She was the hilarious Jodi, the stoner gal pal of beard bet participant Martin in the classic Knocked Up. Now Charlyne Yi is taking on the post-modern concept of romance in her documentary style comedy co-starring Superbad‘s Michael Cera. Those looking for more Friend of Apatow facets will need to focus elsewhere. This wry, observant take on love was a Sundance smash, and while it does contain a few familiar ex-Freaks and Geeks faces, Yi’s take on this material (with help from director/co-writer Nicholas Jasenovec) is all her own, and it looks really wonderful.

14 August

The Time Traveler’s Wife

Director: Robert Schwentke

Cast: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams,  Ron Livingston, Jane McLean, Stephen Tobolowsky, Arliss Howard

(Warner Bros.; US theatrical: 14 Aug 2009 (General release); 2009)

German director Robert Schwentke follows up his surprise suspense thriller hit from 2005, the Jodie Foster vehicle Flightplan, with this tantalizing take on Audrey Niffenegger’s fascinating novel about a man with a predisposition toward traveling through time. Apparently it’s genetic, and the title character must deal with his frequent absences and the dangers that result from his visits through the continuum. Originally purchased by then couple Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, the final casting finds the busy Eric Bana as the man with the daunting DNA and Rachel McAdams as his somewhat understanding spouse. The last time something like this worked, it was written by Richard Matheson and called Somewhere in Time. Gimmickry does not necessarily make convincing drama, and this all sounds so high concept. Still, Niffenegger’s book had some fascinating undercurrents. Here’s hoping Schwentke added a few to the standard cinematic formulas.

The Post Grad Survival Guide

Director: Vicky Jenson

Cast: Alexis Bledel, Jane Lynch, Michael Keaton, Carol Burnett, Zach Gilford

(Fox Atomic; US theatrical: 14 Aug 2009 (General release); 2009)

What to do when the real world comes calling? That’s the plight of every matriculating college kid. Thankfully, Alexis Bledel of The Gilmore Girls and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is on hand to offer this take on how to make it through the post-graduation blues. Of course, there’s an eccentric family to return to, as well as the mandatory manhunt to live through. Through it all, Shrek and Shark Tale director Vicky Jenson brings some of her animation sensibilities to Kelly Fremon’s far too familiar live action script. A clear case of “wait and see”, though here’s betting the release get bumped to a less “commercial” climate.

A Perfect Getaway

Director: David Twohy

Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Marley Shelton, Steve Zahn

(Universal; US theatrical: 14 Aug 2009 (Limited release); 2009)

• Review [7.Aug.2009]

Another unknown quantity as Summer skips merrily toward Fall. Writer/director David Twohy, best known for his horror efforts Pitch Black and Below has crafted a new thriller about a pair of lovers who come face to face with a murderous group of killers while vacationing in Hawaii. It sounds so Turistas it’s not even funny. Still, this is the filmmaker who was once championed as a possible macabre master. Unfortunately, the release date has been bumped a couple of times, with a direct to DVD plan plotted and then rejected.

The Goods: The Don Ready Story

Director: Neal Brennan

Cast: Jeremy Piven, Jordana Spiro, Ving Rhames, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, Kathryn Hahn

(Paramount Vantage; US theatrical: 14 Aug 2009 (Limited release); 2009)

We’re not exactly sure of this film’s title. Some sites have it listed with the moniker above. Others use The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard as the official name. Whatever the case, Entourage‘s Jeremy Pevin recuperates from his recent bout with Mercury poisoning long enough to play a used car liquidator desperate to turn a failing dealership around. A special July 4th promotion just might do the trick. Some have resorted to calling this film Extreme Used Cars, in reference to the Kurt Russell/Robert Zemeckis cult comedy from 1980. Apparently, it is all in the name.

28 August

Inglorious Basterds

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Brühl, B. J. Novak, Til Schweiger, Diane Kruger

(The Weinstein Company; US theatrical: 21 Aug 2009 (General release); 2009)

Official Site

Quentin Tarantino is like an obsessive-compulsive kid with ADD. One moment, he’s bemoaning the many projects he can’t get off the ground, the next he’s knee deep in the production of another one of his homage heavy masterworks. For the longest time he’s been bellyaching about being unable to make his dream epic—a balls out, violence heavy World War II example of ‘Grunt’ Guignol. Now, Inglorious Basterds is about to compete at the Cannes Film Festival. This tale of a group of Jewish American soldiers in France, hand picked to spread terror amongst the occupying forces of Nazi Germany, has everything Tarantino could want—history, bombast, machismo, potential cinematic references, a killer cast, and more excuses for blood and bedlam than Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs combined. While some were disappointed with his last effort - the Grindhouse bound Death Proof—here’s betting he’s back in the geek’s good graces with this gore-laced love letter to the brutality of war. 

H2: Halloween 2

Director: Rob Zombie

Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Matt Bush, Scout Taylor-Compton, Brad Dourif, Tyler Mane, Danielle Harris, Sheri Moon Zombie

(The Weinstein Company; US theatrical: 28 Aug 2009 (General release); 2009)

Official Site

Nothing is more satisfying that being one of the few voices of reason during an otherwise marginalized film’s first few weeks of release. While this critic championed Rob Zombie’s first foray into John Carpenter’s classic slasher mythos back in 2007, he was one of a rare few. Many decided to defend the original post-modern master of suspense, letting fandom fuel what were typically one-note judgments. Now, in the light of a DVD release day, there are more appreciators of Zombie’s reinvention of the Michael Myers legend than legitimate haters. Now, after initially vowing not to return to the franchise, Zombie is back, preparing to take the masked spree killer into territory both fresh and familiar with this hospital based showdown. The trailer looks especially brutal, and as the mind behind The Devil’s Rejects, this is one director who understands the nasty. Here’s hoping that, with the bellyaching over “trodding on tradition” done with, audiences give this film an unbiased look.

The Boat That Rocked

Director: Richard Curtis

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Sturridge, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost

(Universal; US theatrical: 28 Aug 2009 (General release); 2009)

Official Site

1960s pirate radio circa Swinging London. A cast that includes Rhys Ifans, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Nick Frost, and Bill Nighy. The writer behind such feel good hits as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Love Actually (which he also directed). So far reviews have been good to mixed, with the large company being pointed out for much of the praise/problems. As long as the music stays true to the context, this could be a genuine jukebox gem. Still, there’s more than enough room for error here, especially among die-hards in ‘tune’ with the era.