Travel for Fun

Movie: Back to the Future

Location: 1985 to 1955 and back again

 

This movie is definitely about travel but more of the unconventional kind.  Doc Brown is a scientist extraordinaire and creates a time machine out of an old DeLorean.  The only downside is that it runs on plutonium.  Doc says that the time machine will work if the speedometer reaches 85 miles per hour.  As he and Marty McFly, the typical young adult with a dysfunctional family and a poor school record, are testing out the machine, Libyan terrorists come after Doc Brown.

After Doc appears to be hit, Marty jumps into the DeLorean and speeds off.  Without realizing he has gone over 85 miles per hour and Marty finds himself transported through time.  After finally getting a hold of a newspaper, Marty learns that he has gone back in time thirty years to a time days before his parents are supposed to meet.  The one hitch is that the time machine is broken and he must find his way back.

Marty begins his future in the past while trying not to interfere with occurrences which are supposed to happen.  As Marty is trying to fit into the past, he meets his parents when they are teens, run into some trouble with the town bully, and searches for Doc Brown in the past.  He must explain to the Doc what he has built in the future and persuade him to help him.  Luckily, Marty knows what will happen in the future which is able to aid him in returning to the present year as he knows it.

This movie is definitely unique in its travel issues and will no doubt become an all time favorite for anyone who sees it.

Movie: Serendipity

Location: California to New York

                New York to California

 

Jonathan Trager (John Cusack) is getting married in New York City, however, he can't stop thinking about Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale), a girl he met in Macy's a few years earlier.  They experienced a wonderful evening together and decided to tempt fate.  They didn't exchange last names and decided to see if destiny would bring them back together.  If it was meant to be they would find each other again.  Sara wrote her number in a used book and Jonathan wrote his on a five dollar bill.  Now that Jonathan is about to tie the knot, he can't decide if he's making a mistake.  He keeps his search going to find Sara.

Sara is living in California and dating a wonderful musician named Lars.  She too can't stop thinking about finding Jonathan.  She decided to travel to New York City with her friend Eve (Molly Shannon) for vacation, but she really had every intention to find Jonathan.  They visit Central Park, the ice skating rink, Serendipity's, Macy's, the Waldorf Astoria, a golf range, the Empire State Building, and other general tourist spots.  Jonathan and Sara just keep missing each other by a few seconds.

Jonathan finds the book with Sara's number on it and locates her home in California.  He quickly jumps on a plane to see her while she's right there in New York City.

Now I don't want to give away the entire movie, though you can already tell it's predictable.  The movie is fun, fast paced, and most of all very romantic.

Movie: My Best Friend's Wedding

Location: New York City to Chicago, Illinois

Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) is traveling to from New York City to Chicago for her best friend Michael's (Dermot Mulroney) wedding.  Still secretly in love with Michael, Julianne is pretty jittery about being in his wedding party and extremely jealous of the bride, Kimmy (Cameron Diaz).  Julianne tries her hardest to break up the wedding by spreading lies and twisting the truth, but Michael isn't noticing Julianne because he only has eyes for Kimmy, the love of his life.

Because Kimmy's father fictitiously owns the Chicago Cubs, the viewers get to see a lot of the stadium, including the Cubs' dressing room, press rooms, and VIP viewing booths.  The shots of the stadium are gorgeous and you almost feel like you are in Chicago.

In one of Julianne's attempts to sabotage Kimmy, she brings her and Michael to a cute bar which happens to have karaoke.  Kimmy wins the entire crowd over while Julianne's plans are ruined.

Michael and Kimmy's wedding is held in Kimmy's family's mansion estate just outside the urban city streets of Chicago.  The gardens are full of blooming gardenias and roses while there is an ornate gazebo right in the middle of the five acre backyard.

Not only does this movie portray glorious shots of Chicago, is it a movie where you can both laugh and cry.  Julia Roberts is in a perfect role for her and a memorable scene will have the song "Wishing and Hoping" in your head for the rest of the week.

Movie: Groundhog Day

Location: New York City to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

 

Phil Conners (Bill Murray) is having the worst day of his life and he keeps experiencing it over and over again.  Phil is a weather news forecaster who's on assignment to see if Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, is seeing his shadow on February 2^nd.  Being a classic city guy, Phil is not fond of the suburban town.  After his assignment, Phil finds himself waking up the next morning and its February 2^nd again.  Thinking he's in his worst nightmare, Phil starts playing the scene to his own advantage which includes courting his news producer Rita (Andie MacDowell).

Phil is not used to the homey town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.  The people are friendly and they know all of your business.  The coffee shop is quaint and the waitress can already anticipate the orders of her customers.  Phil also experiences things he never dreamed of doing , childish things like having a snowball fight, ice skating, and making snow angels in the local park.  Punxsutawney also has small town activities like square dancing.  Phil danced and drank with the locals as he tries to woo Rita with his charm and wit.  Knowing what is coming next in his day is a definite benefit for Phil.

If you're in the mood for a little romance, a little drama, and a lot of comedy definitely pick up Groundhog Day for your next movie night.  It may just make you want to go see the groundhog on February 2^nd.

Movie: Cocktail

Location: New York to Jamaica

 

Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise as Brian Flanagan and Elisabeth Shue as Jordan Mooney from 1988 is one of my favorite romantic movies.  What's not to like? An incredibly cute, smooth talking bartender pursues and dates a girl he meets on the island of Jamaica.  Jordan is there on holiday with her girlfriends.  Brian is working his time as a bartender on the sunny isle.  Like most Americans, Brian is looking for the ultimate get rich quick scheme and while he's waiting for that to happen, he rakes in the money with a dream job (gets all the girls) and a dream location (Caribbean island) while saving money to start his own business.

As Brian courts Jordan, the viewers get to see the gorgeous shots and views of Jamaica.  The scenes are always on a jovial people-full beach where men and women are partying and having the time of their lives.  And why not?  "It's Jamaica mon." Brian and Jordan go horse back riding on the beach in the surf, frolic in waterfalls and oceans, and dine in quaint island restaurants.  The movie setting shifts to New York, when the characters return back to reality.  Just like Jamaica is portrayed in its glorious nature, major New York attractions are shown like famous delis and bustling city streets.

So if you're in the mood for a little romance, this movie definitely makes one want to escape their normal humdrum life to take a trip to Jamaica - to paradise.