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June’s Summer Movies: Transformers and more
It used to be that June was the start of the summer season, both on the calendar and in the movie theater. Now June seems more like a way station at the cinema, sandwiched between the behemoths of May and July, but there are a few interesting prospects this month.
Check back here for May’s list.
JUNE 5
The pitch: Three groomsmen (Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha) lose their about-to-be-wed buddy when they get wasted, forcing them to find him before the church bells ring.
The buzz: Supposedly attracted some good buzz, but the director, Todd Phillips (School for Scoundrels, Road Trip), has an uneven track record. I’ll withhold judgment until I read reviews.
The prospect: C
The pitch: Will Ferrell and the gang bring the fondly remembered TV show to the megaplex.
The buzz: The obnoxious trailer shows Will Ferrell being chased by a T-Rex. I’m rooting for the T-Rex.
The prospect: F
The pitch: Nia Vardalos of My Big Fat Greek Wedding fame actually goes to Greece this time, playing a travel guide.
The buzz: Vardalos needs this movie to prove that she’s not a one-hit wonder. I’m hopeful she has the chops to do it.
The prospect: B
JUNE 12
Imagine That
The pitch: Eddie Murphy takes a trip into his daughter’s imaginary world, having been a washout as a dad.
The buzz: Man. Dreamgirls aside, Eddie’s just not trying anymore, is he?
The prospect: D
The pitch: Criminals hijack a New York City subway train, pitting the mastermind (John Travolta) and a subway dispatcher (Denzel Washington) against each other.
The buzz: The 1974 original with Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw is a taut little thriller. I’m confident that with these stars, and director Tony Scott at the helm, this remake might actually be even better.
The prospect: A
JUNE 19
The pitch: Sandra Bullock forces Ryan Reynolds to marry her so she isn’t deported back to Canada.
The buzz: The trailer is actually kind of charming, making this look like Bullock’s first halfway decent vehicle in awhile. The director, Anne Fletcher, made the halfway decent 27 Dresses.
The prospect: B
The pitch: Jack Black and Michael Cera play comic cavemen.
The buzz: The initial ad was unimpressive, but more recent trailers have been funnier. With Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day) directing, benefit of the doubt must be granted.
The prospect: B
JUNE 26
The pitch: When Abigail Breslin learns the truth about her birth, she enlists lawyer Alec Baldwin to emancipate her from parents Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric.
The buzz: Could be terribly saccharine, terribly heartwarming or both. Hard to tell, but I’m curious. And does it weird you out too to see Diaz playing a mom?
The prospect: B
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
The pitch: Robots make movie theater go boom. Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox are back.
The buzz: Yeah, I know, a lot of people loved the first one, but I’m convinced most of that love was based on nostalgia rather than anything in the movie itself. I still don’t trust Michael Bay. I just don’t. That said, I still hope he surprises me.
The prospect: C
What are your thoughts on June’s slate?
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Coming Attractions
Comments
By R J..Miamisburg, Oh
April 29, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this
What about the non major $ to produce Indy flick-Deadheads-The Movie. Word of mouth says this Zombie/Comedy will be a minor hit, not unlike 40 yr Old Virgin.. Stars a Born in Dayton actor, Michael McKiddy.Kid grew up in Springboro..By SRCputt
April 28, 2009 6:52 PM | Link to this
Wedding Crashers went from hilarious to unwatchable as soon as Ferrell showed up. He did the HBO special as Bush, and even botched that. At this point, I can’t stand watching him for five seconds, let alone minutes.By Kim
April 28, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this
You’re right on, Haters - I do indeed hate Will Ferrell. I think 5 minutes of Will can be funny - but beyond that it tends to get predictable, crude and juvenile to me. But I know there are folks that love that type of humor and find it hilarious - you are obviously right that he must have fans out there. I will pass myself - but enjoy!By Haters
April 28, 2009 2:48 PM | Link to this
Although Land of the Lost will probably be terrible, you are all still haters. Will Ferrell is extremely funny, you just have to appreciate that type of humor. He is making movies still because he has a huge fan base “Kim”. The Hangover looks extremely funny so I hope that it is. The Proposal looks like it will be one of the chick flicks my wife forces me to watch that I will actually end up enjoying. Really looking forward to the new Transformers movie. Year One will be a hit or miss, probably wait to see it on DVD. No real interest in the others, but that doesn’t make them dumb or a “waste of film”. Just not my type of film.By JT
April 28, 2009 2:27 PM | Link to this
I never watched Transformers as a kid because it was too cheesy (most Japanese produced cartoons were back in the day) and I thought that the movie would be the same but I went to see it when I my friends told me how good it was and they weren’t wrong. I think this movie will be a hit. There aren’t many movies that I am looking forward to except for Terminator: Salvation, Transformers and Star Trek.By Kim
April 28, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this
This group looks more interesting to me overall than May’s did. I continue to be amazed that worthless Will Ferrell is making movies - what a waste of film. And I’m so sad about Eddie - I used to love his comedy - he just can’t seem to dial it in much any more. As you say - Shrek aside - that tells me that he still has it - he just can’t seem to properly channel anymore. It DOES have Nickelodeon mixed up in it - so I guess that tells us what age level it’s for. Hangover doesn’t interest me, but all of the rest does. I’m not sure about the Sandra Bullock flick’s premise - but I love her so I have to. And yes - I don’t expect Transformers to be any great movie making - but I enjoy watching Shia LeBeouf and I think this is a “fun escape” type of film - definitely drive-in fodder. If he wasn’t in it, then I wouldn’t have any interest. :) So obviously - the cast can make a big difference to me! That is also the same reason that I will watch Pelham - cast. I’m generally not into crime type thrillers - but Denzel and Travolta are always worth watching.By Daniel
April 28, 2009 9:13 AM | Link to this
I’m very suprised that I pretty much agree with all your reviews, at least there were none where we were on opposite spectrums. Will Ferrell + Land of the Lost = F? I doubt I’ll ever bother to see this one so I won’t disagree (for me it’s more simply Will Ferrell + Comedy = F). I think a well learned lesson for the studios releasing Eddie Murphy movies would be to stop considering him as a summer tent pole. His summer movies continue to flop since his last summer hit 2003’s Daddy Day Care (Shrek’s notwithstanding). Even Norbit managed to rake in the dough with a February release, and that was a BAD movie. Sandra Bullock + comedy schtick romance = Yes, please! I still want to see the second Transformers film because the trailer was amazing, but I’m hoping they continue moving forward and don’t show more of the same stuff.