Sofa Snark: 4 Films for 4th of July

4 – This is America, Charlie Brown (1988)

I’m cheating a bit by including “This is America, Charlie Brown,” as it was an eight-episode CBS miniseries, so it doesn’t exactly qualify as a film. But, no holiday is complete without a little Charlie Brown. You’ve got “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Be My Valentine Charlie Brown,” “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown” and “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown.” There is no getting around that the Peanuts gang are American icons. In “This is America,” the kids learn about major events in this country’s history. Add this collection to “Schoolhouse Rock!” and you’ve got a fine collection of animated Americana.

Worst Patriotic Movie Ever

Since this list points out four must-see 4th of July films, I thought it best to end things on a negative note. The worst patriotic movie ever produced… “Pearl Harbor.” Everything wrong with Hollywood came together for this film, making it a craptastic perfect storm. Cheese ball director Michael Bay ruined the war film genre this with clunker, starring the equally horrible Ben Affleck. Seriously, beyond the Kevin Smith films, what has Affleck done that is worth sitting through?