Grey ash on barbeque coals, ready for cooking. A deck filled with friend and family, ready to eat. And then the skies open up, literally putting a damper on the whole summer affair.
It has rained a bit this season, hasn’t it? So much so that any summer celebration needs to come with a suitable back-up plan in case outdoor fun quickly becomes indoor entertainment.
The solution? Find the right party movie on DVD.
There’s an art to it — you don’t want something too offensive (sorry, “Taxi Driver”), polarizing (apologies, Michael Moore) or complicated (not today, “Memento”). The quintessential party films need one of the following qualities to succeed, either as a temporary diversion or as the center of attention: humor, familiarity and accessibility.
With that, here are some categorical choices for summer party viewing pleasure:
<ro>For the Kids
<bt>“Aladdin” (1992)
Not as heavy as “The Lion King,” and it won’t make the boys squirm like with those mushy movies “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” It may not have been the best film of Disney’s animation renaissance in the late 1980s/early ‘90s, but it was the funniest, thanks to Robin Williams’s inspired vocal performance as the big blue genie. The songs — by composer Alan Menken, with lyrics by Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman — burst with energy, especially Williams’s manic take on “Friend Like Me.” Oh, and when things do get mushy, the classic “A Whole New World” provides the soundtrack.
“Finding Nemo” (2003)
Choosing the best Pixar film for a party is like deciding which filet mignon to throw on the grill: no matter the choice, it’s going to be a good one.
But with “Monsters, Inc.” a little too high-concept for intermittent viewing, and the “Toy Story” films running a close second, this computer animated hit strikes a perfect balance between humorous and heartwarming scenes as a clownfish named Marlin searches the seas for his lost son, Nemo. Ellen DeGeneres, as a fellow fish with short-term memory loss, steals the film as a comedic foil for Marlin (Albert Brooks).
If nothing else, the movie’s amazing color palette is a great excuse to show off that widescreen HDTV set …
“Shrek” (2001)
While not a personal favorite (it’s a little too self-aware for its own good), there’s no denying that the big green ogre is welcome at any party. “Shrek” is one of those films that have the kids laughing at the obvious jokes while the parents laugh at the wicked satire, aimed squarely at Mickey’s Magic Kingdom. And just like Robin Williams and Ellen DeGeneres, Eddie Murphy carries the film as the hilarious Donkey.
<ro>For the Family
<bt>“Bill Cosby: Himself (1983)
Stand-up comedy works well for summer parties, with viewers stopping by the TV for a few minutes and then moving on to other fun. This classic Bill Cosby routine is 105 minutes of his best material on parents and their children, including “I love it when mothers get so mad they can't remember your name. “ and “Dad is great … give us the chocolate cake!”
“Jurassic Park” (1993)
For my money, Steven Spielberg’s greatest summer thrill ride. A mixed team of scientists head to a remote island where an eccentric billionaire has created a theme park with genetically recreated dinosaurs … and then all heck breaks loose. The spectacle of the film still stands up, despite 13 years of CGI innovation. Perhaps it’s because along with the computerized dinos, there are real-life models terrorizing the characters. Puppets rule …
“The Princess Bride” (1987)
There will be someone at your party that knows this film by heart. Director Rob Reiner’s now-classic fantasy film about a swashbuckling pirate trying to win the hand of the woman he truly loves is a perfect party film because of its episodic structure: from the “battle of wits to the death” to Billy Crystal as Miracle Max.
“The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season” (1989)
Sometimes, one movie isn’t enough and it takes an entire season of television to provide some additional entertainment for a party. This could be the greatest season of the greatest TV comedy of all-time, with classic episodes like “Marge vs. the Monorail,” “Kamp Krusty,” “Mr. Plow” and one of the funniest “Treehouse of Horror” installments in the series’ long run. Some might prefer “Seinfeld” (try Season 4) or perhaps a sketch comedy show like “In Living Color” (Season 1, without a doubt) — but I’m a Homer man.
<ro>For the Adults
<bt>“Airplane!” (1980)
Full disclosure: I think the Zucker Bros. police spoof “The Naked Gun” is the funniest film ever made. But I know I’m fighting an uphill battle against “Airplane,” the laugh-a-second spoof of 1970s disaster films that could be (next to “Caddyshack”) the most quotable movie comedy in history. The amazing thing about this film is that you can actually find things you missed the first 50 times you’ve seen it. And don’t call me Shirley …
<bt>“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983)
Clark and Ellen Grizwold attempt to take their children on a vacation to the Walley World theme park. Hilarity ensues. Not just a classic comedy, but a classic summer comedy: everyone can relate to at least one of the beautiful disasters in this Chevy Chase road trip flick. But hopefully not strapping your dead aunt to the roof of the car.
<bt>Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1978)
Pryor’s first stand-up film is his best, and perhaps the best the genre’s ever offered. Profane observations ranging from relationships to the innermost thoughts of animals, and brutally honest tales from his own personal life. Come and go as you please: each subject in the routine is as hilarious as the next.