Quintessential Summer Movies

Days left: 21

With the three-week mark beckoning, there is nothing quite like an itching for the beach to make you remind you of your prospective home--aka, university.

Ah, summer. Is there anything like it? I've compiled a list of the summer movies to watch that make you want to fall in love with the hot dancer from the vacation resort you're staying at, grow infatuated with the deliciously attractive Greek boy from your trip to Greece, or meet a mermaid.

1. Dirty Dancing

It's the summer of 1963, which also happens to be the summer where Baby falls in love with the handsome and lovingly-rebellious dancer Johnny Castle.

2. Grease

Grease is the word. With the '50s, the dancing, the singing, young John Travolta, what's not to love?

3. High School Musical 2

 What time is it? Summer time! It's our vacation! The wildcats are out for the summer but it's not a summer without some Sharpay shenanigans and some ubiquitous songs regarding the trifling conundrums the wildcats face at the lavish vacation resort they're all working at...except for, naturally, Sharpay and Ryan.

4. Raise Your Voice

 This is probably one of the few movies in which I can actually stand to watch Hilary Duff act. While the plot itself is flimsy, it's a movie about standing up and finding your voice. Plus, if that's not enough to watch it, Kiwi is the life of the party. For real. Unmistakeable character.

5. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

A movie about 4 best friends and one hot summer. The things each girl encounters make you wish your summer had more flair and panache than just simply going to the beach everyday and growing more brown. (Like, say, having a romance with a handsome Greek boy?)

6. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

A sequel to the first movie and it continues to follow the summer after college and the lives of Brigit, Tibby, Lena, and Carmen. It's an interesting mix of the last three books of the Traveling Pants saga and makes me wonder how the film would have been if it had been original to the four books. Nonetheless, a good movie.

7. Aquamarine 

I've always wanted to be a mermaid but meeting one and befriending one on-screen is just as great. This film is cute, charming, and tells us the meaning of friendship (and the moniker, "It's good to have friends with fins!"). Plus, this makes me think of The Little Mermaid so that is a major plus. Plus, it's summer, in Florida, with tans, beach, and shopping. Could this be nirvana?