Movies to match any vacation mood

Right about now, I bet most of us are wishing we were somewhere else. After almost a year of COVID-19 restrictions, including on travel, the cabin fever has long since set in, and a yearning to be some place, any place, else. So what’s one to do: travel via film of course! International films are a great way to dip a toe into other countries and cultures, but sometimes you just want to see a different place, a different vibe or some different weather for crying out loud. So here are some streaming suggestions to escape the state you’re in, for at least 90 minutes.

If you’re craving sun and sand, check out:

“The Shallows” (2016), starring Blake Lively as an adventurous surfer who goes to battle with a great white shark while charging waves in Mexico. Jaume Collet-Serra’s lean, mean beach thriller is way better than it has any business being, and is almost entirely in the crystal-clear waters of Queensland, Australia, where it was filmed. This sunny splash of salt water and shark-based thrills will set you right instantly. Plus, an inspired supporting performance from “Stephen the Seagull.” Rent it for $2.99 on Amazon or Redbox.

“Mamma Mia” (2008) is the fastest delivery system for a dose of silly, sun-dappled joy. Drink in all the sun-drenched scenery of the Greek island where it was filmed, upon which some of our finest actors gyrate, hip thrust and lip-sync to the infectious tunes of Sweden’s greatest export, ABBA. Phyllida Lloyd’s movie musical is pure cinematic Pixy Stix, a sugar rush of corny jokes, bright costumes and musical numbers. Plus, Meryl Streep! Pierce Brosnan singing badly! A snorkel-based dance routine featuring a game Dominic Cooper! You need this serotonin! Watch it on Starz, or a $3.99 digital rental on all platforms.

“How Stella Got Her Groove Back” (1998): Angela Bassett + Taye Diggs + Jamaica, need I say more? Terry McMillan adapted the script from her own novel for the film directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan, about the workaholic Stella (Bassett), who meets (and falls in love with) hunky younger man Winston while on vacation in Jamaica with her bestie Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg). Enjoy the backdrop of Montego Bay for this steamy, sexy romance. Stream it on HBO/HBO Max.

However, maybe you’re in a sunny place and craving something more seasonal with more mountains and snow. Here are a few frigid films to cozy up to:

“Cold Pursuit” (2019): Swedish director Hans Petter Molland remade his own film “In Order of Disappearance,” as a Liam Neeson aggrieved dad thriller, transposing the location to a Colorado mountain town (though they shot in British Columbia, tax breaks!). In this black comedy, a snowplow driver (Neeson) unearths the seedy underbelly of a dastardly small town drug gang while seeking revenge for the death of his son. Rent it for $3.99 on iTunes, Amazon or YouTube.

“The Mountain Between Us” (2017): Your mileage may vary on survival thrillers at the moment (who needs more stress?), but this manages to be the pleasant kind of stranded-on-a-mountain movie. Mostly because of the chemistry between Idris Elba and Kate Winslet, and also, there’s a very good dog and not too much peril (just enough). $3.99 rental on Amazon, YouTube or Redbox.

“The Shining” (1980): The ultimate snowed-in, cabin fever mind melter, “The Shining” may not be the vibe you are going for at the moment, but you have to admit it’s relatable. Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall star in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel, in which a young family finds themselves snowed-in alone at a remote old haunted hotel (in so many words). We may all be on the verge of speed-typing “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” so perhaps a viewing of this masterpiece will serve as a course-correcting cautionary tale. $3.99 rental on all digital platforms.

Can’t decide? There’s only one correct answer:

“The Holiday” (2006): Nancy Meyers’ rom-com is The Ultimate Holiday film, in which Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet trade homes for the holidays. You want sunny LA Christmas? You got it, with Winslet befriending an older neighbor and Hollywood screenwriter in a palatial SoCal pad, while enjoying a flirtation with composer Miles (Jack Black). But what about a cozy English cottage? Coming right up, and this one comes equipped with your very own Jude Law, as Amanda (Diaz) discovers. It doesn’t get any better than this for escapist holiday fare. Watch it on USA or rent it for $2.99 on Amazon or iTunes.