End of the Summer Viewing

To quote Don Draper  "Nostalgia literally means the pain from an old wound.  It's a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone."

I think we all get that little twinge when summer comes to an end.  Summer vacation coming to an end and school starting is something just about everyone grew up with.  If you have kids (or are a teacher) you get to experience it all over again. Watching the pool toys and squirt guns move from end-cap to the clearance aisle and replaced by pencils, folders, backpacks.  Perhaps summer ending is the best metaphor for growing up.

Whether you are reminiscing about your own childhood summers or the recent one that has come and gone, summer coming to an end is a melancholy experience.

So I thought I'd make a list of viewings that seem to capture that feeling.

14.  The Myth of the American Sleepover Just the trailer seems to capture the nostalgic  feeling of summer coming to an end.

13.  "The Last Weekend" episode of Saved by the Bell.  Remember when the gang got summer jobs at the beach resort Malibu Sands?  Well, this is the last episode of that segment and features an end of the summer luau.  Ah the memories....the volleyball game, the birthday/anniversary combo party, the wife from King of Queens. You can view this and all the episodes on Netflix.

12.  Sideways  Well, this is a more grown-up end of summer movie.  The image of Miles sitting at his desk and Maya's voice over creates a melancholy moment.

"I did not cry then or ever about Finny. I did not cry even when I stood watching him being lowered into his family's straitlaced burial ground outside of Boston. I could not escape the feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case."

11.  Wet Hot American Summer To be honest, I often have a hard time distinguishing in my head Wet Hot American Summer, Meatballs, and Little Darlings.  But this movie is hilarious and has an awesome last night at camp.

10.  One Crazy Summer  The Dew Drop Inn, Demi, Cute and Fuzzy Bunnies, Bobcat, touching cars, Godzilla, ugly dog, Teddy.  Hopefully all these things make you smile and wish you could do the summer all over again.  If they don't, you need to watch this movie.

9.  American Pie 2  Jim and Michelle getting together, the end-of-summer party at their beach house, and the music all seem to capture the end-of-summer moment.

8.  Meatballs  Are you ready for the summer?  It just doesn't matter!  A classic summer camp movie. 

7.  National Lampoon's Vacation  Just like the next entry in the list, I love the photos that show up at the end during the credits.

6.  Summer Rental  For some reason, this movie just seems to capture the road trip family vacations I remember when I was a kid.  I love the rainy scenes.  Summer isn't always sunshine and beaches.

5.  MTV's True Life: I have a Summer Share  That Tommy is an interesting character.  For some reason this episode just seems to suck you into it.  It has a somewhat poignant ending....time to clean up the place and head back to work. Watch the whole episode here.

4.  Adventureland  Ahhh summer jobs.  For many people, they define a summer.   It may have been a crappy job but at the end of summer you can't believe you are a little sad to leave it.  Adventureland is a great movie about summer, relationships, and growing up.  Martin Starr, Bill Hader, & Kristen Wiig round out a great cast. 

3.  American Graffiti  The last night of summer before heading off to college I watched this movie.  My favorite part is when Curt is talking to the Wolfman, eating popsicles.

2.  Lucas  It's too bad summer couldn't have lasted for Lucas.  He met a new girl, snuck into concerts, caught bugs, and got to be his own eccentric self with no problems.  Than summer ended and back to school where he experienced bullies, heartbreak, and social awkwardness.

1.  Stand By Me  In a way, Stand By Me is a perfect example of summer ending and having to grow up.