The Other Guys
Director: Adam McKay
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell, Samuel L. Jackson (more)
Synopsis: Two mismatched New York City detectives seize an opportunity to step up like the city's top cops whom they idolize -- only things don't quite go as planned.
Why We're Excited: Will Ferrell is at his (mostly) best when working with director Adam McKay (see: Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers, You're Welcome America). Mark Wahlberg excels at blue-collar comedy (see: I Heart Huckabees). Smart move on the part of Dwayne Johnson to take a supporting role here, since we want to love him again; he's part of an ace supporting cast that includes Eva Mendes, Steve Coogan, Anne Heche, and Michael Keaton.
Why We're Not: We're used to distinct characters from McKay and Ferrell, not storylines that bring Bruce Willis to mind. Maybe we're still sore from Land of the Lost.
Trivia: The project's original title was The B Team.
Step Up 3-D
Opening Date: August 6, 2010
Director: Jon Chu
Synopsis: The kids from the Maryland School of the Arts head to Paris for an international dance competition, but when Moose (Sevani) misses the flight home, he is inducted into the city's underground dance scene, which is about to have its own contest. The case of a stolen routine finds Moose looking to bring some of his friends back to the City of Lights for the event.
Why We're Excited: While wish we someone would make a movie about performing-arts students that was as brave and realistic as the original Fame, at least these college kids get to go abroad. And the thing about the first two Step Up movies? They're aren't so bad, especially if you zone out whenever anyone is talking and isn't dancing.
Why We're Not: We all saw what happened with the Fame remake, and this movie isn't trying anywhere near as hard to get the names of these unknowns into wider circulation. Following Moose (the character played by Adam Sevani) on a side journey makes us really miss Channing Tatum from the original.
Trivia: Newcomer Sharni Vinson got her start on long-running Australian TV show "Home and Away," where future stars such as Heath Ledger , Chris Hemsworth , Melissa George , Stephanie Jacobsen , Isla Fisher , and Ryan Kwanten all got their starts.
Eat, Pray, Love
Opening Date: August 13, 2010
Director: Ryan Murphy
Synopsis: While trying to get pregnant, a happily married woman realizes her life needs to go in a different direction, and after a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey.
Why We're Excited: It’s about time Julia got back to being Julia – though this time, we welcome the mature, smart perspective instead of just the pretty woman laughing. Advance word is touting this as Julia’s Blind Side -- it may be a little premature to be talking Oscar, but this could be one of the top grown-up movies this summer. Plus, we bet writer/director Ryan Murphy fits in a little “Glee”-style subversiveness.
Why We're Not: Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s polarizing bestseller (everyone either clutched it to their heart or rolled their eyes), this could fall into psychobabble treacle if mishandled. Sometimes, nothing is more tiring than someone else’s journey of self-discovery – better make sure we want to go on the trip!
Trivia: Murphy co-wrote the adaptation with Jennifer Salt, daughter of screenwriting guru Waldo Salt, acclaimed indie actress – and one of the stars of the classic '70s sitcom “Soap”.
The Expendables
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Synopsis: A team of six mercenaries heads to South America on a covert, CIA-funded assignment to overthrow a dictator -- fully unaware they're on a suicide mission that might redeem their souls, or destroy their brotherhood.
Why We're Excited: This year is full of action, from MacGruber to the Predators reboot and The A-Team spin-off. But really, the best idea belongs to Sylvester Stallone, who assembled a team of killers comprised of two '80s tough guys, a kung-fu legend, an MMA champ, a contemporary movie star, and an athlete-turned-cult icon. It's like the action genre's version of The Breakfast Club. And we've learned to keep our enthusiasm in check in the era of massive Internet hype. Oh, also: more stunts than CGI!
Why We're Not: 1980s nostalgia is still fun (kinda), except when you traffic in that era's icky military campaigns.
Trivia: Wesley Snipes and Jean-Claude Van Damme turned down roles in the project.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Opening Date: August 13, 2010
Director: Edgar Wright
Synopsis: Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil ex-boyfriends in order to win her heart.
Why We're Excited: Universal shelled out for a talented cast and crew for this adaptation of the treasured comic by Bryan Lee O'Malley. Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright and his faithful producer Nira Park top the list of behind-the-scenesters, some of whom have worked with Wright since the cult TV series, "Spaced". The trailer was an online sensation and the movie has stayed in the news thanks to the production's diligence in documenting and streaming loads of on-set action. Youth in Revolt, which was criminally mishandled by its distributor, proved that Cera can be a bad-ass, but the campy, lighter tones here are a better fit for his charming persona (or personae, as the Scott Pilgrim case may be). Sure the boys/exes are noteworthy, but the ladies in the cast are much more so. Kudos to Mary Elizabeth Winstead for disappearing into her character (and wigs), and what a nice Up in the Air follow-up for Anna Kendrick. One of our faves, Alison Pill, supports, and we can't wait to watch Cera face off against his one-time "Arrested Development" girlfriend, Mae Whitman, who played Ann Veal on the show.
Why We're Not: Does Hollywood know how to handle Cera in the post-Juno era? Paper Heart and Year One followed the direct-to-video Extreme Movie, and there were the aforementioned problems with Youth in Revolt. Universal is desperate for a hit, but they're relying on two cult audiences (Cera's and Wright's) to help them take on the box-office world. Interesting how Cera doesn't have any projects in true development or production at the moment...
Trivia:The film's original title was Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life.
Piranha 3-D
Opening Date: August 20, 2010
Director: Alexandre Aja
Synopsis: After a sudden underwater tremor sets free scores of the prehistoric man-eating fish, an unlikely group of strangers must band together to stop themselves from becoming fish food for the area's new razor-toothed residents.
Why We're Excited: Director Alexandre Aja (High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes) hasn't shown a sense of humor until now, since his remake of the 1978 cult(ish) classic(ish) seems like it'll poke fun at clueless American revelers -- before his CG creations devour them. And with a cast that includes Elisabeth Shue, Dina Meyer, Jerry O'Connell, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames, and Richard Dreyfuss (!!), we're pretty sure everyone on screen knows that they're in a B movie and will overact accordingly.
Why We're Not: A year ago to the month, we were exposed to two of the most anemic horror movies, Halloween II and The Final Destination; is August the new dumping ground for this genre? Also, the writing duo are the same two dudes who helped remake another 2009 dud, Sorority Row, which was sooo fast-forwardable.
Trivia: At one point in the movie’s development, Chuck Russell (The Mask, The Scorpion King) was attached to direct.
Going the Distance
Opening Date: August 27, 2010
Director: Nanette Burstein
Synopsis: A look at the trials and tribulations of Erin (Barrymore) and Garrett's (Long) long-distance relationship.
Why We're Excited: We're quite curious to see documentary filmmaker Nanette Burstein (American Teen, The Kid Stays in the Picture) back behind the camera. Here's hoping that her documentarian's sensibility, paired with the comedic zaniness at which Drew Barrymore and Christina Applegate excel, can instill some fresh energy into the romantic comedy genre.
Why We're Not: The film's release has been moved to the end of August, which can be the graveyard for projects that studios don't see as sure-bets for box-office success. We're worried that this film could suffer from the Real Life Couple curse - stars Justin Long and Drew Barrymore are an on-again-off-again pair. Also, can anyone out-quirk (500) Days of Summer?
Trivia: Screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe was a script reader at New Line before the studio optioned his script for this movie.
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