11 Chick Flicks To Give You All Of The Summer Feels
Remember when we thought this summer would be just a hint of normal? We dreamed of sitting on a patio with our friends, pulling down our face masks to shove bites of lemon ricotta pancakes into our mouths. But then half the country decided they didn’t want to wear masks, and COVID cases spiked, ruining most of our summer 2020 plans. Yeah, I remember that too. But I have accepted that while I can still do some normal things, I am going to be spending most of the summer inside, protecting myself and others, which means I am going to be watching a lot of movies! And because if staying home wasn’t enough proof that I care about you, I have compiled a list of the ten best lady summertime movies for you!
The Hate U Give
Based on the award winning novel by Angie Thomas, The Hate U Give is a terrific movie about Starr Carter, a 16-year old Black girl in Mississippi trying to cope and heal after she witnessed her friend was shot and killed by police. Starr is dealing with this horrific loss but she’s also navigating her normal teenage life: school, basketball, a boyfriend, family, and friends. It might not have the carefree feeling we desire in summer but it’s an important movie, now more than ever.
Brittany Runs a Marathon
A lot of my friends recommended this movie to me, which I should be offended by because it’s about a gal in her 20s getting her life together, but I won’t be because it is so good and so funny. Brittany, an aspiring comedian, is a lot like a lot of us in our 20s/30s living in a big (expensive) city, reexamining her friendships, and feeling like a failure. As you can guess from the title, she trains for a marathon in an effort to get her life together. This movie will make you laugh, question your life decisions, laugh, feel good, and laugh again.
The Incredible Jessica James
Personally, I don’t think this 2017 Netflix original got enough publicity because it’s wonderful and I hardly heard anyone talk about it. It stars Jessica James (The Daily Show) and Chris O’Dowd (the Irish cop from Bridesmaids) in an adorable rom-com that’s as much about romance as it is about self-love and overcoming obstacles. The Incredible Jessica James is funny, empowering, and heartwarming.
Now & Then
When I tell you I was raised on this movie, I am hardly exaggerating. Now & Then has all the quintessential elements of a coming of age movie - four best friends, each with a distinct archetype, and a pivotal summer that changes their lives and friendships. It’s a classic and we should all rewatch it this summer.
Lady Bird
Watching Lady Bird, I couldn’t help but search for moments of relatability, which wasn’t hard. I went to an all-girls high school in a city that was so dull it made me want to claw my eyes out. I also made it my mission to go to college out of state. And I dreamed of throwing myself out of a moving vehicle driven by my mother, many times. Beyond all that, I just found the story to be so endearing, and sometimes biographical, because of how determined, headstrong, and argumentative the lead character is, despite the fact that she is still figuring everything out and is constantly met with growing pains and failures. That is something I can definitely relate to.
The Edge of Seventeen
One of the most underrated movies of the last few years, The Edge of Seventeen, is cute, hilarious, and relatable. This coming of age tale is about a high school loner who has shut everyone in her life out and really illustrates the importance of connection. It’s like a Brene Brown talk but with more laughs and Woody Harrelson.
First Wive’s Club
If there was a movie that made young girls in the 90s want to grow up and get divorced, this was it. I’m just kidding. But I did learn a lot as a kid from this movie - how to stand up for yourself to men, how to be a badass at work, and how important it is to maintain your female friendships. Truly, I learned most of my life skills from this movie. Plus, pre-SATC Sarah Jessica Parker is *muah*.
Premature
When I say that I loved this movie, it’s an understatement. I thought it was perfect. It’s a coming of age story set in the summer in New York City. It’s also got a very hot romance, which is somehow bridled with a very realistic depiction of a relationship. Premature is one of those quiet, sometimes slow moving movies that you can’t stop watching because it’s so deeply relatable.
The Half of It
The Half of It is a refreshing take on the bait and switch trickery plots we loved in the 80s and 90s, which I didn’t know we needed but we definitely do. Ellie, a quiet high school student makes some cash by writing her peers’ papers. One day, a football player asks her to write a love letter to a girl he likes, Aster. Ellie also has a crush on Aster! Stereotypes are dispelled, hearts are broken, and children become young adults.
Booksmart
In Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, we get the female version of Superbad. Well, I don’t mean to discredit the coming of age movie but it is remarkably similar. Two best friends, Amy and Molly, have always been avid rule followers and good students; on their last day of high school, they decide to break all the rules. If you're worried that it sounds too familiar, you should know that it has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Someone Great
Someone Great is a new Netflix comedy that beautifully depicts the power of female friendships and the importance of having girlfriends who are always in your corner, especially in times of major heartbreak and transition. Showcasing the struggles accompanied in your twenties, Someone Great reminds us of the solidarity in sisterhood, the hardships in learning to let go, and the beauty of the ebb-and-flow nature of life itself.
