Every summer, until I was 14, I would beg my parents to send me to sleepaway camp. I would promise I wouldn’t call home and told them I could handle being in the woods for a couple of weeks. And every summer I got the same answer, no. So I did what any other pre-teen would do, hung out at the mall, hit up the beach, and watched movies that made me feel like I was at summer camp.

Now before I go on, I should tell you I finally got my experience at sleepaway camp, I worked as a Unit Leader for an entire summer at a girl scout camp in Virgina. And can I just say, what a rip off! Besides having the exact cabins as Parent Trap (we almost put one of the counselors furniture on the roof just because) it was NOTHING like the movies. So if you missed out, don’t worry…you didn’t miss much.

Still, every time I see camp rock (my sister’s 12, she watches it..I just happen to be in the same room), or any other crazy camp movie I can’t help but wish I was 10 again so I could have my very own camp adventure.  So, since it’s almost that time of year again, here are 6 movies that made me want to go to camp:

Anyone who knows me know that I have a weak spot for funny people. Like, really, really ridiculously funny people. If you can’t make me laugh, then I want nothing to do with you. On the flipside, if you can make me ROFL, there’s a place in my bed heart for you.

And if your name is Amy Poehler, I’ll even share dessert with you (and I don’t share dessert with anyone).

I’ve been crushing on Amy hardcore since her early days on SNL. Amy’s quick wit and perfect timing proved once and for all that women don’t have to be ugly or lesbians to be successful comedians, and I tuned in every Saturday night to get my weekly dose of Poehler. She made a name for herself almost immediately, and was probably the only cast member who could fill Tina Fey’s shoes…er…chair on Weekend Update.

But Amy Poehler isn’t just an improv genius; the woman can act and has found herself in some of the best comedies everrr. Remember her infamous role in Mean Girls? How could you not? What about Wet Hot American Summer? Or Deuce Bigalow?  Amy stole the show and put those movies on the top of my “Best Movies to Watch While Stoned” list.  Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I found out about her NBC show, Parks and Recreation. And she didn’t disappoint.

Part of me wants to hate Amy Poehler for stealing my Hollywood boyfriend, Will Arnett, but I can’t. In fact, if I was gonna lose my future hubbie to anyone, I’m glad it was someone as talented, beautiful and effing hilarious as her. I just hope that one day I can get in on that shiz. A threesome with Poehler and Arnett? Probably the only thing better than an Arrested Development marathon.

To usher in the season, I chose Wet Hot American Summer as the next Sunday Classic. Whether or not you like this movie depends greatly on whether the sense of humor espoused by its creators appeals to you. And if the critical reception to the film is any indication, it’s a type of humor that most people just don’t get.

Wet Hot American Summer was the brainchild of David Wain and Michael Showalter, previously of the MTV sketch comedy troupe The State. If you have ever seen the show, or other projects from State Alumni like The Ten, Reno 911! and Stella (not to mention various other writing and directing gigs like Balls of Fury and Night at the Museum that seem made for a wider audience) then you will sort of get their schtick–humor from randomness and obscure reference. They aren’t trying to make a lot of sense, and in that lies the brilliance.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Wet Hot American Summer satires the camp movies of the late 70’s and 80’s, but also sort of satires satire itself. It’s the last day of camp, and everyone is scrambling around to find a summer hookup or work on sketches for the Big Talent Show or even save the world. The cast of characters is massive and each group has its own hilariously satisfying subplot. Read More »

After weeks of pouring over lecture notes and banging out papers, school is (more or less) out for summer, and, holy crap, you’ve got some free time on your hands.

You could spend it wisely by volunteering for Habitat for Humanity or fully exploring James Joyce’s literary canon or doing some other douchey bullsh*t that people who fancy themselves to be exceptional individuals would do, OR, you could kick off summer properly by cracking a beer and watching Lyndsey’s Top 5 Movies That Capture The Spirit Of Summer. As my name is in the title of the list, I think we all know what I’ll be doing.

Pass the PBR, bitch.

Dazed and Confused

Dazed and Confused is every great summer of my life, captured on film. Set in the 1970s on the last day of school at Robert E. Lee High, freshman, seniors, jocks, and nerds alike breeze through the day, interacting with each other and hanging out in a way that only people who have experienced summer in a small town can appreciate.

Funny and honest, insightful and hopeful, this endearingly life-affirming movie perfectly captures the vibe of summer vacation, and culminates in a dusk-till-dawn party that makes you never want to age past 22. Read More »