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Title:
Iron Man 2
Stars:
Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow
Studio:
Paramount Pictures
Plot:
With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances -- and confront powerful enemies.
Buzz:
Ten years ago, Gwyneth Paltrow was a recent Oscar winner and comic-book movies weren't even on Hollywood's radar. Even five years ago, who would've expected one of the most anticipated movies of the year would be a second-tier comics property starring two hard-living actors experiencing an industry rebirth. The only aspect of this sequel which gives me (and plenty of others) pause is the presence of multiple villains; hopefully Marvel has learned the error of their Spider-Man 3 ways in this respect. The so-so reviews are barely audible over the rumbles of a massive worldwide opening and the appearance of Thor's hammer after the credits roll.
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Title:
Robin Hood
Stars:
Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Matthew Macfadyen
Studio:
Universal Pictures
Plot:
The story of an expert archer (Crowe) who travels to the town of Nottingham toward the end of the 12th century, where the acts of a despotic sheriff (Macfadyen) and the presence of a beautiful widow (Blanchett) inspire him to assemble a gang of mercenaries bent on raiding the upper class as a way to correct the sheriff's injustices.
Buzz:
Breathless from watching the first trailer, it's hard to believe this epic had such a tough time getting into production (director Scott flip-flopped on a script that took a while to earn star Crowe's interest). We're thrilled by the first look at the hopeful blockbuster, and long ago we bid welcomed farewell to the story's proposed Robin-Marian-Sheriff love triangle, as well as Ms. Sienna Miller, who was first in line to play Maid Marian.
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Title:
Letters to Juliet
Stars:
Amanda Seyfried, Gael García Bernal, Vanessa Redgrave
Studio:
Summit Entertainment
Plot:
A young woman (Seyfried) on vacation in Verona, Italy finds an unanswered "letter to Juliet" -- one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover's Verona courtyard. Inspired by the volunteers who respond to the notes, she goes on an adventure to unite the author of letter (Redgrave) with her beloved.
Buzz:
Exactly how Amanda Seyfried, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Vanessa Redgrave were all cast in the same project sounds like a romantic drama unto itself. And Juliet feels so much more in tune with audience desires than Sex and the City 2 or director Gary Winick's last offering, Bride Wars. While Mamma Mia's success probably is unreachable, the production values look 10 times better here. Other pluses: no singing this time, and no Pierce Brosnan.
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Title:
Just Wright
Stars:
Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton
Studio:
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Plot:
A physical therapist (Latifah) falls for the basketball player (Common) she is helping recover from a career-threatening injury, though he's drawn to her best friend (Patton), who has her sights set on being an NBA trophy wife
Buzz:
Despite the awful title (Latifah's character is named Leslie Wright), this love story is in the capable hands of director Sanaa Hamri, whose lower budget romantic drama Something New is ten times better than its higher profile equivalents. We like that the trailer serves up realness and fantasy , and the Queen looks amazing. Are we in for a full-grown-woman version of "Living Single"?
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Title:
How to Train Your Dragon
Stars:
Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Studio:
Paramount Pictures
Plot:
Young Viking Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third (voice of Jay Baruchel) is sent to the Isle of Berk in the North Sea, where he is to subdue a dragon as a rite of passage.
Buzz:
It's so worth celebrating the long-awaited return of Lilo & Stitch co-directors Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders to the animated world (though DeBlois did make Heima, a stellar documentary on the band Sigur Ros). DreamWorks Animation has been on a roll since Kung Fu Panda, and the fan reaction to Dragon's teaser art (located above) was strong, so I think we can expect a full-on marketing blitz, awkward promotional tie-ins included. For example: "Train your thirst at 7-11."
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Title:
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Stars:
Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner
Studio:
New Line Cinema
Plot:
Disfigured serial killer Freddy Krueger (Haley) stalks a group of young people in their dreams, forcing them to remain awake as the only alternative to death.
Buzz:
This might be the most appealing horror remake to date, merely due to the casting of Jackie Earle Haley as the sweatered one. And in the world of music video directors turned auteurs, here's hoping Samuel Bayer ("Smells Like Teen Spirit") is more Michel Gondry/Spike Jonze than McG/Joseph Khan. Have to admit I dug the teaser trailer, and I'm into the other cast members, especially Kyle Gallner (the most successful ex-"Veronica Mars" star?), Rooney Mara (potential new scream queen action), and Thomas Dekker (who should be seen this year in All About Evil, the first midnight movie directed by a drag queen).
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Title:
Date Night
Stars:
Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg
Studio:
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Plot:
In New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple's attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous.
Buzz:
We hope Tina Fey and Steve Carell made squeaky clean Night at the Museum 2 director Sean Levy tell 1,000 dirty jokes before cameras rolled on this adventure-comedy. We love both leads, and while we can guess how Carell is going to play his character, we're in rapture wondering if Fey will be, like, Liz Lemon in action-hero mode? Swooning. And you couldn't really ask for a better supporting cast ...
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Title:
The Back-up Plan
Stars:
Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin
Studio:
CBS Films
Plot:
Single gal Zoe (Lopez) meets potential husband Stan (O'Loughlin) on the day of her artificial insemination. Despite the initial spark, the two lovers begin to wonder if they're taking the right steps to an enduring romance.
Buzz:
Chances are Jennifer Lopez's second big-screen comeback attempt might be irresistible to the Sex and the City set (it's cool that there's a smattering of female-friendly movies this spring/summer). Look for a big return on a modest budget, though it's doubtful Back-up will rack-up blockbuster numbers. Casting Patrick Dempsey might've helped to that end? Hopefully director Alan Poul, recently of the short-lived TV show "Swingtown", will bring some of that show's style to these proceedings.
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Title:
Furry Vengeance
Stars:
Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields
Studio:
Summit Entertainment
Plot:
A real estate developer (Fraser) looking to turn a forest into new homes faces some unusually tough competition: the local woodland creatures.
Buzz:
Originally set to star Jeremy Piven, then Steve Carell before going with Fraser. We're fine with BF channeling his Loony Tunes: Back in Action slapstick side again, as long as the critters in this anti-suburban sprawl flick don't go all G-Force on us.
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Title:
Clash of the Titans
Stars:
Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes
Studio:
Warner Bros. Pictures
Plot:
In a loose adaptation from Greek mythology, Perseus (Worthington) who was born a god but raised as a man, sets off on an epic mission to combat Hades (Fiennes) before he can seize power from Zeus (Neeson) and unleash hell on earth.
Buzz:
3D is cool, though PG-13 is a bummer for those of us who like our mythology dark and heady (though this is from the same studio that brought us the similarly rated Dark Knight). This remake has been around for a while -- the better part of the decade -- with Stephen Norrington once aboard to direct (eek). Most people know that this project jumped off the block faster than the formerly troubled, Tarsem Singh-helmed Dawn of War (which begins filming in early April), but did you know that director Louis Leterrier went on record to say the original Titans inspired his Hulk remake? Leterrier next has his sights on Y: The Last Man.
Dodgers' Kent To Retire
