LDW calls for movies & TV with pretty backdrops 🌴

• Book: The Guest List by Lucy Foley

• Music: Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter

• Podcast: Dr. Becky Kennedy: Protocols for Excellent Parenting & Improving Relationships of All Kinds on Huberman Lab

• Social Media: @backgrid_usa for paparazzi sightings

what to watch tonight: vacation edition

All movies and tv series that I recommend in this section are included with your Amazon Prime subscription. I have also viewed and approved every recommendation personally. It’s my goal to make recommendations that will satisfy what you’re in the mood for so none of your precious downtime is wasted!

Comedy/Coming of Age: The Way Way Back (2013): Watch for excellent character development and the nostalgia of finding yourself through awkward teenage years. You’ll feel a lot of feelings when watching this movie: pity, sadness, empathy, joy, satisfaction. It has an all-star cast featuring Steve Carrell playing an a**hole (which he is very good at). It got a lot of recognition and several awards nominations. I love this movie; it’s so sweet. On Paramount+ and Hulu.

Comedy: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008): Watch for a hilarious comedy that I think holds the same value as Anchorman. This movie, to me, is one that you can recite all the lines too. The humor is a mix between the stupidity and silliness of Anchorman and the crudeness and charm of Knocked Up. It takes place in Hawaii, Russell Brand was at his peak, Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis were a big draw, Jonah Hill wasn’t who he is just yet, and the masses were introduced to Jason Segel’s mind. I think most of you will have seen this already and if you have, it’s always worth another watch. Definitely one of my favorite comedies ever. On Max and Hulu.

Rom/Com: Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008): Watch for a trip abroad filled with art, romance, food, and exploration. This is a comfort movie for me. Written and directed by Woody Allen, you know you’re going to get lightheartedness, wit, vintage jazz, beautiful scenery, and roadblocks in romance. It stars Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Rebecca Hall. On Tubi and Roku.

Drama: The White Lotus (2021): Watch this series for a perfect balance between comedy, drama, intrigue, and shock. I’m really in the mood to rewatch this show. This is an anthology series, meaning there’s a different cast and storyline from season to season, that follows the vacationers and employees of a prestigious hotel, The White Lotus. I love when the separate stories of multiple characters merge together. The casts in both seasons are incredible. I definitely prefer season 2 but they’re both well worth a watch. Also, season 3 is coming and will take place in Thailand. On Max and Hulu.

Action/Adventure: Outer Banks (2020-2024): Watch this series for a rare storyline about an adventurous treasure hunt! I have to be honest, seasons 1 and 2 are the best and I really enjoyed them. Season 3 couldn’t hold my attention so I’ve barely scratched the surface on that one. Season 4 will release on October 10th (the first half at least) so now is a good time rewatch and refresh. I’m still deciding if I want to even dive into S3… On Netflix.

Comedy: The Heartbreak Kid (2007): Watch for a crude, silly, and kind of sad Ben Stiller comedy. I describe this movie as “sad” because Ben Stiller’s character is truly pathetic in this film and he’s someone who just can’t seem to get ahead. So he takes a leap of faith and marries the perfect woman, who doesn’t turn out to be as perfect as he thought. This is a Farrelly Brothers film (There’s Something About Mary, Dumb & Dumber) so that’s the kind of humor to expect. And it’s a comfort movie for me and I can’t really figure out why lol. On Hulu and Paramount+.

Rom/Com: Ticket to Paradise (2022): Watch for more undeniably good chemistry between Julia Roberts and George Clooney. While this isn’t an award-winning film, it’s a breath of fresh air to see two of our most prized actors doing something that’s less intense, more fun, and not on the radar of awards season. You can almost tell there’s a lightness that they have as you watch. George and Julie play divorced parents who go to Bali to stop their daughter from marrying someone she just met. I’m sure you can guess where it goes after that. On Starz and Hulu.

Rom/Com: Palm Springs (2020): Watch for a rom/com that got a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes (this is hard to do for this genre IMO)!! I like to see a twist on a classic rom/com and this one has that. Two wedding guests become stuck in a time loop and begin to develop a romance as they relive the same day over and over. I’m not a huge fan of Andy Samberg but he’s toned down in this film. On Hulu and Disney+.

Kids & Family: The Parent Trap (1998): Watch for a classic switch comedy that your kids will love. This was one of my favorite movies as a kid and I’m sure it was one of yours too. There’s something about ‘90s/early ‘00s kids movies that just can’t be replicated these days! I experience the amazing combo of Oreos with peanut butter because of this film! Lindsay Lohan plays twins, Hallie and Annie, twins who were separated at birth and cross paths at summer camp. Also, did you know this is a Nancy Meyers film?? On Disney+.