Published: May 14, 2009 10:24 am      

MOVIES: Summer movie preview

By Phil Dzikiy



There are a few big movies coming up in recent weeks (“Angels & Demons,” “Terminator Salvation” and the “Night at the Museum” sequel), but the summer movie season begins in earnest after Memorial Day. This season features the usual cavalcade of remakes, sequels and book adaptations with a few truly original works sprinkled in. This summer is also surprisingly light on comic book films. Without further adieu, your summer starting lineup.



MAY 29

• “Up” — It’s doubtful that Pixar will ever release a bad movie. This one’s about an old man who ties thousands of balloons to his house and takes off for adventure, but he isn’t alone. A 9-year-old stowaway makes the trip with him. Some theaters will be showing this in 3D.



JUNE 5

• “Land of the Lost” — A film version of the children’s television series, starring Will Ferrell and Danny McBride, who traipse around with a bunch of dinosaurs in prehistoric times. It’s hard to tell who the audience for this film really is. As of this writing, the movie was not yet rated by the MPAA.

• “The Hangover” — Directed by Todd Phillips, who also directed “Old School,” “Road Trip” and “School for Scoundrels.” Those three films are all clues as to what this movie will be like.



JUNE 12

• “The Taking of Pelham 123” — This will be the third film based on the novel about the hijacking of a New York subway. This new version stars Denzel Washington and John Travolta. If nobody has any objections, they just might keep remaking this every time people forget about the most recent version.



JUNE 19

• “Year One” — Somewhat reminiscent of “History of the World, Part I,” this film stars Jack Black and Michael Cera as bumbling buddies in ancient times. Harold Ramis co-wrote and directed the movie.

• “The Proposal” — Sandra Bullock plays an editor who could get deported to her native Canada, but she claims she’s engaged to her American assistant, played by Ryan Reynolds. Even though it’s all a hoax, here’s guessing they might actually fall in love ... for real.



JUNE 24

• “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” — A sequel to 2007’s summer blockbuster. Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox return, as do director Michael Bay, gigantic robots and explosions.



JUNE 26

• “My Sister’s Keeper” — A twisting family drama involving a sister who was genetically engineered to match her older sister, who has leukemia. Starring the likes of Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin and Alec Baldwin, this movie is based on the Jodi Picoult book.



JULY 1

• “Public Enemies” — Johnny Depp and Christian Bale square off as notorious criminal John Dillinger and FBI agent Melvin Purvis. Michael Mann directs this film, which looks like a must-see.

• “Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” — These animated comedies have to be hits, or else, they wouldn’t make them, but it has to be tough finding anyone who really loves the “Ice Age” series.



JULY 10

• “Bruno” — Sasha Baron Cohen is back, ready to set another one of his characters (a gay and flamboyant Austrian fashion reporter) loose on unsuspecting Americans. The film has already gotten buzz for a few of its stunts — it may not make bank like “Borat,” if only due to increased competition in mid-July, but it could come close.

• “I Love You, Beth Cooper” — A nerdy high school valedictorian declares his love for the high school cheerleader, who after hearing his declaration of love, actually shows up at his house. Her military boyfriend is not pleased. Zany antics ensue. Based on the book by Larry Doyle, Hayden Panettiere stars as the title character.



JULY 15

• “Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince” — After a long delay, the penultimate Potter film hits the big screen. Spoilers shouldn’t matter years after the fact, but we here at Night & Day still can’t bring ourselves to reveal the three-word spoiler that destroyed the psyche of so many Potter fans. If you want to know, Google it.



JULY 17

• “(500) Days of Summer” — Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character falls in love with Zooey Deschanel’s character, but things don’t work out and he relives parts of the past. The trailer gives off an “Eternal Sunshine” vibe, which is either a great sign or a setup for great disappointment.



JULY 24

• “G-Force” — A Disney movie about guinea pig spies who say things like “Holla!” and “Pimp My Ride!” and dance to the Pussycat Dolls. We viewed the trailer so you don’t have to.

• “Orphan” — Horror movie about an adopted orphan who’s “different.” Different apparently means “pure evil.” Oh, and she also has a secret. Creepy children have a long and noble tradition in horror. Reminiscent of “The Good Son” and “The Omen.” Peter Sarsgaard is on board for this one.

• “The Ugly Truth” — Gerard Butler is an obnoxious macho shock jock who works at a TV station where Katherine Heigl is his producer. Of course, she doesn’t like his ways. But she needs his help to get a man, despite the fact that she’s Katherine Heigl.



JULY 31

• “Aliens in the Attic” — A bunch of kids do battle with some aliens. It’s all very family-friendly.

• “Funny People” — Judd Apatow’s prints are all over plenty of Hollywood comedies, but this is only the third film he’s directed (following “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up”). Adam Sandler stars as George Simmons, a comedian who is nearing death. He connects with a struggling young comedian, Seth Rogen. When George’s disease goes into remission, he starts to reevaluate his life.



AUGUST 7

• “G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra” — “Transformers” isn’t the only 1980s franchise getting big screen love this year. Here’s what can be discerned from the trailer: There’s some kind of great threat, followed by fighting and explosions. Michael Bay must have been too busy with “Transformers” to direct this. There’s no other explanation.

• “Julie & Julia” — Meryl Streep brought summer blockbusters in a new direction with “Mamma Mia!” Here she tries to do it again, playing the literal and figurative culinary giant, Julia Child. Her story is intercut with that of a young, modern woman named Julie (played by Amy Adams), who decides to cook a recipe in Child’s cookbook every day.



AUGUST 14

• “Ponyo” — A new Hayao Miyazaki movie! It’s about a boy and a goldfish princess who wants to become human. The star-studded cast includes Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Cate Blanchett and Liam Neeson. Animation fans know what’s up.

• “The Time Traveler’s Wife” — Based on the Audrey Niffenegger book about a couple in love. The man, played by Eric Bana, is a time traveler who lives his life on a shifting timeline with no control. His lover is played by Rachel McAdams. Those unfamiliar with Niffenegger’s book, but familiar with Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five,” can’t help relating the story to that of Billy Pilgrim, who became “unstuck in time.”



AUGUST 21

• “Inglourious Basterds” — It’s the new Quentin Tarantino film. Most people are either in or out after that sentence, but those needing information must know this film follows the adventures of a group of Nazi-hunting Jewish-American soldiers in World War II.