No matter what anyone says, the summer season gives us the most wonderful movies of the year. With the heat practically melting off everyone’s faces (and dignity), spending the afternoon in a chilly movie theater sounds like nirvana (and film makers know it). From May to August, everything from cute, animated films to Sundance Festival masterpieces appear onscreen and bless moviegoers with something else to do besides sitting on a sandy beach all day.
1. Love & Friendship (May 13)
Gossip, elitism, social climbing and searching for a husband pretty much sum up a classic Jane Austin novel (Take two: Pride and Prejudice). Love & Friendship, based on Austen’s novel Lady Susan, follows stunning widow, Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale) as she stays at an in-laws estate to escape community chatter with her daughter. While Lady Vernon finds herself in mourning, she also uses her sharp tongue, quick wit and charming personality to search for a suitor for her daughter—and, of course, keeping her own love life in mind as well. “Any adaptation of a Jane Austen novel I’m eager to see. Although I know they will never quite match up to the novel itself, it’s fun to see the scenes recreated Love & Friendship will particularly be exciting because it has more of a satirical and upbeat storyline,” Florida State junior Courtney Piper said.
2. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (May 20)
You went home for the summer, but you still can’t escape college life. But why would you want to—especially when you can bless yourself by gazing at Zac Efron for two hours? Playing off of the original Neighbors movie (when Efron acted as the hot, lovable antagonist) the tables turn this time around. Now Teddy the former frat boy helps his ex-neighbors, Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne), stand against wild sorority sisters in the fight for a quiet neighborhood. The comedy also stars Chloe Moretz, Selena Gomez and Kiersey Clemons who play the hellraisers of Kappa Nu.
3. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (June 3)
Finally! A mockumentary movie about ridiculous pop stars and boy bands. If anyone can pull this off, it’s the parody song writers the Lonely Island boys—Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer. The three triple threats created a movie that serves as a humorous social commentary on pop culture today with pop and hip hop music. On top of producing the film, the Lonely Island boys wrote a new album serving as Popstar’s soundtrack. The film follows popstar Connor4Real (Samberg) when he finds out his new album failed. He has to decide if reconnecting with his former boy band is worth it. “[When I saw an advanced screening] I was dying to see the film because I’m a huge fan of mockumentaries. I absolutely loved how many cameos were in the film. My favorite had to be when Justin Timberlake made an appearance,” FSU alumnus Anna Iturra said.
4. The Conjuring 2 (June 13)
Besides a racing heart and sweaty palms, a little horror never hurt anybody. Follow Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson), who were real-life paranormal haunting experts, as they track down yet another paranormal spirit in The Conjuring 2. Instead of traveling to Rhode Island, like in The Conjuring, the couple goes to London to help a mother raising four children face the spirits that are causing mayhem in the family’s home. Expect to jump, gasp and cover your eyes because these stories never lack in disturbing and eerie scenes.
5. Finding Dory (June 17)
Relive the days when you went on family outings to the movie theater, anxiously awaiting Pixar films like Finding Nemo, and head to the box office to see the sequel Finding Dory. You’ll be just as giddy as you were in 2003. Dory, Marlin and Nemo head out on another adventure, but this time, they swim to search for Dory’s long-lost family (or lost in her head, at least). We also meet new characters such as Hank the octopus, Bailey the beluga whale and Destiny, a near-sighted whale shark (aw!). “I still remember the first time I saw Finding Nemo and it instantly became an all-time favorite movie of mine until this day. I’m so excited to see how Finding Dory turns out,” FSU alumnus Valerie Guzman said.
6. Swiss Army Man (June 24)
Imagine the Tom Hanks movie Castaway, but instead of Wilson being a volleyball, Wilson is the corpse of Harry Potter. Swiss Army Man features a man (Paul Dano) stranded on a deserted island alone until he discovers a washed-up corpse (Daniel Radcliffe). Dano’s character finds companionship with the corpse as he brings his dead friend all over the island, carrying him along on his adventures through the lush wilderness. The independent film won Best Directing at the Sundance Film Festival this past year. If you’re in the mood for some weird, insightful inspiration you might want to skip the pool and catch a Swiss Army Man matinee.
7. The Legend of Tarzan (July 1)
The story of Tarzan is where the animal and the human world merge. However, we won’t be seeing any singing monkeys and elephants this time around. The Legend of Tarzan (from the same director as the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows films) gives us an action-packed, adult version of the story of a man who was raised by gorillas and became exposed to human life when hunters came into their jungle. Along the way, the wild man meets intelligent and bold Jane, and falls in love with her. Tarzan has to decide where he truly belongs—with his animal family and friends or alongside humans.
8. The Secret Life of Pets (July 8)
Ever wonder what your cat does all day as soon as you hit the road for class or go to work? Well, the good people at Universal Studios have the answer for you with the animated film The Secret Life of Pets. The movie features a spunky and owner-obsessed dog named Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) who finds himself miserable after his owner brings home a second—and much bigger—dog. In attempts to rid himself and his owner of the new furry nuisance, Max ends up on the street with the huge dog and they have to find their way back home together. The film also includes the voices of Kevin Hart, Eric Stonestreet, Ellie Kemper and Lake Bell.
9. Cafe Society (July 15)
Ah, another Woody Allen film. Cafe Society continues to fit the mold of the famous director and writer’s films full of culture, vibrancy and witty writing. The movie follows young man (Jesse Eisenberg) as he moves to Hollywood to get his foot in the door in the film industry in the 1930s. There he learns the ropes, falls in love in several women (so it seems) and the age of cafe society. The jazzy, flapper-filled film also features notable stars such as Steve Carrell, Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively and Kelly Rohrbach.
10. War Dogs (August 19)
Based on a true story (and set during our lifetime), War Dogs tells of the story of two buddies in their late 20s living in Miami during the Iraq war. David Packouz (Miles Teller) and Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill) act as small business owners who make a deal with the government by bidding on U.S Military contracts. While they achieve a glamorous and self-rewarding lifestyle, they start cutting deals with the wrong people and have to scrounge their way out before it’s too late. Kinda like when you’re working on a group project with terrible partners and have to find a way to salvage your grade before you’re doomed.
Allison is a future New Yorker who likes coffee, books and records more than she likes people. She is currently studying Editing, Writing, and Media at Florida State.
