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These days, movies’ shelf lives are shorter than ever.  Films that brought in big bucks last year are relatively forgotten now.  However, their directors live on.  Here’s what you can expect soon from some of last year’s wonder boys.

1. Gavin Hood – Last year, his X-Men Origins: Wolverine adaptation didn’t go over so well with fanboys.  However, his next film (slated for 2012?) may have a more universal appeal.  It’s an untitled adventure film about the 1925 serum run to Nome—also portrayed in the children’s film Balto.
2. J.J. Abrams – Star Trek, on the other hand, was a smash hit with both Trekkies and the average viewing audience.  In addition to producing and possibly directing a 2012 sequel, Abrams produced the upcoming comedy Morning Glory and is directing the still-secretive Super 8. Continue Reading →

With the box office topping successes of both Toy Story and Toy Story 2, Woody’s third return to the silver screen certainly has big cowboy boots to fill (figuratively of course).  Story developers made the interesting choice to allow for the actual passage of time in the script between the third movie and its two predecessors, with former toy enthusiast Andy, the now longtime owner of both Woody and Buzz Lightyear, now seventeen years old and college bound, having little use for the toys of his childhood.  Woody, Buzz and company have been bracing for this transition for some time, however when they are rounded up in a bag for storage, Andy’s mother mistakes them for garbage casting them out of Andy’s room and into the world on their own.  Woody is unable to convince his fellow toys that they weren’t meant for the trash as the entire gang sets out for a new chapter in this already well chronicled playtime adventure.

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Twenty three years in waiting and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 80s classic finally has a worthy sequel.  Original Predator fans will be pleased to know the failed follow up sequels to the franchise’s early success are ignored like veal at a PETA convention.    Producer Robert Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal stressed their desire to take the series back to its roots, believing the Alien vs. Predator movie gimmick had portrayed the predator species as too cartoonish, undermining the suspense filled violence and action that made Predator a fan favorite.

The script for Predators was actually first drafted in 1994, however 20^th Century Film reneged their original interest in the idea once the sizeable budget figures surfaced.    A full fifteen years later, the studio came around on the idea out of the blue and contacted Rodriguez to fast track the movie for production.  Though Fox revived life in the lost script, Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios produced the film, in order to maintain more creative control and avoid another flop for the franchise, with Fox still in charge of distribution.

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Though the initial reviews for this summer thrill ride have sent mixed signals, perhaps this movies biggest fault is that it didn’t come out 5 years ago.  Heck, there was a time in Hollywood when a series of home gardening tips documentary hosted by the A-list royalty might have pushed its way towards number one on opening weekend.  Whether modern audiences aren’t as easily seduced by star power (doubtful) or Cruise and Diaz have just past their peak, Knight and Day simply isn’t living up to its billing as a true summer blockbuster.  In and of itself, the movie isn’t half as bad as advertised.

The key to enjoying the film is managing your expectations.  What you can expect is a light, fast paced and ultimately enjoyable flick that doesn’t take itself too seriously.  Don’t buy your ticket expecting a deeply intense undercover spy suspense or a romping laugh fest, but that’s not to say don’t buy your ticket.   This is Tom Cruise in an action movie, but it isn’t Mission Impossible; and while we have Cameron Diaz playing an affable girl with a complicated love interest, this is no There’s Something About Mary.  And it’s certainly no mind burning exercise like Vanilla Sky, starring both. Whether you’re a fan of Cruise or Diaz, both are still capable of delivering exactly what these roles call for.  To get the most out of your movie going, just sit back, relax and enjoy the film’s likable quality, without thinking too deeply about the logistics.

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While the star-studded summer comedy is certainly good for a few laughs, the truth is this movie comes up far short in terms of the sentimental depth it appears to be shooting for.  Joined by co-stars Kevin James, David Spade, Chris Rock and Rob Schneider, the script tells the story of a former youth basketball team reunited at the funeral of their old-time coach.  Having grown apart over the years, the group rekindles old jokes and friendships, using former bonds to  help work through the midlife problems each is dealing with.  While Adam Sandler has already cemented his place as a one of the most accomplished funnymen of all time, in recent years he stepped away from the purely goofy, fun-filled laugh-fests he blessed moviegoers with throughout the ninety’s.  Classics like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore , The Wedding Singer and The Waterboy, have been replaced by movies that don’t exactly seem to fit their place.  Perhaps it’s partially because audiences have come to expect one thing from Sandler at a time in his life when he wants to open his movies up to fuller spectrums of emotions.   Both Click and Funny People, for example, turned out to be a much deeper movie than advertised, pulling on heart strings in a way that viewers could relate to, although most had flocked to theaters for a slap stick comedy.

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Despicable Me is quite simply not your average Pixar animated film, though this is not necessarily a bad thing.  Sure, Pixar has set the standard for the genre with big names like Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Up on its resume, however a departure from what’s become the everyday expectation serves as a breath of fresh air. Despicable Me, like its cartooned predecessors, is geared towards the kiddie crowd, but while certainly resonating with the 5 feet and under audience, the movie has a little something for the older folks as well.  After all, just look at the title.  Probably half of the children walking in to the theater have to ask their accompanying mom or dad just to define “despicable.”  If nothing else, Despicable Me may have slightly bumped up the reading portion of SAT scores, starting fall 2020.  Centering a kid’s movie around a self-proclaimed villain protagonist is perhaps an equally bold undertaking.  It’s not like there aren’t enough complications in today’s world confusing right and wrong for this generation of youth.  With that said, the movie takes all these chances in stride, successfully blending its self loathing title with the right about of humor, wit and an ultimately endearing cast of characters.

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