Let’s face it — even your favorite movies get a little boring after you’ve seen them for the 82nd time. I mean, you can only watch Mean Girls so many times, right? By the time you’ve memorized the script to your favorite movie, you’re probably ready to find a new must-see. Whether your movie night includes the cute boy you’ve been eyeing all semester, your best girlfriends, or just yourself, these flicks will be sure to entertain.
1. Before Sunset
Before Sunset is an epic love story that doesn’t make you want to roll your eyes. It follows Jesse and Celine, who met as teenagers in Vienna nearly a decade ago. When they met, they were young and naive and only had the opportunity to spend one night together. Since then, life has brought them husbands, wives, children — and the constant nagging that they lost the one who got away. Before Sunset deals with what you do when you find the right person, but everything else (timing, distance, other life circumstances) is totally wrong. It’s definitely a must-watch if you’ve seen The Notebook just one too many times.
2. Wet Hot American Summer
If you’re Amy Poehler-obsessed (or Paul Rudd-obsessed, or Elizabeth Banks-obsessed…), then you will seriously love this movie. Wet Hot American Summeris about what happens on the last day of a co-ed sleepaway camp in the 80’s. If you’ve ever been to sleepaway camp you will definitely find a special place in your heart for this hilarious film. I mean, when else can you see Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks make out (and by “make out” I mean “lick one another’s faces”)? It also features Bradley Cooper as you’ve never seen him before — a neon-shorts-rocking theatre teacher. And, yes, that is just as cringe-worthy/hilarious as it sounds.
3. Happythankyoumoreplease
College is definitely an amazing time in your life, but it can also be super scary.
Happythankyoumorepleasefeatures an ensemble cast (à la He’s Just Not That Into You). It’s about what it’s like to be in your 20s and know where you want to be in the future — just not how to get there. If you’ve found yourself stressing out about this “growing up” thing recently, then a night home with Happythankyoumorepleaseis exactly what the doctor ordered. It tackles issues like falling in love with the wrong person, being brave enough to fall in love with the right person, moving out of your childhood home, changing friends, and all the messy things that come along with growing up. Plus, it was written and directed by Josh Radnor (Ted on How I Met Your Mother), who also stars in the film.
4. Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go is definitely one of those movies that sticks with you. It tells the captivating story of Ruth, Kathy, and Tommy, three 20-somethings who find themselves having to deal with a horrible secret. Not only is it visually stunning, but it’s also a compelling and super unique (trust me — you’ve never seen a plot twist like this before) story. If you’re looking for a highly emotional film, then Never Let Me Go is a must-see. Just don’t forget to bring the tissues!
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5. Away We Go
You’re probably used to seeing John Krasinski as Jim Halpert on “The Office”, but Away We Go shows what a truly talented actor he really is. Away We Go is the perfect mix of comedy and drama — it will definitely make you laugh, but it’s not all jokes. It tackles some serious relationship issues. It’s about Burt and Verona (Maya Rudolph) who travel around the U.S. to find the perfect place to start their new family. On the way, they meet some, um, characters (like the ultra hippie Maggie Gyllenhal) and also discover what it means to make a home.
6. Adventureland
If you only think of Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan and Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, then you might want to think again. Adventurelandis about James, a recent college grad (Eisenberg) who, despite his liberal arts degree is only able to find a job working at a local amusement park. He enters the job thinking that he’ll be spending the summer rolling his eyes with resentment, but then he meets Em (Stewart). The love story of James and Em can be sad at times, but Adventureland is by no means a tearjerker. After all, it also includes Kristen Wiig as an overzealous amusement park manager.
7. The Invention of Lying
Can you imagine a world where lying doesn’t exist? That means no crazy advertisements, no telling your friends that “you’ll be there in 5 minutes” when you just stepped out of the shower, no “it’s not you, it’s me” speeches. That’s the idea behind this funny flick staring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, and Tina Fey. The title says it all — Gervais’s character, Mark, “invents” lying in order to get money from the bank. From there, he realizes that lying can change his whole life — but at what cost? If you’re looking for a new funny film to add to your DVD collection, then The Invention of Lying is definitely one to check out.
What are your favorite off-the-beaten-path movies? Leave a comment!