Chicago Weekend Fun!

Every summer provides a long list of movies trying to get our attention away from the beach, the grill, your computer and the video games. This summer in Chicago will be no different. Whether you see your movies at AMC Theaters or Cineplex Odeon you will need a scorecard to keep up with the new releases.

New Comic-Book Movies. This genre wasn’t even around before Toby Miguire made it sexy to be Spider Man. Now the comic book franchise has hit an all time high with 4 movies this summer and some new actors trying their hand at playing comic book characters.

Iron Man (May 2), features Robert Downey Jr at the Iron Man and Tony Stark a billionaire inventor who develops an iron suit with all kinds of special superpowers built in. Of course this is an interesting project because the character battled alcoholism and so has the actor. Although when Robert Downey Jr was in rehab it was more rare than it is now, what the stars do regularly makes his stint seem pale by comparison. I just saw this movie last week and while some people were there to see how true to the comic books it was or how good the special effects were, I thought the story and the characters were great too.

The Incredible Hulk (June 13) is back with Edward Norton as the guy who gets green, and he decided to also co-write the screenplay for this movie. There has been mixed feedback about that decision with people writing that he has made some not so good decisions about it but we won’t know for sure until it is out. The Hulk or Bruce Banner is a scientist trying to find a cure for the disease that causes his metamorphosis and change at the same time as being chased by Tim Roth as a villain called The Abomination.

Also, Wanted (June 27), Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy are in the film they shot here in Chicago last fall. James is an office worker guy who is recruitd by a sexy assassin Angelina find his hidden superpowers and work for good not evil.

Hancock (July 2) isn’t actually a comic book story but makes fun of them. The film has Will Smith as a much-disliked superhero and Jason Bateman as his publicity guru and Charlize Theron as the wife of the PR guy. Not much info is available about this movie yet, but these are pretty big names.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (July 11) is directed by Guillermo del Toro and features Ron Pearlman as Hellboy, a demon and hero. (weird that one can be both) This is a mythological story with armies coming to fight from every direction. This does not really sound like an appealing film to women, unless you enjoy a good fight.

Also, you can’t forget the much hyped, filmed in Chicago Batman film The Dark Knight (out July 18). Thie is the movie that Heath Ledger just finished after filming as the Joker. This is a sequel to Batman Begins but before all the ones we know from Clooney-Keaton times. Christian Bale is Batman once again and battles the Joker as the series continues to evolve in a character, set and costume way.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (releases May 22) This movie is being released 19 years after the last film in the series! I am surprised they decided to do this and not really sure why they would risk the legacy of positive fans the series has now that everyone is older. Steven Spielberg is directing like old times and Harrison Ford is pitted against a Russian spy Cate Blanchett in a race to find this crystal skull. This seems like a fun retro movie, and Shia LaBouf is in this also which should add some excitement.

I can’t believe they still make these Mummy movies, and I don;t know who watches them, but The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (releases Aug. 1) is the only work that Brendan Fraser seems to get. He is still an archaeologist and this time he goes to China to find mummies. Who knew they had mummies in China? But it does give them a chance to feature Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh.

Sci-fi and fantasy movies are also big box office hits in the summertime. I am suprised by the growth of this genre and how its cool to be a geek into sci-fi now and everyone wants to see these movies and geek out.

Speed Racer (May 9), is a film loosely based on the 1960s Japanese cartoon animated series and is remade here by The Wachowski brothers. All I have heard about is how Christina Ricci is in this film, and how her chin implant makes her look totally different. I am never sure about animated (or anime) car films. They rarely have anything to do with cars. So, if you’re into cartoons, see this, if you’re into cars skip it.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (releases May 16) is the next in the Narnia Book/Movie series. I am not one for fantasy films/books either so it is hard for me to suspend my disbelief that these geeky children’s books have become multi-million dollar box office hits. I do hear though that Eddie Izzard plays the swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep. That alone might coax me into the theater.

M. Night Shyamalan is back with The Happening (June 13), another thrill type movie that never really explains itself or is about anything that people really care about. Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel are in this one, but I am not sure where this one is going with a general title and no real details that makes sense.

