Summer is here and for moviegoers, that means the release of some of the biggest blockbusters of the year. Although some of the summer’s hits have already been released – “Ironman 2,” “Clash of the Titans,” and “Robin Hood”- there are still some big titles waiting to make a summer splash. Here’s what to look forward to…
“Get Him to the Greek”
Releases June 4
The summer is not really offering many comedy films. At this point “Shrek Forever After” and “MacGruber” have already been released, so what’s left is “Get Him to the Greek.” This whole project is really based on an idea that comedy geniuses Jonah Hill and Russell Brand had really good chemistry in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and almost stole the show. Therefore, Universal Pictures’ experiment is to see if that chemistry will bring in big bucks at the box office. The production company floods the film with some of the biggest names in music including: Pink, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, and Lars Ulrich. It’s hard to imagine that Jonah Hill won’t deliver some laughs, but I wouldn’t expect the success that “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” had as this film seems more gimmick than substance.
“The A-Team”
Releases June 11
Hopefully you are as excited about this film as I am. It was one of the best shows of the 80’s – I know it was my favorite along with “MacGyver.” Now, that once-beloved show is taking the leap into film and getting a noteworthy upgrade in acting caliber with the likes of Liam Nesson, Bradley Cooper, and Patrick Wilson. As if this wasn’t enough to put any guy in a seat at the nearest theater, Jessica Biel is in it too. Explosions, comedy, parachuting tanks, Liam Nesson, cigars, mohawks, an awesome theme-song, and Jessica Biel… I’m there!
“The Karate Kid”
Releases June 11
Let’s face it. This was probably not the Smith you were hoping to see in a film this summer, but if “like father, like son” is true, than Jaden Smith will be a big box-office draw. “The Karate Kid” is a remake of the classic 80’s film “The Karate Kid” which had a generation of people repeating “wax on, wax off” and “sweep the leg.” The film also boasts the talent of arguably the most famous martial artist today, Jackie Chan. When I first heard about this project I was filled with doubt, because I didn’t want a great classic to be tainted. After seeing the trailer, though, I’m thinking today’s generation is going to be in for a pleasant surprise.
“Toy Story 3”
Releases June 18
Fifteen years ago “Toy Story” revolutionized animated films and paved the way for Pixar to become a household name. Now the characters we all love, Woody, Buzz, Hamm, Mr. Potato Head, Rex and some new characters, most notably Ken from Ken and Barbie, are back for the final installment of the beloved tale of Andy and his toys. Though it is an animated film intended for a very young audience, this franchise will certainly bring out the child in us. It will also be a bittersweet experience as it will be great to see these characters again, but sad to say good-bye – until we see them on DVD.
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”
Releases June 30
Is it too early to crown the summer’s biggest draw? It’s safe to say that “Eclipse” will probably be bringing the most money this summer. How do I know that? That’s easy – just ask the group of thirteen-year old girls already in line for tickets. There’s a very specific audience for this film but it’s an audience that will go back to see it time and time again declaring their love for either team Jacob or team Edward or dragging their spouses for their guilty pleasure. Whatever the excuse, millions of people will be watching this film when it releases – I just won’t be one of them.
“The Last Airbender”
Releases June 30
There are multitudes of people anxiously awaiting the release of “The Last Airbender,” some are fans of the Anime series. Some just want to know what M. Night Shyamalan’s mind-blowing twist will be. Still, twist or no twist, the trailer flaunts impressive effects, an intriguing storyline, and one of the best directors working today. Hopefully this film will help shake off the cobwebs from the DVD copies of “The Lady in the Water” and “The Happening” that are still on store shelves.
“Despicable Me”
Releases July 9
To go against “Shrek” and ‘Toy Story” is quite daunting, so what do you do? You recruit the voice talents of Steve Carrell, Kristen Wiig, Jason Segel, Will Arnett, Ken Jeong, Danny McBride, Russell Brand, and Jack McBrayer to name a few. “Despicable Me” is the first of a couple of animated movies being released within the year that contain a villain protagonist. America loves Steve Carrell, so there will be a guaranteed number of tickets sold but will the story be good enough to compete with the other animated heavy-hitters? We’ll have to go and see to find out.
“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”
Release July 9
I thought Nicolas Cage was done, then he went and starred in “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” and “Kick-Ass” and came roaring back into the limelight with quality performances. In “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” he’s starring in a movie aimed at a wider audience. I’m sure this film is hoping to grab on to the same magnetism as the “Harry Potter” franchise and “Percy Jackson.” It is armed with a strong cast that includes Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, and Monica Bellucci. It’ll be interesting to see if Cage can continue this trend of good performances. Although, I wouldn’t bet on him for too long as there are also sequels for both “Ghost Rider” and “National Treasure” in the near future.
“The Expendables”
Releases August 13
I cannot think of a better way to close out the summer than with a movie that flaunts the most big names as well as the most gunshots and explosions than all the other summer movies combined. “The Expendables” is a Sylvester Stallone project that promises to deliver more mind-numbing action than you could ever imagine. It’d be ridiculous to even begin to name some of the names that are attached to this project (Jet Li, Dolph Lundren, Randy Orton, Jason Statham, and more), I just know that every guy who saw the trailer and saw Stallone, Willis, and Schwarzenegger together in one scene instantly grew even more chest hair.
