Fun Detour - Five Summer Films to Watch

As we enter August, I wanted to share with you a few movies that remind me of summer and trips to upstate New York and New England. I am someone who return to favorite films again and again, not just for the comfort of knowing what comes next, but for the small things I did not notice the first (or tenth) time around. These films remind me of road trips, lazy days, and the charm of places like updates New York, New England, and in0between landscapes that feel like a fun place to be.

Bringing Up Baby – The 1938 comedy with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant starts off in New York City, but soon they head to a farm in Connecticut, and become embroiled in searches for a fossilized dinosaur bone and a pet leopard (which is really a jaguar). When my family first got a VHS player in the 1980s, this is one of the first movies we had.

The Great Outdoors – The 1988 comedy with John Candy and Dan Akroyd is about a family taking a vacation in the lake region of Wisconsin. While not in upstate New York or New England, it has forests, mountains, and lakes. I especially identify with John Candy’s character attempting to create lasting memories with his family.

The Muppet Movie – This 1979 classic featuring the Muppets and a who’s who of guest actors is a great summer movie. You have the Kermit and Fozzy traveling across the country to realize the dream of making it to Hollywood.

Vermont is for Lovers – The 1992 docudrama (with comedic influences for those of us with dry sense of humor) follows a New York couple as they travel to Vermont to get married at her aunt’s farm. Each of them does their own wandering and self-discovering journey speaking with locals about marriage and relationships.

Woodstock – The 1970 documentary about the famous 1969 live music event in Bethel, NY goes beyond the great music interviewing performers, organizers, attendees, and effected residents. Watch it for the music, but know you will walk away with a better understanding of the people who were there, and the sense of energy and optimism associated with the event.

Bonus Picks

Concert in Central Park – The 1982 film of the live concert by Simon & Garfunkel was a staple for me growing up on the farm. My parents had this on VHS and on vinyl. We watched it regularly during the summer.

Funny Farm – The 1988 comedy follows a couple who leave New York City for a picturesque Vermont community, hoping to find inspiration and peace. Instead, they are met with eccentric locals and a series of misadventures that lean more towards absurd than charming. Sure, the film leans hard into stereotypes. Its version of small-town Vermont is more punchline than portrait. But there is something meaningful and nostalgic underneath all the antics. Chevy Chase’s character starts out smug and self-absorbed (shocking, I know) but by the very end, he experiences personal growth. He is more grounded, less cynical, and surprisingly open to a life that does not go according to plan.