Hey, who wants to go on a road trip?

I sure do. Alas, I’m a grown adult with a wife, a child, and a steady job. I can’t just pick up and drive across country like I once could.

Yet, I’ve been lucky enough to drive across country two-and-a-half times before between the winter of 1996 and the spring of 2001. My first round trip brought me from my native Boston to Los Angeles for a three-month stay, and my second was a cross-country tour of pro baseball parks with two high school buddies – 14 parks in 25 days. My last half crossing was a final relocation from the East Coast to Los Angeles, which is where I’ve lived since May of 2001.

I’d say I’ve gotten the itch again, but in truth, it’s an itch I live with all the time.

Since my current life circumstances won’t allow me to scratch that itch, I thought I’d do the next best thing: embark on a cinematic road trip. Because this road trip will be a virtual one, it’s not limited by pesky things like reasonable driving routes, vehicle maintenance, and the available time in my schedule to zigzag across the country.

So I’m here today to announce a new series on the Flickchart blog for 2013, called Flickchart Road Trip. I’ll be starting out in California and “driving” across country, stopping for a week in each of the 50 states. I’ll have to hop a plane to Hawaii, but where there are roads, I’ll use them, including doggedly driving across Canada from Washington to Alaska. Remember, no limitations. Assuming I don’t get stranded anywhere, I’ll finish up in time to be home by Christmas.

I’ll mark each stop by watching a movie set in that state, one where the setting is in some way essential to the story. (Yep, I’m sure there’s some movie out there whose Delaware setting is essential.) I’ll also briefly discuss five or so other movies from each locale – some favorites, as well as some not-so-favorites. In true Flickchart style, the new movie will then duel the other films to see where it takes its place among a random sampling of, say, Wyoming movies. Well, a random sampling of Wyoming movies that I’ve seen, anyway.

So I’m gassing up, packing some snacks, and heading east toward Arizona this week. Gotta stay in the southern half of the country during the winter, don’t ya know.

Thanks in advance for tuning in. If you join me, we’ll see America together – even if we’re only seeing it on celluloid.