# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRich)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/21 "2008-06-22T12:43:08Z")
How about “What about Bob?” with Bill Murray & Richard Dreyfuss? It’s funny, has a summertime theme and is silly & gross enough for kids to like it, things blow up so the grownups like it. Win-win. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/22 "2008-06-23T00:26:24Z")
What about _Moon over Parador_ with Richard Dreyfuss and Raul Julia? Or maybe _Funny Farm_ with Chevy Chase? ---
**Author:** ![gnagtcha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@gnagtcha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnagtcha)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/23 "2008-06-23T02:25:03Z")
It’s funny, but I just got back from a camping trip and I did exactly what you’re talking about. We met a group of friends at this very cool but very out of the way campground in the Sierra’s and I brought along my tv projector, my vcr, speakers, screen and a bunch of tapes. I wasn’t really sure if they would be up to watching a movie in the great outdoors, but, being the movie fanatic I am, I thought I’d give it a try. And, to my surprise, they were all up for it. I even let them pick the movie, as long as it wasn’t anything past the 60’s. I’m silly that way. Really irritates my wife. Anyway, they chose The Magnificent Seven and we had a very nice evening under the stars and pine trees watching Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen kick ass to the musical score of Elmer Bernstein. Brought back memories of how fun it was going to drive-in movies as a kid. And the next time they want me to play The Long, Long Trailer with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez. Can’t wait ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/24 "2008-06-24T16:17:30Z")
Thanks all for the input. We think it will be a small crowd and some of the folks may be a bit older and not into hanging out too late after dark. So, the shorter the presentation, the better. Also, with a smaller group, it’s not like you will have one group watching the thing and perhaps another group mingling off to the side somewhere. Everyone will pretty much be doing one thing. So, that said, we think the skit idea would be best (e.g., SNL: Best of Chris Farley or similar thing) instead of a full movie. Those skit DVDs are only about an hour, and they are easy to talk through without missing much. If it works out, maybe we’ll do a full movie in the future. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/25 "2008-06-24T23:33:39Z")
You know how the Academy Awards ceremonies always honor the “Best Short Film” in both live-action and animated categories? Well, lately those have been collated by year on DVD… all the nominated shorts (including the winners, of course). Most of these shorts are light-hearted, often with cheeky or ironic twist endings, and the animated ones are often outstanding, as well as tremendously varied in their style of “animation”. My local library carries them; I dunno about Blockbuster, etc. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/26 "2008-06-24T23:38:43Z")
[QUOTE=The Scrivener] My local library carries them; I dunno about Blockbuster, etc. [/QUOTE] Netflix does – I’ve got one in my queue. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/27 "2008-06-25T00:16:03Z")
I know what movie I’d pick for _next_ year’s summer party – **The Dish** , a gentle family-friendly comedy about Australia’s role in transmitting the live TV feed from Apollo 11 [the first moon landing, July 20, 1969] to the world. Warm characterizations, witty dialogue, and some great visuals (of both rural Australia and the Apollo mission itself). What nicer way to note the 40th anniversary of that landmark event? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/28 "2008-06-25T00:37:00Z")
The only movie I’ve seen on a wall outside was **Attack of the Killer Tomatoes**. That could work for a certain audience. Hey, it’s sort of in the news. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/29 "2008-06-25T00:40:06Z")
**Godzilla vs Mothra** ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/30 "2008-06-25T13:39:33Z")
I vote for Captain Ron. It’s fun for adults and kids, it’s light and well paced. The soundtrack is great and it would go well with BBQ. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/31 "2008-06-25T14:00:28Z")
[QUOTE=nivlac] First movie that came to mind: _National Lampoon’s Vacation!_ [/QUOTE] I was thinking in the same vein, but _National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation_/ Christmas in summer. Who doesn’t like attack squirrels? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/32 "2008-06-25T21:05:06Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] The original THE WICKER MAN violates most of your rules. But it’s still a good outdoor BBQ movie! 😃 [/QUOTE] Outdoor BBQ makes me think _Picnic at Hanging Rock_, which is definitely not the mood you want! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/33 "2008-06-26T04:17:23Z")
Maybe **Strange Brew** would be a good choice ---
**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 26, 2008, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672/34 "2008-06-26T04:20:02Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] Maybe **Strange Brew** would be a good choice [/QUOTE] This immediately made me think of _Half Baked_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-pick-an-outdoor-movie-for-summer-back-yard-bbq/453672.md?page=1)