This little indie film deserves to be a classic. It's called Safety Not Guaranteed, and it's funny and, in places, deeply moving. There's also a story behind the film that is possibly even more interesting than the story in the film. It concerns the source of an internet meme.

Back in 1997, Editor John Silveira was reaching for copy for a print magazine called Backwoods Home. I know the feeling. He decided to insert a joke ad in the classified section. The ad read like this:

Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box ... You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before.

The ad got thousands of snail mail replies, it is said, and inspired an internet meme. In 2012, it inspired a film, which is available online.

Be charitable as you watch the film. It's actually quite good, but it's not Hollywood-good. No elaborate effects, no big-name actors. Nonetheless, Safety Not Guaranteed is thoughtful, cheerful, and fun.