Watch this, Not That: Summer Edition

The long-anticipated summer edition of what I so pompously wrote about in spring. Without further ado, watch this not that, summer edition.

Watch This

Iron Man 2 (May 7)
Directed by: Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Zathura, Elf)
Written by: Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Bettany

The surprise hit of 2008, making over $300 million domestically. I was determined to hate the first film, but I just couldn't do it, and I'm at least a little excited for the sequel, due out this Friday. All the major cast is solid, adding Scarlett Johansson (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Prestige), academy award nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Sam Rockwell (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Galaxy Quest), Samuel L. Jackson (Unbreakable, Pulp Fiction) and Don Cheadle (Ocean's 13, Traitor) to replace Terrence Howard. Of concern however, is the change in writers from Mark Fergus and Hawk Otsby (Children of Men), Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (Punisher: War Zone), to relative newcomer Justin Theroux (who appeared recently on NBC's "Parks & Recreation"). Also, early word of mouth is largely luke-warm, making this sound like another Spiderman 2 (or for people who liked Spiderman 2, insert Spiderman 3).

Trailer for Iron Man 2 (Even though I know you've already seen it)

The A-Team (June 11)
Directed by: Joe Carnahan (Smokin' Aces, Narc)
Written by: Brian Bloom, Michael Brandt (Wanted, 3:10 to Yuma), Skip Woods (Hitman, Swordfish)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Sharlto Copley, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

Based on the infamously cheesy 80's TV show of the same name, this movie looks like it has potential for awesomeness. Then again, it might be a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions, but either way I recommend a watch. I haven't seen any of Joe Carnahan's work, but the critics seem to think it was mostly solid. The same goes for writer Michael Brandt, but Skip Woods has a less glowing resume. Liam Neeson is always fantastic, but the rest of the cast seems mediocre at best. The main reason this is on the "watch" list is due to a lack of better stuff out there in mid-June.

Trailer for The A-Team

Toy Story 3 (June 18)
Directed by: Lee Unkrich (Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, Cars)
Written by: Michael Arndt (Litte Miss Sunshine)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Michael Freaking Keaton, Bonnie Hunt, Wallace Shawn

I'm probably the biggest skeptic this film has, most everyone seems excited for it, but I'm not so sure. Lee Unkrich's last film Cars was a phenomenal disappointment for me, and the writers of the original Toy Stories aren't returning. Still, definitely going to see it and recommend that you do to. Plus, Michael Keaton is the man.

Toy Story 3: The Trailer

Despicable Me (July 9)
Directed by: Pierre Coffin (Gary's Fall), Chris Renaud (No time for Nuts)
Written by: Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul (Horton Hears a Who, College Road Trip)
Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Jason Segel, Ken Jeong, Will Arnett, Julie Andrews, Russell Brand, Danny McBride

I love animated films. I really do. So even though it has two new-coming directors, writers of serviceable, but largely uninspired kids films and enough big-name stars to sink any treasure ship, let alone a film, I want to see this. To quote the trailer, "This is garbage! You like this stuff?" Yes, yes I do.

Despicable Me Trailer

Dinner for Shmucks (July 23)
Directed by: Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Austin Powers)
Written by: Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul *Mentioned Above*
Starring: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis

Comedies are perhaps the hardest genre of film to market these days. Making a film stand out as a comedy is incredibly difficult, and there is really no known workable formula for success (unless you're talking Rom Com). Two tactics are big-name stars and an insanely original premise. Neither have a very good success rate. Dinner for Shmucks has both, and I think it looks darn funny. I haven't liked Jay Roach's previous work, it was all a bit too mean-spirited, and I think there may be more of that this time around. Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul don't inspire much confidence either. But I still think this is at least worth a look, queue the trailer.

Roll Film

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (August 10)
Directed by: Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead)
Written by: Edgar Wright, Michael Bacall (Bookies, Maniac)
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Evans, Brandon Routh, Alison Pill

Scott Pilgrim looks like the kind of movie that will either be non-stop total win, or non-stop total fail. However, with Edgar Wright aboard (I've never seen his films, but others rave about them) it looks like win is the order of the day. Still, Michael Macall isn't the one he worked with on his best received films, and Michael Cera hasn't exactly shown diversity in his acting set. I remain open-minded, and will definitely give this one a chance.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The Trailer

Watch this, not that: Spring Edition Part 2

For every good film there are seven bad ones, but these are just the ones I despise most among the spring releases this year. Without further ado, watch this,

Not that:

Valentine's Day-Feb 12

Starring, Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Patrick Dempsey, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah, and Topher Grace. Wow, that's quite a cast, so large that there's no way in heck any of them will have enough screen time to be memorable. This is just wrong.

Valentine's Day Trailer

Cop Out-Feb 26

Wow. Just wow, this looks awful. They always put the funny parts in the trailer, unfortunately the laugh count for the trailer is negative 1. This looks about as funny as colon cancer. Stars Bruce Willis and Tracey Morgan

Cop Out Trailer

The Bounty Hunter-March 19

Two worthless actors, Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston, trying to bring in an audience to perhaps the most forgettable movie of all time. Sad. Not funny, just sad. Watch the trailer if you don't believe me.

The Bounty Hunter Trailer

Clash of the Titans-March 26

Remaking the 1981 cult classic wasn't a bad idea, but the execution was only successful in killing any chance of goodness this movie had. No doubt inspired by a certain 2007 film involving 1 fewer than 301 Spartans, and to me that is terrifying. In the worst way. Stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson (why!) and Ralph Fiennes.

Clash of the Titans (2010) Trailer

MacGruber-April 23

Films based on SNL sketches are hit and miss, (They hit the screens, and they miss the audience). This film was hastily thrown into production after the Pepsi ad that appeared during the Superbowl. Any film that goes from having no script or anything all the way to release in just 14 months can't be good. Especially when it's spoofing something that hasn't been on TV for close to 20 years. No trailer has been released yet...