I seem to be making a lot of lists around here lately, so I’m going with it. I’m going to call the lists “Lacey’s Six Flix List” (say that ten times fast), and each list will have six movies that have something in common.
With the end of school quickly approaching I want to address those movies that cover something everyone goes through: high school graduation. My own graduation was not a big deal. I received my diploma, I didn’t trip walking up or across the stage, and I wore a horribly white graduation gown. White is not my color.
Here are six movies that make the whole graduation thing seem a bit more exciting and emotional than my own moment was.
Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)
After four years of pining, Preston (Ethan Embry), learns that the object of his affection, Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt), has recently been dumped by her jock boyfriend, Mike (Peter Facinelli). Preston drags his best friend, Denise (Lauren Ambrose) to the party for support, even though it’s the last place she wants to be. Everyone hits on Amanda during the entire party, which frustrates her, and once Preston works up the nerve to profess his love, she turns him down. Hard. Denise gets stuck in a bathroom with her former friend, Kenny (Seth Green), and you can guess what happens with them. Eventually Amanda realizes dissing Preston as she did was a mistake and she goes looking for him. And that’s how things went down at all those high school parties you were never invited to. Exactly like that.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
The Disney-Pixar movies are very good at making you feel all the feels. In “Toy Story 3” Andy is preparing to leave for college and is sorting through everything in his childhood room. He bags up all his old friends Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Slinky, Hamm, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, and Rex, but is interrupted before he can get them in the attic and they end up the garbage instead. The toys end up in a day care center, with an evil bear acting as they guy in charge. Attempts to escape are thwarted, but in the end the toys end up where they belong. Which isn’t where any of them expected to be. “Toy Story 3” includes the voice talents of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Michael Keaton, and many more.
American Graffiti (1973)
Cruising, mischief, decisions, and mysterious blondes – all things that make a young man wonder if heading off to college the next day is the best decision. Set in 1962, Curt (Richard Dreyfuss), is undecided as to whether or not he wants to leave his hometown of Modesto, California in order to attend college. The night before Curt is scheduled to leave he meets up with his friends, Steve (Ron Howard), John (Paul Le Mat), and Terry (Charles Martin Smith). The night takes the four young men on their own mini journeys, and they each man up and make some decisions about their immediate future.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick), wants to take one day off from school to hang with his best friend, Cameron (Alan Ruck,) and girlfriend, Sloane (Mia Sara), before they head their own ways after graduation, so he pretends to be ill and his parents agree to let him stay home. Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane the day traipsing around Chicago, narrowly avoiding parents, and hijacking parades. Ferris’ younger sister, Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), is determined to catch Ferris in his lie, and ends up defending her home from an intruder who actually is the school principal, Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones), who is also just trying prove Ferris is lying. There’s a brilliant chase scene of sorts at the end between Jeanie and Ferris as they both strive to be the first one home. If you’re of a certain age and have never seen this movie, then I don’t want to know you.
Grease (1978)
Ah, to be young and in love in the 1950’s – it gives me chills, and they’re multiplying. After spending a romantic summer together Danny (John Travolta) and Sandy (Olivia Newton-John), must go their separate ways. Danny, the coolest of the cool, returns to his senior year of high school at Rydell High, and as far as he knows, Sandy returns to her life Australia. Imagine Danny’s surprise when the Pink Ladies (Stockard Channing, Didi Conn, and Jamie Donnelly) push Sandy into his arms after a school bonfire. Sandy’s the ultimate goody goody and Danny the stereotypical bad boy, so how will their relationship ever work? Are they willing to change for each other? Well, y’all find out at the end of the year. Now excuse me while I go sing a little.
American Pie (1999)
Jim (Jason Biggs), Oz (Chris Klein), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) decide make a pact to lose their virginity before their high school graduation, so they set their sites on prom night. Is there any better way to end some of the most awkward years of your life with awkward attempts and wooing a girl into your bed? I think not. The road to their goal is a bumpy one, but somehow they all manage to keep the pact in the end.
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