2010 Summer Movie Preview – August

Director: Adam McKay

Film: The Other Guys

Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan

MPAA rating: PG-13

Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/t/theotherguysposter.jpg

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6 August
The Other Guys

Adam McKay is a pretty consistent comedy mind. After the one-two punch of Anchorman: The Legend of Rod Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, he had a slight stumble with the hit or miss Step Brothers. Now he’s got favorite funnyman Will Ferrell teaming up with Mark Wahlberg as a pair of ineffectual cops who must take over for a couple of NYC’s Finest (played by Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson). While the premise has promise — as does the casting — it will be up to McKay to lend the proceedings a farcical focus that a vehicle like this often lacks.

 

Director: Jon Chu

Film: Step Up 3D

Cast: Rick Malambri, Adam Sevani, Sharni Vinson, Alyson Stoner

MPAA rating: PG-13

Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/s/stepup3dposter.jpg

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6 August
Step Up 3D

More dance dreariness (this time, amplified by Tinseltown’s latest money grab gimmick) as the gang from that high profile Maryland School of the Arts find themselves in the City of Light. A missed flight and a stolen routine gets hunky hoffer Moose immersed in the seedy world of Paris underground dance competitions. Aside from the backdrop, sounds like every other installment in this “movement is misunderstood — and amazing” genre. Expect a big opening weekend (especially among tweens to 25-year-olds) and some added firepower from the 3D. After that, it’s a lifetime of reruns on MTV2.

 

Director: George Gallo

Film: Middle Men

Cast: Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht, James Caan

MPAA rating: PG-13

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6 August
Middle Men

Luke Wilson stars in, what several reviews have hinted at, is one of 2009’s most ingenious and shocking comedies. Why haven’t we heard of it until now? Well, just like The Human Centipede (or perhaps, more directly, the gay-themed Jim Carrey vehicle I Love You, Philip Morris), it’s had a near impossible time finding someone who would champion its release. Apparently, the Internet-themed narrative has mobsters, mayhem, and some miscreant behavior that’s bound to make audiences blush. The poster makes it look like a sexier update of Mad Men. Based on what we have read, it seems closer like a smut spiked take on the world behind the World Wide Web.

13 August

Director: Ryan Murphy

Film: Eat, Pray, Love

Cast: Julia Roberts, Billy Crudup, James Franco, Javier Bardem, Viola Davis, Richard Jenkins, Christine Hakim

MPAA rating: PG-13

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13 August
Eat, Pray, Love

With Sandra Bullock usurping her spot as favorite female vanguard (and top tabloid queen), Julia Roberts is ready to reclaim some of that lost lady love. Here’s hoping she can do something viable with Elizabeth Gilbert’s seemingly omnipresent mash letter to herself. She should have called it How a White Woman Got Her Slightly Out of Sync Groove Back and be done with it. Still, for an under-served audience who spends way too much time complaining about the lack of entertainment geared toward them, we get this “journey of self discovery”. Why they insist we discover it as well remains to be seen.

 

Director: Edgar Wright

Film: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Cast: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman

MPAA rating: PG-13

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13 August
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Save us, Edgar Wright… SAVE US! In a Summer that seems more recycled that revelatory, the brilliant British director, responsible for the classics Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (as well as the TV cult creation, Spaced), is like Obi-Wan Kenobi. He may just be our only hope. Taking on the beloved graphic novel series about a young man who must defeat his new girlfriend’s seven evil exs in order to win her heart sounds slightly surreal, but with its retro Batman cartoon bubbles and stylized action approach, this looks to be amazing. Sure, Wright could be ripe for a stumble, but we’re betting on the UK god to pull this off.

 

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Film: The Expendables

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin,

MPAA rating: R

Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/e/expendablesposter.jpg

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13 August
The Expendables

If you like your testosterone fueled cast brawny, beefy, slightly over the hill and yet brimming with concrete camp value, Sylvester Stallone’s latest bloodshed epic has your name written all over it. Forget about the superb casting — our man Rambo, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Randy Couture – or the impressive cameos (Ahhhhnold and Bruuuce, just to name a few). It’s the mercenaries on a murderous mission to overthrow a South American dictator that has our adrenalin pumping. If the action and gore level are as ludicrously large as Sly’s last stint behind the lens, this could be a groovy post-modern splatter event.

20 August

Director: John Luessenhop

Film: Takers

Cast: Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Steve Harris, Matt Dillon, Paul Walker

MPAA rating: PG-13

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20 August
Takers

Takers has two problems facing it that have little to do with storytelling and everything to do with star power. The first is that one of the main players in the film, rapper T.I., is currently finishing up a stint in prison on weapons charges. Secondly, co-star Chris Brown is still carrying around the stain of spousal abuse from his assault on the singer Rhianna. Even with Matt Dillon, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba and Dork Vader Hayden Christensen on board, it will be tough for this heist film to overcome said subtext. Maybe newcomer John Luessenhop can find a way to overcome controversy and bring the legitimate thrills back to this crime thriller.

