Summer Movie Preview, Part III
I think this’ll be the last one. If I missed any important ones, you’ll let me know, right?
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (July 20): Adam Sandler and Kevin James star as NYC firefighters who pretend to be gay lovers so they can get domestic-partner benefits. Sounds enlightening, doesn’t it? Nothing like gaming the system through stereotypes, because you just know one of them will overact as the “female” – actually, it’s more likely they’ll spend the entire movie fighting over who has to be the female. Expect some gay-bashing. Director Dennis Dugan has worked with Sandler before (Big Daddy and Happy Gilmore), so at least you know what’s coming on that front. A deep and whimsical comedy, this ain’t. Why, there might even be protests, which would unfortunately give the movie more pub than it probably deserves.
Hairspray (July 20): Another Broadway musical comes to Hollywood, but don’t expect another Chicago. And in the role of actor-who-dresses-in-drag-to-boost-his-flagging-career, we have John Travolta, who plays Edna, mother to Tracy (Nikki Blonsky). Christopher Walken is the dad. I’m sure Walken’s deadpan delivery will help, unless he decides to mail it in, but I’m skeptical this will be a big hit. I bet it outgrosses I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, though.
The Bourne Ultimatum (August 3): Yet another third in a series. Somehow it’s become conventional Hollywood wisdom that so-called franchises, for the most part, run three movies long, like X-Men, the Star Wars prequels, The Matrix, Spider-Man, and so on. Anyway, Matt Damon’s back as the amnesiac spy, and I think he’s grown a bit in the role over two movies. His Jason Bourne is still trying to track down his past, and I hope he’s not successful. I sort of imagine he won’t be. Joan Allen, Brian Cox, and Julia Stiles return, and we also get David Strathairn and Paddy Considine. Paul Greengrass returns as director. Like I said, Damon seems to be growing into the role somewhat; in the first movie and part of the second, he seemed to be… well, more of a cipher, more wispy than substantive as a Tough Spy Guy. I mean, come on, he’s Matt Damon, not Jason Statham. Still, he has an excellent cast surrounding him, and the movies so far have been pretty well written. Could be a quiet hit.
Rush Hour 3 (August 10): Shameless mugging will take place for approximately two hours beginning August 10. Casual dress expected; watch out for kicking and punching. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker again play mismatched cops. First, they were in the US. Next, China. And now, throwing all logic out the window, they schlep to… Paris! Of course, why not. Well, specifically, California, but it’ll LOOK like Paris, which is almost as good. Makes you wonder why they didn’t shoot this in Quebec, Canada. At any rate, I’m sure hilarity will ensue as wacky coincidences team up with miscommunications both physical and linguical.
Daddy Day Camp (August 8): Double-you. Tee. Eff. Cuba Gooding, Jr. is like the Fernando Tatis of actors. Okay, maybe not. Tatis was famed in baseball for hitting two grand slams in one inning, and then he did nothing else in his career. Gooding, Jr. won an Oscar and has done a whole lotta squat since then. Does his agent own his soul, or something? I can’t imagine someone winning an Oscar and getting/accepting so many pathetic roles. Well, maybe Whoopi Goldberg, post-Color Purple, but still. Will Gooding ever get another decent role? Not only does this look like a terrible, punchless family “comedy,” it’s a sequel to Eddie Murphy’s own terrible, punchless family “comedy,” Daddy Day Care. What, was Major Payne the inspiration here? Yuck.
Ya know what? I bet I can do more of these, but it’s time to call it a day.
