Summer’s coming and when it kicks off with Iron Man 2 this May, there’s no looking back. The exciting thing about this summer movie season is that, unlike the last few years, it’s relatively free of sequels and shockingly, it’s also more than just a collection of “let’s see who can spend the most money on a superhero” movies. In fact Iron Man 2 is the only summer month superhero movie this year and as for sequels, you’ll only find two or three of them. Instead this year the summer months are a healthy mix of original ideas and first time adaptations.
Hold on, don’t be frightened by all the unfamiliar movie titles without numbers after them. Hollywood will get back to churning out sequels later in 2010. For now, sit back and prepare to watch major movie studios spend ridiculous amounts of money to entertain you. Summer’s coming and we’re here to help you find your way through it. Use this as your guide to the biggest movies blowing up in theaters this summer. These are the movies you don’t want to miss. Click the titles below for more detailed information, images, and trailers from each Summer must see.
Iron Man 2
Why you should care: It's Iron Man and everything that made the first movie great is back unless of course, you were a big Terrence Howard fan. Better still this is the first step in a massive, intertwined Marvel, superhero franchise which will eventually lead to a team-up in the Avengers movie. Get in on the ground floor with Iron Man 2.
Robin Hood
Why you should care: I know, we're all a little tired of seeing movies about Robin Hood. But Russell Crowe has the ability to make even the most tired material seem fresh and this time no Bryan Adams.
MacGruber
Why you should care: It's been a long time since SNL produced a movie that mattered, but this has the chance to be the first one since Wayne's World which doesn't suck. Early word is surprisingly positive and even though it does not contain a cameo from Shia LaBeouf as MacGruber's recently outed, gay son, the SNL crew may finally have a hit on their hands.
Sex and the City 2
Why you should care: If you're a woman, you're interested. If you're a guy… at least it's not another Katherine Heigl movie. It's better than the estrogen alternatives.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Why you should care: Movies based on video games have a pretty dismal track record, and maybe this will be no better, but at least for a change it seems like Hollywood has put some effort into adapting a console game. Maybe the video game to movie thing will finally work.
Get Him to the Greek
Why you should care: It was made from what is literally the funniest, raunchiest, most ridiculously awesome script I've ever read. It's also sort of a spin-off from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a brilliant film, puppet vampire opera and all.
Ondine
Why you should care: Colin Farrell is off drugs and headed for a career renaissance. Have you seen In Bruges? Pick it up. In the limited release Ondine Farrell fishes a mermaid out of the ocean and falls in love.
The A-Team
Why you should care: Though it's hard to imagine the A-Team without Mr. T, the trailers are surprisingly fun and they make good use of the show's all-important themesong. If enough people find them, this could be one of the biggest, surprise hits of the summer.
Why you should care: I'm still not convinced Jaden Smith can act but Jackie Chan may be giving the best performance of his career here. About time too, because when it comes to stunts, he's out of gas. Maybe it won't live up to the original, but the remake deserves a shot.
Why you should care: Pixar can do no wrong and it's Toy Story. Be there.
Jonah Hex
Why you should care: Megan Fox in a corset? Josh Brolin in a cool hat? Battle to unleash hell? I'm in.
Knight and Day
Why you should care: By all rights, any movie with trailers in which Cameron Diaz does this much screaming should be terrible, but Tom Cruise seems to be having so much fun with his role as a rogue super-spy that it's hard not to have fun right along with him. Don't let Cameron Diaz ruin it for you.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Why you should care: For some it's a good time to stay away from the theater, for others it's a reason to start lining up right now. Wherever you stand, mark June 30th on your calendar.
The Last Airbender
Why you should care: M. Night Shyamalan adapts someone else's material instead of coming up with his own story, which means we won't have to put up with more killer plants. It's based on the popular anime cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender and it should push M. Night into a new and hopefully more interesting direction.
Despicable Me
Why you should care: The trailers are so weird it's hard to know what to expect from Universal's new animated movie. Steve Carell voices a super-villain who seems a lot like Dr. Evil.
Predators
Why you should care: It's been a long time since anyone's done Predators right, but this new Robert Rodriguez movie is a direct sequel to the original Predator, ignoring all the mistakes in between. The trailers are dark, scary, and promising. This could be the Predator movie we've been waiting for.
Cyrus
Why you should care: It was a big hit at Sundance this year, where great comedies are often too few and far between. John C. Reilly competes with Jonah Hill for the affections of his mother, played by Marissa Tomei.
Inception
Why you should care: What's it about? Nobody really knows except that it's some sort of sci-fi and it looks ridiculously cool. Who's directing it? Christopher Nolan, the genius who brought you The Dark Knight.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Why you should care: Nic Cage's weird hair finally finds a home as a somewhat mad sorcerer training a new apprentice. Jay Baruchel is no Mickey Mouse, but I hear he magics a mean broom. Think of this as a way to tide you over till the next Harry Potter.
Salt
Why you should care: Angelina Jolie is back in the spy genre in another action thriller. Though she doesn't always find the right script (Tomb Raider), Angie's killer at playing a badass killer. Salt could be the female Bourne.
Dinner for Schmucks
Why you should care: Paul Rudd and Steve Carell are back together for the first time since 40 Year-Old Virgin and they've brought The Hangover's Zach Galifianakis along for the ride. Steve and Zach are losers invited to a dinner competition to see who can bring the worst guest.
The Other Guys
Why you should care: Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell team up for an utterly weird, potentially brilliant buddy-cop movie. They're not the cops you usually count on, they're the other guys. At least Ferrell finally stopped doing sports movies.
The Expendables
Why you should care: It may be a few years too late, but The Expendables is an action fan's dream come true. Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Eric Roberts, and Bruce Willis all in one blow it up first and ask questions later movie.
Eat, Pray, Love
Why you should care: After The Expendables, you'll owe your wife a little something. This one's for the ladies. Julia Roberts goes on an around the world journey to change her life after a divorce. Bring a hankey.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Why you should care: Based on a popular comic and directed by Edgar Wright, Scott Pilgrim pits Michael Cera in a battle to the death against seven ex-boyfriends in an attempt to win the heart of the woman he loves. Slacker power!
High-profile movies that didn't make the cut, and why we don’t think they’re worth your time. Sorry Shrek!
Shrek Forever After
Why you shouldn’t care: I know the last one made a lot of money and this one may too, but this is a franchise long past it's expiration date. Where once Shrek catered to both kids and adults, these days he's mostly doing birthday parties. I hear Donkey really likes being the piñata. Kinky.
Marmaduke
Why you shouldn’t care: Garfield, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and now Marmaduke. They seem pretty interchangeable. Some dude plays host to a computer generated, furry animal and attempted hilarity ensues. This genre needs to be dead.
Grown Ups
Why you shouldn’t care: Chris Rock doesn't make good movies. Even though he's teamed up with Adam Sandler who has made a couple of sort of good movies, I see no reason for him to start now. This movie needed Chris Farley and Kevin James, you are no Chris Farley.
