# Help pick an outdoor movie for summer back yard BBQ **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672 "2008-06-21T05:11:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/1 "2008-06-21T05:11:20Z")
I’m thinking of hosting a summer BBQ/dinner with the neighbors. I don’t hang out with the neighbors at all. We had a BBQ last year, and people enjoyed it, but it did not lead to everyone being best friends. However, people did enjoy coming over and spending some time talking to their neighbors over some food and drinks. This is the second annual neighborhood back yard BBQ. We were thinking of maybe having the BBQ in the evening with an outdoor movie using a projector & laptop. QUESTION 1: Is this a good idea? QUESTION 2: What movie? Your ideas are appreciated. It should have these charateristics: 1. Light and fun. Maybe a comedy but not necessarily. Maybe something animated? 2. Something that everyone hasn’t watched to death already (e.g. Breakfast Club, Airplane) 3. Maybe current, but not necessarily 4. Probably should be PG-13 at worst 5. The shorter the better so people don’t start drifting off or getting uncomfortable. Also, we probably can’t start it until dark, and we don’t want people sticking around until midnight. 6. Something that people can sorta watch and talk through, maybe being able to follow the plot while only half way paying attention and perhaps chatting on the side ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/2 "2008-06-21T05:44:01Z")
Hmmm… I don’t think it’s a good idea at all. Why not actually converse? I’d be bored shitless if I had to sit outside in someone’s yard watching a movie instead of talking and mingling. YMMV - Obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/3 "2008-06-21T05:58:50Z")
We would mingle for quite some time and then let people know they can stick around after dark and watch or continue mingling if they like. So, mingling will happen pre-movie and the movie is optional after people have been there for a while. Maybe people won’t take to it and we will skip it. However, there are public parks in town that are doing outdoor movies, and people seem to like it. I just saw an ad for one showing Grease in a local park. It’s not like everyone will come over and just plop in front of a movie. Even after the movie starts, there’s nothing stopping people from continuing to mingle, just not right in the same spot as the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/4 "2008-06-21T06:07:29Z")
OK. Doesn’t sound as bad as originally reported. Not sure what your tastes are but something that doesn’t warrant 100% attention would be preferable, no? What about a compilation of skits, like Monty Python, or SCTV, or Saturday Night Live episodes? That way if you need to pee and come back you can still get interested again. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/5 "2008-06-21T06:13:52Z")
The original _Raiders of the Lost Ark_. It’s fun, it’s light, it’s family friendly but not insipid, it’s relatively timely and it doesn’t require a lot of intense concentration. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/6 "2008-06-21T07:38:20Z")
It has been a long time since I’ve seen it, but I saw **Cinema Paradiso** under similar circumstances and enjoyed it immensely. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/7 "2008-06-21T07:51:33Z")
I have a friend who does this every year. Despite reports to the contrary, it is actually a lot of fun. We mingle quite a bit before and after the movie. The host also has a movie quiz and a small prize for the winner right after the movie. (I won last year… a $10 gift card to a local restaurent. The year before she gave out a DVD of the movie we watched.) Anyway: Last two movies we watched were Back to the Future and So I Married an Axe Murderer. She enjoys doing the comedies, and tries to usually make them a little older. Sort of like movie comfort food. The suggestion for Raiders is awesome, and I may suggest that to her this year… although its not a comedy, definitely fits in the movie comfort food category I think. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/8 "2008-06-21T08:33:37Z")
Hmmm…BBQ… **Rancho Deluxe**! A young Sam Waterston (his favorite movie), Jeff Bridges and Slim Pickens. It also has Harry Dean Stanton and you Ebert fans know what that means. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/9 "2008-06-21T10:54:25Z")
I suggest an MST3K horrible old sci-fi movie. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/10 "2008-06-21T11:44:47Z")
I think **The Tof** and \*\*Boyo Jim \*\* have good suggestions. And _Raiders_ would be a good selection, considering the new Indy movie is now out. Or for MST3K, _Independence Day_. But it’s a little long. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/11 "2008-06-21T13:07:40Z")
How about a musical? Maybe _Footloose_ or something with a great soundtrack, so people can stop and watch the musical numbers then go back to whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/12 "2008-06-21T13:11:53Z")
The Great Outdoors with John Candy and Dan Akroyd. I just watched it the other day and while it screams 80’s movie it’s aged surprisingly well and is still pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/13 "2008-06-21T15:11:02Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] The original _Raiders of the Lost Ark_. It’s fun, it’s light, it’s family friendly but not insipid, it’s relatively timely and it doesn’t require a lot of intense concentration. [/QUOTE] This was the first movie I thought of ! I think you should pick something light, action packed: a saturday afternoon movie. Some other suggestions: “The Mummy” (Brendan Fraser) “Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl” (the first of the series) “The Fifth Element” “Lake Placid” “The Mask of Zorro” (Antonio Banderas) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/14 "2008-06-21T16:40:22Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] The Great Outdoors with John Candy and Dan Akroyd. I just watched it the other day and while it screams 80’s movie it’s aged surprisingly well and is still pretty funny. [/QUOTE] Okay, _other_ than that one I was thing of an outdoors movie very few of your neighbors probably have seen: [Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113028/). It’s about a boy, his dog, and their attempts to get back home after a boating accident. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/15 "2008-06-21T16:57:20Z")
How about _March of the Penguins_? If it’s hot outside, it’ll be psychologically cooling. Serve ice cream or frozen drinks. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/16 "2008-06-21T17:03:31Z")
How about _Jason and The Argonauts_, or _The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad_? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/17 "2008-06-21T17:06:43Z")
[QUOTE=Harriet the Spry] How about _March of the Penguins_? If it’s hot outside, it’ll be psychologically cooling. Serve ice cream or frozen drinks. [/QUOTE] Or, combine this idea with mine of the musical and screen _Happy Feet_, which is a hell of a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/18 "2008-06-21T17:39:57Z")
The original THE WICKER MAN violates most of your rules. But it’s still a good outdoor BBQ movie! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/19 "2008-06-22T03:34:26Z")
First movie that came to mind: _National Lampoon’s Vacation!_ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/20 "2008-06-22T12:19:28Z")
The title that comes to mind is _The Amazing Colossal Man_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672.md?page=2)