from the heat of summer. And while most of us don't seek the kind of
adventures shown in the following list of movies, riding along in the
passenger seat is just right for a lazy summer afternoon. Especially
since the car--usually a classic of some kind--is often as much a
part of the action as the actors. So fasten your seat belts, it's
gonna be a bumpy ride … or at least chock full of ridiculously fun
hijinks.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Starring:
Jim Hensen (voices) and Frank Oz (voices)
Kermit ditches the swamp and heads for Hollywood, determined to become a
star. The green frog picks up new friends once he hits the
road--Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and more Muppet favorites--and tries
to avoid the evil Doc Hopper, who wants him to promote his frog leg
restaurant. The gang encounter a plethora of Hollywood notables,
including Mel Brooks, Bob Hope, Madeline Kahn, and Richard Pryor as
they try to make it big. The bouncy, Paul Williams penned score will
stick with you for days, and you can't help bob your head as Kermit
and Fozzie sing 'Movin' Right Along' because you want to be there, movin' right along side them.
Starring:
Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman
When hot-shot Los Angeles car dealer Charlie (Cruise) learns that his late
father has left a $3 million estate to his heretofore unknown--and
mentally disabled--brother Raymond (Hoffman) and all he got was a
1948 Buick convertible, he sets off in the car to kidnap his brother
and get the money for himself. As with any good road trip, the
hijinks involve a stop in Vegas after Charlie discovers Raymond's
autistic savant carries over to counting cards. Still, the touching
story offers a journey of discovery for Charlie as he gets to know
the brother he wasn't even aware he had and you feel his loss as he
realizes he isn't capable of caring for him alone. Winner of the 1989
Academy Award for Best Picture.
Thelma and Louise (1991)
Starring: Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis
A short weekend getaway turns into the fugitive road trip of a life
time when Louise (Sarandon) shoots the man who tried to attack Thelma
(Davis). With the feds on their tail, the women decide to make a run
for Mexico and lead the authorities on a cross-country chase. More
than just a chick flick, the strong female characters offered
audiences a smart and funny gender reversal on the typical
buddies-on-the-road formula of the day. And no one will forget the
now iconic shot of the '66 Thunderbird flying out over the canyon.
Girl power was never the same.
Road Trip (2000)
Starring: Breckin Meyer, Seann William Scott, and Amy Smart
Appropriately named, this by-the-numbers teen flick follows Josh (Meyer) as he
tries to intercept a package containing a videoed encounter with an
infatuation (Smart) that was accidentally mailed to his girlfriend.
Friends E.L. (Scott), Kyle (D.J. Qualls), and Rubin (Paulo
Costanzo) hit the highway with him and, predictably, hijinks ensue: a
car explodes, a bus is stolen, French toast is horribly violated …
but for all that, no schmaltzy lessons are learned along the way.
This is simply a tale of three guys on the road with one mission in
mind, okay, maybe two: get the package and have fun.
Harold
and Kumar Go To White Castle (2004)
Starring: John Cho and Kal Penn
Taking place over the course of one, munchie-induced night, Harold (Cho) and
Kumar (Penn) set off in search of the nearest White Castle. The two
burger-seeking buddies are sidetracked by skateboarding hooligans,
racist cops, an inbred tow truck driver and his hot wife, and Neil
Patrick Harris (as himself). And while the audience might
occasionally wonder how much of their road trip adventure is
influenced by Harold and Kumar's choice of herbal refreshment (a ride
through the woods on a cheetah?!) it's a blast to go along as they
seek their fix, finally hang-gliding off a cliff for their ultimate
and well-earned sweet reward.
Eurotrip (2004)
Starring: Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, and Michelle Trachtenberg
Head across the pond for a post-high school romp through Europe. After
getting dumped by his girlfriend, Scott Thomas (Mechlowicz) confides
in his German pen pal, Mike. When Mike makes a romantic advance upon
hearing the news, Scott tells him he never wants to hear from him
again. Then Scott learns that Mike is actually Mieke, a girl … a
hot girl, who has now blocked all his calls and attempts at apology.
Determined to make amends in person, Scott, his girl-crazy best
friend Cooper (Pitts), and twins Jenny (Trachtenberg) and Jamie
(Travis Wester) head to Berlin. Though their improvised trip through
Europe is full of clichés and stereotypes, it's all good natured and
you find yourself hoping the guy gets the girl in the end.
Into the Wild (2007)
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, John Hurt
Inspired by a true story, recent college grad Christopher McCandless (Emile
Hirsch) rids himself of all possessions and donates his entire
savings to charity and sets out to hitchhike to Alaska. McCandless'
quest takes him from his safe life in South Dakota to the
non-conformist refuge in Slab City, CA before he heads into the wilds
of the Alaska. Along the way he meets a series of characters who not
only change his life, but benefit from his influence as well.
Unmentioned in the credits, the sweeping scenery plays more than a
supporting role. Academy Award nominated.
Wild Hogs (2007)
Starring: Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy
Four mid-life crises + motorcycles = adventure on the open road for adults
instead of teens this time around. Doug (Allen), Woody (Travolta),
Bobby (Lawrence), and Dudley (Macy) set out to break up their hum
drum suburban lives. So they dub themselves the Wild Hogs and go off
in search of adventure. But an encounter with the Del Fuegos, a real
biker gang lead by Jack (Ray Liotta), adds more spice than the
weekend warriors were looking for. When Dudley's bike is stolen by
the Del Fuegos, the Wild Hogs hatch a plan to get it back.
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis
Four guys. A bachelor party in Vegas. A borrowed classic Mercedes Benz.
What could possibly go wrong? Try everything, including a missing
groom-to-be. While most of this movie takes place in Sin City and not
in a car, the time these four friends spend on the road sets the tone
for the rest of the unbelievable bachelor party weekend (a tiger, a
missing tooth, a baby). They search Las Vegas, piecing random bits of
memory and clues together as they try to find their missing friend
before his wedding. Golden Globe winner for Best Motion Picture:
Musical or Comedy.
What movies (or TV shows) make you want to head out on the open road?
--Jill Corddry
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