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Thursday, May 1, 2008
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I want to believe ... in the summer movie season Summer movie preview Entertainment Editor Welcome to my annual pseudoscientific guessing game of what movies won't stink this summer. The schedule includes joyful reunions - I don't know about you, but I'm overdue for an "X-Files" fix, and I also can't say no to "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones" and M. Night Shyamalan (though I probably should know better).
Hollywood also plans to serve up tasty comedies - "Step Brothers" for Ferrell Fans and "Pineapple Express" for Apatow Acolytes, although the smart money is on "Get Smart." And perhaps this summer will see the emergence of new stars - for one, hop on over to see "The House Bunny's" Emma Stone.
1. "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" (July 25)
Why it'll be awesome: "The X-Files," a series that never should've ended, is finally reopened. Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) return six years after the series finale to investigate a stand-alone mystery. That's a great choice by Chris Carter and company, because the mythology was hard enough to follow even when you tuned in every week. Those who are boning up on latter-season episodes will be glad to see that Mulder and Scully's child, William, will be acknowledged, too.
2. "Get Smart" (June 20)
Why it'll be awesome: The previews for this remake of the TV classic are laugh-out-loud funny. It parodies the spy and action genres with the same deft touch "Hot Fuzz" brought to the buddy-cop flick by subverting clichˇs - swinging between buildings, our heroes crash into a wall rather than majestically soaring through an open window. Steve Carell, who has become a bit annoying as Michael on "The Office," was born to play this slapsticky spy. Throw in Anne Hathaway as the sexy sidekick, and you've got a can't-miss comedy.
3. "Step Brothers" (July 25)
Why it'll be awesome: Two grown men who never got around to moving out of their folks' houses suddenly have to share a room when their single parents get hitched. That's a great premise. Then again, "Failure to Launch" had a funny premise, too, so take heart that the step brothers are played by comedy king Will Ferrell and John C. Reilley, who is coming off a hilarious turn in "Walk Hard."
4. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (Aug. 15)
Why it'll be awesome: The Clone Wars era is among the richest storytelling periods in "Star Wars" lore, having produced a lot of great comic books and novels, along with Cartoon Network's short animated installments. In the fall, "The Clone Wars" will get the full-fledged series treatment - and in a seemingly apocryphal twist, Padawan Anakin will get his own Padawan in this series-launching big-screen flick. Sure, it's just a way to make more money, but seeing that Lucasfilm logo materialize still has a spine-tingling factor.
5. "The Happening" (June 13)
Why it'll be awesome: Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan misfired with "Lady in the Water" in 2006, but given his prior track record, he deserves the benefit the doubt. "The Happening," which finds humans dropping like flies from a mysterious plague, seems to have the slow-but-compelling vibe of "Signs" rather than the slow-and-boring vibe of "Lady."
6. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (May 22)
Why it'll be awesome: George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have lost their touch in recent years - "Revenge of the Sith" and "War of the Worlds," anyone? - but they genuinely seem to be back in the "Indy" saddle for the fun of it (It's not like they don't have enough money). Shia LeBeouf, who has made a career of playing the Everykid, is on board here as the latest straight man for our aging archaeologist (Harrison Ford) to bounce quips off of.
7. "Pineapple Express" (Aug. 8)
Why it'll be awesome: Among Judd Apatow's "Freaks and Geeks" alumni, it's James Franco's turn to take a leading role. His character is a stoner, so imagine an even more laid-back version of Daniel Desario, if such a thing is possible. Seth Rogen, who got his starring turn last year in "Knocked Up," plays the best bud who joins Franco on the run from corrupt cops. Funny antics will likely ensue.
8. "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" (Aug. 8)
Why it'll be awesome: The first "Pants" was a simple but lovable story of four best friends (and a magical pair of jeans - although in retrospect, that seems like a hoary plot device) learning life lessons over summer vacation. This movie continues their tales. Interestingly, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn were TV stars when the first film was released; now the other two girls - America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty") and Blake Lively ("Gossip Girl") - have hit shows.
9. "American Teen" (July 25)
Why it'll be awesome: It's a documentary (maybe "reality movie" would be a better term) about an actual group of high school friends. I'm always up for anything that attempts to get at the root of that bizarre, traumatizing and retrospectively surreal period of life known as "high school." And Entertainment Weekly says one of the teens, Hannah Bailey, is like a real-life Juno MacGuff. Sweet.
10. "The House Bunny" (Aug. 22)
Why it'll be awesome: Delightfully scratchy-voiced future star Emma Stone - the girl who gets a broken nose courtesy of stumbling Seth in "Superbad" - gets a starring role. She plays a conservative sorority house president who clashes with a former Playboy bunny (Anna Faris of the "Scary Movie" franchise), who somehow ends up as her housemother.
JOHN HANSEN, entertainment editor, may be reached at john.hansen@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5863.
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