 

Director: Susanna White

Film: Nanny McPhee Returns

Cast: Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ralph Fiennes, Rhys Ifans, Maggie Smith

MPAA rating: PG

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20 August
Nanny McPhee Returns

Like last month’s Cats and Dogs return, this is another oddly out of step sequel. Honestly, was anyone in the modern mainstream marketplace begging for a return of this fugly Mary Poppins-esque entity? While Emma Thompson is one of England’s top talents, wouldn’t her muse be better served on something not so… antiquated? This time around, Nanny comes calling on the Green farm, where a harried mother tries to keep things together while father is away at war. Add in the usual unruly brats, a smattering of UK eccentrics, and the title character’s combination of magic and message and you’ve got a fun family film that, frankly, no one was really asking for.

 

Director: Josh Gordon, Will Speck

Film: The Switch

Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Juliette Lewis, Jason Bateman, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson

MPAA rating: PG-13

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20 August
The Switch

Jennifer Aniston is looking for a man to get her pregnant. When that fails, a turkey baster does the trick (this is in the actual press materials, people). Seven years later, best friend Jason Bateman shows up to tell her the special sperm she thought she was using was actually some one else’s… his. Are you laughing now? The only saving grace amongst this pile of preposterous poo… Blades of Glory‘s Josh Gordon and Will Speck are behind the lens. Perhaps they can wipe that Lifetime movie patina off this pathetic excuse for a laugher and make it a rude and raucous time.

 

Director: Erik White

Film: Lottery Ticket

Cast: Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Teairra Mari, Keith David, Charlie Murphy, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Terry Crews

MPAA rating: PG-13

Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/l/lotteryticketposter.jpg

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20 August
Lottery Ticket

Bow Wow (no longer Lil’) is in possession of a piece of paper worth $370 million. His scheming family and neighbors want to relieve him of said burden. Unfortunately, it’s the Fourth of July weekend, which means our hero has to wait three days before he can cash-in and call for back-up. Urban anarchy ensues. First time feature filmmaker Erik White has little experience with such a massive Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ideal (his claim to fame – directing videos for the R&B quartet B2K). Still, the cast is commendable, and Ice Cube is on board as Executive Producer, so who knows? Maybe this will be a grand ghetto blast.

27 August

Director: Alexandre Aja

Film: Piranha 3D

Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Steven R. McQueen, Adam Scott, Ving Rhames, Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Lloyd, Jerry O’Connell

MPAA rating: R

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07 May
Piranha 3D

It’s time for French fright master Alexandre Aja to stop with the remakes. His Haute Tension remains a stylish slasher homage, and the unfairly dismissed Mirrors has its moments of atmospheric dread. But after reinventing Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes for a No Nukes world, do we really need his CG heavy take on the Joe Dante Jaws rip-off? According to Messageboard Nation, the answer is a solid “Sure”. Hoping for a gore-drenched romp, the signs do point toward something reasonable fun. After all, seeing Richard Dreyfuss back in Matt Hooper mode is enough to get us psyched. Bring on the feeding frenzy.

 

Director: Josh Radnor

Film: happythankyoumoreplease

Cast: Malin Akerman, Kate Mara, Zoe Kazan, Michael Algieri, Tony Hale, Josh Radnor

MPAA rating: PG-13

Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/d/happythankyoumoreplease poster.jpg

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27 August
happythankyoumoreplease

Actor Josh Radnor, better known as Ted Mosby on the hit CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, is making his writing and directing debut in this pretentiously titled slice of Manhattan life. The main narrative thread has his character taking a lost child back to his apartment, thus beginning the kind of personal growth spurt that only happens in the movies. With Watchmen‘s Malin Ackerman and The Visitor‘s Richard Jenkins, this promises to be one of those overly earnest efforts that few see and even less care about. Still, could make for some sincere end of the season counterprogramming.

 

Director: Nanette Burstein

Film: Going the Distance

Cast: Drew Barrymore, Ron Livingston, Justin Long, Christina Applegate, Charlie Day, Kelli Garner

MPAA rating: PG-13

Image: http://images.popmatters.com/blog_art/g/goingthedistanceposter.jpg

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27 August
Going the Distance

The title refers to the Chicago to LA romance of Justin Long and his real life on-again, off-again gal pal Drew Barrymore. The screenplay was written by first timer Geoff LaTulippe. The film is directed by documentarian Nanette Burstein. More than that? We just don’t know. Rummaging around the Internet, we found pictures of the two stars frolicking like fifth graders, but everything else about this film is apparently hush-hush… or at the very least, not worth crowing over four months before its release. Once the Summer season starts up proper and the profit line pieces fall into place, we may get a better idea of what’s going on here.

 

Director: Daniel Stamm

Film: The Last Exorcism

Cast: Patrick Fabian, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum, Ashley Bell, Jamie Alyson Caudle, Tony Bentley, Shanna Forrestall

MPAA rating: R

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27 August
The Last Exorcism

Though it’s not the most original idea out there (several low budget independent films have tried it — and failed), producer Eli Roth just might be the man to pull this off. Using a first person POV style, we are invited into the world of a smarmy televangelist who allows a documentary camera crew to follow him as he performs an exorcism. Director Daniel Stamm has some background in this approach. His film, A Necessary Death, proposed the following of one suicidal individual from planning to final act. As long as he takes the material seriously, and doesn’t diddle around like other “found footage” films, this could be a great send-off to a so-so season.