While we agree that the best place to spend on the 4th is outside, preferably near a body of water, preferably with a picnic table full of watermelon and some kind of meat, and preferably with some side-of-the-road-bought fireworks, we also realize this isn’t always reality. Weather’s a big factor here: Sometimes it rains. Sometimes it doesn’t. For weeks. And weeks. And with more than 160 Texas counties canceling fireworks displays, what the hell else is there to do?
And sometimes, you’re just an antisocial wet blanket who has gotten used to the cocoon of your home who only leaves to go to work and the liquor store. Maybe the drug store for Gatorade.
Whatever your reason for staying in, we’ve come up with a list of our favorite All-American/patriotic/hell yeah movies to watch on the Fourth.
Top Gun Two words: Fighter jets.
Glory Civil War battle scenes, civil rights struggles and Denzel Washington in an Academy Award-winning performance
Field of Dreams Not an outwardly patriotic movie, but features Americana like corn, baseball and Kevin Costner.
A League of Their Own
Same as above, but replace corn with dairy and Kevin Costner with Madonna.
John Adams Kick-ass enough to make a day of watching the entire miniseries.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
On your day off, watch a movie about everything you should be doing on your day off.
1776 A lighthearted musical romp about the framing of the Declaration of Independence. People who hate musicals and the ’70s and several people who love musicals shouldn’t watch this.
Mr Smith Goes to Washington Jimmy Stewart classic about the symbiotic nature of political idealism and political corruption.
Born on the Fourth of July The title says it all.
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 6, 2011.