Brendan Fraser scores his second job in many years in Journey to the Centre of the Earth: 3D (July 11), but this is a 3D movie best seen on those IMAX theater screens.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe (opening July 25) is odd because we had just finally packed up our fan fiction and forgotten about aliens, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. The creator of the 1993 television series, is back with new ideas and pursuits for these characters that we knew and loved. I always wonder though if they really can recapture the magic when it has been gone so long.  

More Cartoon heroes are also back for kids, not based on comic books, there seems to be more animated and cartoon related work being created than ever before.

First off Kung Fu Panda (opens June 6) with Jack Black voicing a chubby panda in a team of kung-fu fighting animals. Ok, I know kids need a lot to stay entertained so they go pretty far with the disbelief thing. Apparently Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, and Lucy Liu are also fighting animals in the film trying to fight an evil leopard (they are just misunderstood) from their valley.

Wall-E (which premiered a commercial during the super bowl, opens June 27). This is another brilliant Pixar film with a story about one last robot left on a planet. (awww) I am sure the animation is great here and Pixar has a great history with developing great stories too. Bring the kids to see this one.

Also for kids and some adults is Star Wars: The Clone Wars (releasing Aug. 15) an animated movie with Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala. This is supposed to take place between the real movies somehow and tie together story lines. Apparently there are dozens of Star Wars books besides the ones made into movies and there are all kinds of side stories that they never even got into on film that they want to start exploring now that geekdom is cool and sci-fi brings in big crowds.  

Fly Me to the Moon (opens Aug. 22), is a 3-D (oh we love the glasses) animated movie about three little flies who become the first insects on the moon by hitch hiking a ride on the Apollo 11 rocket. Buzz Aldrin voices a character and these flies aim to entertain. 

Made of Honor (released May 2). Patrick Dempsey ( of Grey’s Anatomy and Enchanted fame) plays a guy who looses his best gal pal to an engagement to another guy. He has to either get over it or get the girl back. He somehow agrees to be the maid of honor in an effort to undo the wedding. Does Patrick Dempsey only get Ken Doll movies? Is he the new Jude Law?

Sex and the City: The Movie (releases May 30). Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) are all back for their big paychecks to reprise their roles in the big screen version of the cable TV show. While I enjoyed the TV show for years I am not sure if there was enough there to pull together a movie. I think it will still be entertaining though and many long time fans will enjoy seeing their old friends once again.  

He’s Just Not That Into You (Aug. 1) is an ensemble film and a romantic comedy, with Drew Barrymore as a woman who pursues an advice columnist. Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Connolly and Kris Kristofferson complete the ensemble. It is an interesting ensemble.

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2 (Aug. is back since young tweens everywhere loved the first movie in 2005. I am guessing this is a small market for girls between the ages of 10 and 15 but it will do well there and possibly with their moms too. A story about self discovery, coming of age and long term friendships is usually a winner with girls because they emphasize everything they want to be and try to inspire good things. Which is an honorable task for a movie these days.

Adam Sandler stars in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (June 6) releases at the exact same weekend as Steve Carell’s Get Smartspy series movie remake.  Generally I always think Steve Carell is funnier than Adam Sandler but this will be the battle of the comedies weekend. Why not see both? Personally I think Anne Hathaway will be great as Agent 99 and Steve’s partner.

There is actually a comedy triumvirate happening with The Love Guru also launching, starring Mike Myers as a self help guru from India. Jessica Alba is a co-star and other celebrity cameos are included ala Austin Powers. I am actually pretty un-impressed that Mike Meyers is the guy who created many great characters on SNL and now relies on only one formula for these movies. Foreigner in US + fake facial or body hair + prosthetics + bad accent + cameos from other stars + phonetically spelled lewd words used as names. Some of us just don’t think it’s funny anymore. Plus he has so much more talent than that. This movie can most likely be skipped without any social implications.

Rainn Wilson ( of The Office fame) stars in The Rocker (Aug. 1), a comedy movie featuring a mid-aged rock band drummer who gets a second chance at fame, playing with his nephew’s high-school band. Kewl.

Tropic Thunder (Aug 15) Ben Stiller directs which means this is going to be full of awkward moments that make you feel uncomfortable again and again. You either love his work or like me you loathe it. If army awkward comedy is your thing and you don’t like social conventions, go see this one. If not, this would be one to skip.