons. Who needs 3D? Heck, Groove even puts some Pixar movies to shame. It’s no Toy Story, but it’s close.
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| From left: George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro in O Brother, Where Art Thou. (Courtesy photo) |
For adults
I finally watched O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) for the first time a few weeks ago, and it quickly became my favorite Coen Brothers movie. An adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, this film follows three escaped convicts as their leader tries to get home to his wife. Everything about this movie, from the award-winning soundtrack to the performances (including George Clooney, John Goodman, and a hilarious Tim Blake Nelson), to the scenery, gives it that lazy, do-what-you-want feeling that we associate with the summertime. It seems everyone on the set was having a good time working on the movie, and that comes through perfectly on screen. If you like the goofier side of the Coen Brothers (think Burn After Reading, as opposed to True Grit), O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a great choice.
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| Sharon Stone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Total Recall. (Courtesy photo) |
Mind-twists
If you liked Inception last year, you should see what it would have looked like 20 years ago. Total Recall (1990), an is-he-or-isn’t-he-dreaming story that takes place on Earth and Mars, divides audiences into yes-he-is and no-he-isn’t groups just like Inception, but without all the confusing logistics of dreams within dreams. And what it might lack in acting skills—be warned, this is a Schwarzenegger grunt-fest—it makes up for in a clever script, subtle foreshadowing, and what were at the time great special effects. It’s also good for getting your fill of bad-guy-killing, planet-saving action. While it might look a little dated now, at its core it’s still a fun, no-PhD-needed flick to pass the time.
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| Dom DeLuise in History of the World, Part 1. (Courtesy photo) |
Senseless comedy
I’m something of a Mel Brooks fan, and while I love the classics like Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Young Frankenstein, I think some of his others don’t get enough attention. Personally, my favorite is History of the World: Part I (1981), which is exactly what it sounds like. Brooks takes us on a whirlwind tour of human history, from the days of cavemen to more recent times. It’s raunchy, it’s silly, it’s overblown and exaggerated, and most of all, it’s funny. Granted, Mel Brooks movies don’t age very well, so if you’ve already seen it, I’d recommend another Brooks film. If you’ve already seen the other well-known classics, something like Silent Movie or To Be or Not to Be are both great, and the latter shows off Brooks’ more subtle side, which, surprisingly, does exist.
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), like the Brooks movies, is a farcical romp, but instead of trekking across time, this film features the rat race of an unlikely group of acquaintances across the country in search of a buried treasure. It might be a little long, but it goes over the top and stays there, so it’s lots of fun. Or, if the summer heat is getting to you and you’re in a darker mood, Apocalypse Now (1979) will make your 85-degree living room feel like air-conditioned heaven. Definitely not light fare, but a beautiful and rewarding movie if you have the patience.
Danny Eisenberg is a 2010 graduate of the Bromfield School and is currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania.