Summer box office variety

Moviemakers always seem to save the best for summer, and 2009 is no exception – the next three months are jam-packed with films for every palate; the perfect combination of action, chick-flicks, thrillers and comedies. Plan your calendar around these big-screen beauties:

JUNE

The Hangover (June 5)

Some critics are calling this the “sleeper comedy of the summer,” reminiscent of “Wedding Crashers” from a few years back. Director Todd Phillips (of “Old School” fame) has called it a story about a Vegas bachelor party, without showing the bachelor party – it’s more of a day-after mystery, as three buddies piece together what happened the night before. Throw in a missing groom, a baby, and a cameoing Mike Tyson looking for his tiger, and hilarity is bound to ensue.

Starring: Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis.

Year One (June 19)

History buffs might find this one amusing. Set in the first year A.D., 2009 years ago, the film follows two lowly hunter-gatherer types banished by their village. The bumbling pair sets off on a road trip of sorts, encountering ancient worlds, adventures, and, of course, mishaps (because what is a comedy without mishaps?). If trailers are any indication, the Jack Black – Michael Cera combination is a perfect comedic team, Black as an over-confident leader, and Cera playing his perfect, usual, ultra-awkward-but-endearing role.

Starring: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Hank Azaria, Olivia Wilde.

The Proposal (June 19)

June must be a month for comedies, because Sandra Bullock has said this one is reminiscent of classic ‘40s and ‘50s set-ups … and she’s right. Bullock plays a pushy executive type forced to marry an underling in order to avoid deportation to Canada. A bulk of the film takes place in Alaska visiting the would-be groom’s family while the “couple” tries to convince everyone that they’re actually together. The romantic comedy set-up might be predictable, but the pending slapstickyness might be too good to avoid.

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White.

Transformers: Revenge

of the Fallen (June 24)

This one is summer’s quintessential blockbuster franchise sequel based on toys you may or may not have played with as a kid, and it features action at it’s finest: an epic battle featuring Optimus Prime after Decepticon forces return to earth and seek revenge on Sam Witwicky. The first Transformers was a box-office success to the tune of $319 million, and most big sequels like this do better the second time around, so this one might be the moneymaker of the summer season.

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Rainn Wilson, Tyrese Gibson.

JULY

Public Enemies (July 1)

A historical thriller if there ever was one, “Public Enemies” is based on a famous bank robber, John Dillinger, who was in his prime during the Depression, and the then-new FBI’s attempt at catching him. Since banks were so untrustworthy during the Depression, though, most of the public sided with Dillinger.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Billy Crudup, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, LeeLee Sobieski.

Harry Potter and the

Half-Blood Prince (July 15)

Die-hard HP fans will line up for this one. The epic saga from J.K. Rowling’s novels is nearing completion – this one is number six of seven (the last of which is scheduled in two installments). In “Half-Blood Prince,” Harry and the rest of the cohorts continue to struggle with the return of Lord Voldemort, and a mysterious old book marked as “property of the Half-Blood Prince” yields new secrets of Voldemort’s dark past. Folks who haven’t read the book should gear up for a couple twists … as always in Rowling’s work.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, and many others.

The Ugly Truth (July 24)

A classic “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” tale, as a morning TV show producer reluctantly takes the advice of her chauvinistic colleague, who promises to help her find love. He’s confident that certain cues will make any guy fall head-over-heels for her and puts her through the paces. Slot this one in the rom-com genre, too – but attend for the laughs and that sappy, feel-good ending that you know is coming around.

Starring: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler.

Funny People (July 31)

A la “Spanglish,” Adam Sandler returns to the silver screen in a movie that’s more about pulling the heartstrings than pulling your leg. The next in the line of Judd Apatow’s films, this one features a famous comedian who learns he has a terminal illness. In the wake of this, he begins to mentor a promising up-and-comer. A typical Apatow cast lineup is along for the ride, along with cameos by famous comedians other than the ones playing fictional characters, but if his past loveable comedies are any indication, this one will be just as good.

Starring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Leslie Mann, Jason Schwarzman.

AUGUST

G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra (August 7)

Special-effects-laden action flicks based on plastic action figures are super popular right now – so add this one to the bunch. “Cobra” is based 10 years in the future but is something of a prequel to other G.I. Joe movies – Director Stephen Sommers told USA Today, “For people who know nothing about it, it’ll make sense. And to people who love this stuff, it’ll show where they all came from.” Oh, and plus, there’s eye candy for both guys and girls.

Starring: Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marlon Wayans, Dennis Quaid, Karolina Kurkova.

Inglourious Basterds (August 21)

Yes, it’s spelled wrong for a reason – it’s a Quentin Tarantino film. Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, there are two converging plots: a group of Jewish-American soldiers (the Basterds, if you will) trying to take down a group of Nazis, and a Jewish woman looking to avenge the death of her parents, also by said Nazis. After opening at the Cannes Film Festival in May, there were mixed reviews, so there may be another round of editing before the film opens to a wider audience. Tarantino has said in numerous interviews that it’s his take on a “spaghetti-western but with World War II iconography.”

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mike Meyers, Diane Kruger, B.J. Novak.

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