'Sex' leads summer movie roundup
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, May 23, 2008
Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth star in the new "Sex and the City" movie that starts our summer movie preview.
With the Indiana primary - Indiana Jones primary, that is - out of the way, it's time to move on to more conventional summer issues.
Like, what film will be the biggest hit?
Sure, Indy's an Obama-like contender. But could "The Dark Knight," the "Batman Begins" sequel that features Heath Ledger, pull an upset?
Or what about the women of "Sex and the City"? Are they the summer's Hillarys?
Don't discount Will Smith - the king of July openings - with "Hancock" or a revitalized "X-Files."
Mike Myers, the John McCain of blockbusters, hasn't had an Austin Powers film in years. But his newest character, Guru Pitka, could become the next big franchise. The film: "The Love Guru."
Taking third party stabs at summer success: M. Night Shymalan with "The Happening," Pixar with "WALL*E," Ben Stiller with "Tropic Thunder" and Brendan Fraser with "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."
Some will succeed. Most will fail.
As of Memorial Day, the race begins.
By date, here's what to look for:
May 30
SEX AND THE CITY - Carrie and company return to, supposedly, wrap things up. Will she wed Big? Can Samantha quit her cougar ways? Those questions -- and Charlotte's pregnancy -- dominate the big-screen adventure. Sarah Jessica Parker stars.
June
June 6
KUNG FU PANDA - Jack Black provides the voice for a high-kicking panda bear. He has to go up against a vicious leopard and still maintain his chi. Animation run amok.
June 13
THE HAPPENING - Like TV's "Jericho" something bad has happened, forcing Mark Wahlberg to lead folks to safety. Know that there's more than meets the eye. M. Night Shymalan directs.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK - OK, the last try didn't work. But, then, Ed Norton wasn't playing the man in green. This time out, he's in Brazil looking for a cure to his, um, problem. Liv Tyler co-stars.
June 20
GET SMART - The original TV series is so old teens will think it's the most brilliant new idea ever. Steve Carell stars as Maxwell Smart, the bumbling Agent 86 who tries to bring down KAOS. Anne Hathaway is along for support.
KIT KITTRIDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL - Abigail Breslin plays one of the uber-popular dolls in this live-action drama set in the Depression.
THE LOVE GURU - Mike Myers has been working on the character for years. Now, he thinks he has its essence. The Guru takes on New Age psychobabble. Jessica Alba is Linda Evans to his Yanni.
June 27
FINDING AMANDA - Matthew Broderick goes on the trail of his niece, a Vegas prostitute.
WALL*E - Combining "E.T." with R2D2, the folks at Pixar found a robot who's both lovable and sympathetic. Left behind on an environmentally bankrupt Earth, he falls for a droid named Eve and harbors a desire to go to a new home.
WANTED - A seemingly normal guy (James McAvoy) is snatched up by Angelina Jolie and drafted into a high-level group of assassins. Based on a graphic novel, it has "Matrix"-like effects. And Jolie? She's a one-woman special effect.
July
July 2
HANCOCK - Will Smith plays a superhero who doesn't have a superhero attitude. To help him fly with the big boys, he hires a public relations counselor. Jason Bateman gets the job.
July 11
HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY - If you didn't see the first one you're not likely to embrace this one. But you could get a hint at what Guillermo Del Toro hopes to do with "The Hobbit."
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH - This is a 3-D trip. Brendan Fraser plays a scientist who leads a group to the core.
MEET DAVE - Eddie Murphy plays a goofy guy who's guided by a man in a spaceship (also Eddie). At least it's not "Norbit 2."
July 18
THE DARK KNIGHT - Christian Bale returns as the man in black but the real attraction is Heath Ledger as the Joker. Michael Caine is back as Alfred.
DIMINISHED CAPACITY - Matthew Broderick falls for his high school sweetheart when he's trying to get his uncle into a nursing home. Virginia Madsen plays the sweetheart. Alan Alda is the uncle.
MAMMA MIA! - Meryl Streep gets the leading role (after losing "Evita" to Madonna). She plays a woman who has to tell her daughter which of three former suitors is her dad. Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth are among the possibilities. Get ready for the songs of Abba.
July 25
THE LONGSHOTS - Wonder what happened to Fred Durst? He's directing now. Keke Palmer plays a girl leading her football team to victory.
STEP BROTHERS - Will Ferrell (what would summer be without him?) and John C. Reilly try to get along when their parents wed. Judd Apatow (the producing king of summer) is behind it.
THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE - Mulder and Sculley ditch the mythology and go right for the drama. They're on the trail of a mystery that could be alien.
August
Aug. 1
HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU - Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo's book gets a comic twist thanks to "Malcolm in the Middle's" Ken Kwapis. Produced by Drew Barrymore, it stars Ginnifer Goodwin and a bunch of bigger names.
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR - More special effects. More Brendan Fraser. Here, the undead are in the Far East. Michelle Yeoh is the villain.
THE ROCKER - "The Office's" Rainn Wilson plays an aging rocker who gets a comeback when his nephew needs a drummer.
SWING VOTE - One vote could change the outcome of a presidential election. Kevin Costner holds the power.
Aug. 8
FLY ME TO THE MOON - Animation. Apollo 11. Buzz Aldrin. And 3-D.
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS - Sleeper alert! This could be the one you weren't expecting. Seth Rogen plays a guy who witnesses a murder. A stoner friend (James Franco) tries to help him survive.
SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 - Those jeans girls return. Only this time, America Ferrera has "Ugly Betty," Blake Lively has "Gossip Girl" and Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel are free from the weekly TV grind.
TRANSSIBERIAN - Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer become friends with strangers who suddenly get them involved in a dastardly mystery. Ben Kingsley is the villain.
Aug. 15
HENRY POOLE IS HERE - Luke Wilson plays a loner who doesn't want to mix with people. Others think differently.
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS - Just when you thought the franchise was dead, this animation effort pops up like a droid.
TROPIC THUNDER - Ben Stiller plays an actor who gets mixed up in a real battle. With him? Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black.
Aug. 22
THE ACCIDENTAL HUSBAND - A radio psychologist finds trouble when she gives advice that isn't taken well. Uma Thurman stars.
CROSSING OVER - Immigrants in Los Angeles struggle to make ends meet. Harrison Ford (no kidding), Sean Penn, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd star.
THE HOUSE BUNNY - When she's expelled from the Playboy Mansion, a bunny (Anna Faris) has to start over. She finds work as social adviser to a sorority.
WILD CHILD - Remember "Nancy Drew"? Then you might like this comedy about a bratty teen who has to go to a British school. Emma Roberts gets the title role.
Aug. 29
TRAITOR - Could a hero actually be a villain? That's what Guy Pearce and Jeff Daniels have to investigate when they're sent on the trail of Don Cheadle.
All release dates are subject to change.
Like, what film will be the biggest hit?
Sure, Indy's an Obama-like contender. But could "The Dark Knight," the "Batman Begins" sequel that features Heath Ledger, pull an upset?
Or what about the women of "Sex and the City"? Are they the summer's Hillarys?
Don't discount Will Smith - the king of July openings - with "Hancock" or a revitalized "X-Files."
Mike Myers, the John McCain of blockbusters, hasn't had an Austin Powers film in years. But his newest character, Guru Pitka, could become the next big franchise. The film: "The Love Guru."
Taking third party stabs at summer success: M. Night Shymalan with "The Happening," Pixar with "WALL*E," Ben Stiller with "Tropic Thunder" and Brendan Fraser with "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."
Some will succeed. Most will fail.
As of Memorial Day, the race begins.
By date, here's what to look for:
May 30
SEX AND THE CITY - Carrie and company return to, supposedly, wrap things up. Will she wed Big? Can Samantha quit her cougar ways? Those questions -- and Charlotte's pregnancy -- dominate the big-screen adventure. Sarah Jessica Parker stars.
June
June 6
KUNG FU PANDA - Jack Black provides the voice for a high-kicking panda bear. He has to go up against a vicious leopard and still maintain his chi. Animation run amok.
June 13
THE HAPPENING - Like TV's "Jericho" something bad has happened, forcing Mark Wahlberg to lead folks to safety. Know that there's more than meets the eye. M. Night Shymalan directs.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK - OK, the last try didn't work. But, then, Ed Norton wasn't playing the man in green. This time out, he's in Brazil looking for a cure to his, um, problem. Liv Tyler co-stars.
June 20
GET SMART - The original TV series is so old teens will think it's the most brilliant new idea ever. Steve Carell stars as Maxwell Smart, the bumbling Agent 86 who tries to bring down KAOS. Anne Hathaway is along for support.
KIT KITTRIDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL - Abigail Breslin plays one of the uber-popular dolls in this live-action drama set in the Depression.
THE LOVE GURU - Mike Myers has been working on the character for years. Now, he thinks he has its essence. The Guru takes on New Age psychobabble. Jessica Alba is Linda Evans to his Yanni.
June 27
FINDING AMANDA - Matthew Broderick goes on the trail of his niece, a Vegas prostitute.
WALL*E - Combining "E.T." with R2D2, the folks at Pixar found a robot who's both lovable and sympathetic. Left behind on an environmentally bankrupt Earth, he falls for a droid named Eve and harbors a desire to go to a new home.
WANTED - A seemingly normal guy (James McAvoy) is snatched up by Angelina Jolie and drafted into a high-level group of assassins. Based on a graphic novel, it has "Matrix"-like effects. And Jolie? She's a one-woman special effect.
July
July 2
HANCOCK - Will Smith plays a superhero who doesn't have a superhero attitude. To help him fly with the big boys, he hires a public relations counselor. Jason Bateman gets the job.
July 11
HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY - If you didn't see the first one you're not likely to embrace this one. But you could get a hint at what Guillermo Del Toro hopes to do with "The Hobbit."
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH - This is a 3-D trip. Brendan Fraser plays a scientist who leads a group to the core.
MEET DAVE - Eddie Murphy plays a goofy guy who's guided by a man in a spaceship (also Eddie). At least it's not "Norbit 2."
July 18
THE DARK KNIGHT - Christian Bale returns as the man in black but the real attraction is Heath Ledger as the Joker. Michael Caine is back as Alfred.
DIMINISHED CAPACITY - Matthew Broderick falls for his high school sweetheart when he's trying to get his uncle into a nursing home. Virginia Madsen plays the sweetheart. Alan Alda is the uncle.
MAMMA MIA! - Meryl Streep gets the leading role (after losing "Evita" to Madonna). She plays a woman who has to tell her daughter which of three former suitors is her dad. Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth are among the possibilities. Get ready for the songs of Abba.
July 25
THE LONGSHOTS - Wonder what happened to Fred Durst? He's directing now. Keke Palmer plays a girl leading her football team to victory.
STEP BROTHERS - Will Ferrell (what would summer be without him?) and John C. Reilly try to get along when their parents wed. Judd Apatow (the producing king of summer) is behind it.
THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE - Mulder and Sculley ditch the mythology and go right for the drama. They're on the trail of a mystery that could be alien.
August
Aug. 1
HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU - Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo's book gets a comic twist thanks to "Malcolm in the Middle's" Ken Kwapis. Produced by Drew Barrymore, it stars Ginnifer Goodwin and a bunch of bigger names.
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR - More special effects. More Brendan Fraser. Here, the undead are in the Far East. Michelle Yeoh is the villain.
THE ROCKER - "The Office's" Rainn Wilson plays an aging rocker who gets a comeback when his nephew needs a drummer.
SWING VOTE - One vote could change the outcome of a presidential election. Kevin Costner holds the power.
Aug. 8
FLY ME TO THE MOON - Animation. Apollo 11. Buzz Aldrin. And 3-D.
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS - Sleeper alert! This could be the one you weren't expecting. Seth Rogen plays a guy who witnesses a murder. A stoner friend (James Franco) tries to help him survive.
SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2 - Those jeans girls return. Only this time, America Ferrera has "Ugly Betty," Blake Lively has "Gossip Girl" and Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel are free from the weekly TV grind.
TRANSSIBERIAN - Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer become friends with strangers who suddenly get them involved in a dastardly mystery. Ben Kingsley is the villain.
Aug. 15
HENRY POOLE IS HERE - Luke Wilson plays a loner who doesn't want to mix with people. Others think differently.
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS - Just when you thought the franchise was dead, this animation effort pops up like a droid.
TROPIC THUNDER - Ben Stiller plays an actor who gets mixed up in a real battle. With him? Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black.
Aug. 22
THE ACCIDENTAL HUSBAND - A radio psychologist finds trouble when she gives advice that isn't taken well. Uma Thurman stars.
CROSSING OVER - Immigrants in Los Angeles struggle to make ends meet. Harrison Ford (no kidding), Sean Penn, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd star.
THE HOUSE BUNNY - When she's expelled from the Playboy Mansion, a bunny (Anna Faris) has to start over. She finds work as social adviser to a sorority.
WILD CHILD - Remember "Nancy Drew"? Then you might like this comedy about a bratty teen who has to go to a British school. Emma Roberts gets the title role.
Aug. 29
TRAITOR - Could a hero actually be a villain? That's what Guy Pearce and Jeff Daniels have to investigate when they're sent on the trail of Don Cheadle.
All release dates are subject to change.
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