2009 Family Summer Movie Preview

by Kimberly Gadette

Dinosaurs and 3D! Dinosaurs in 3D! This summer, Hollywood brings back old friends (Harry Potter, Optimus Prime and Sam from "Transformers,"' and the whole "Ice Age" gang). But there are plenty of new friends to meet as well: wacky talking guinea pigs, knee-high aliens, Sleestaks (read further) and magical rocks. While some plots look back, the film industry keeps leaping forward, showing off its latest breakthroughs in CGI (computer-generated imagery), IMAX and Digital 3D.

If only we could wear those 3D glasses out on the beach…

6/5/09 : "LAND OF THE LOST"

Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone

MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG

Plot: Based on the 1974 television series of the same name, Ferrell's bumbling Dr. Marshall (Ferrell) and his group inadvertently become trapped in a space-time vortex. Without weapons or smarts, they have to rely on a primate named Chaka, their only ally in a world full of dinosaurs and fantastic creatures. Can they survive? If they do, will Dr. Marshall finally find respect among his scoffing scientist peers?

Concerns: With Ferrell and his sidekick McBride, the humor's bound to be extremely rude. The monsters stomping through the film could disturb the younger viewers. The dinosaur doesn't just leer; there are close-ups of saliva dripping from his mouth. A blood-sucking mosquito feeds on Ferrell's neck, swelling to nearly human proportions with blood – and is then squashed when Ferrell falls back on it. Murderous bands of big-eyed, horned lizard people (Sleestaks) draw quills from their spines, firing them like arrows. Look for borderline language, e.g., "he can suck it."

6/12/09: "IMAGINE THAT"

Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi, Nicole Ari Parker, Martin Sheen

MPAA Rating: PG for some mild language and brief questionable behavior

Plot: In this family comedy, Murphy is a financial executive who has more time for his Blackberry than his seven-year-old daughter. Problems arise when his career starts plummeting. After bringing the daughter to work with him one day, she suddenly spins fantasy stories that contain elements of inside information he desperately needs regarding stocks, companies and financial futures.

Concerns: Few. Think Murphy's earlier "Doctor Doolittle" crossed with "Bedtime Stories" and "Liar, Liar." This film is a morality tale for parents who need to be reminded to spend more time with junior. Little girls will identify with the precocious Yara Shahidi, who makes for a lovely role model; however, the younger male audience won't be as intrigued. The potential for rude humor comes from the potty-mouthed Bobb'e J. Thompson, who stole last year's "Role Models."

6/24/09” "TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN"

Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Rainn Wilson, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro

MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG13

Plot: When Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) learns vital information about the origins of the Transformers, the Decepticons return to Earth to kidnap him. Optimus Prime forms an alliance with international armies to join Sam in the second epic battle to protect mankind. New robots make their debuts, including the Decepticon "Fallen" (an ancient bird-like form with a substantial wing span) and the mechanical jaguar, Ravage.

Concerns: The intense explosions and sounds from the first film have been amped up, resulting in effects that are bigger, more dramatic and louder. New evil transformer Devastator is 120 feet high, dwarfing even the tallest robots. Sam is now college-bound, resulting in his exploration of early adulthood and sexuality. If parents vetoed the original film, any previous concerns they may have had would now be even greater.

(TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN / Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox, left) and Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf, right) / Photo Credit: Jaimie Trueblood / Copyright © 2009 DW STUDIOS L.L.C. and PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved. HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. ©2009 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.)

7/1/09: "ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS" (in Digital 3D)

Voice cast: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah

MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG

Plot: The sub-zero heroes from the two prior "Ice Age" films return: Scrat's still after his acorn, Manny and Ellie await the birth of their baby mammoth, Sid steals some dinosaur eggs and Diego worries that he's turning from tiger to housecat. The gang unwittingly crashes down to an underground world replete with dinosaurs, foreign plant life and a one-eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck. And, no surprise, Sid will need to rely on his friends for rescue.

Concerns: The two prior PG-rated films cited "minor language and innuendo" and "minor peril." Since this latest sequel has been filmed in 3D, the peril may not look as minor, especially when it involves bigger, more menacing animals threatening to devour our prehistoric friends. Kids may be confused with the concept of dinosaurs living in the Ice Age; parents might want to be prepared to offer some solid, earth science explanations!

7/15/09: "HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE"

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman

MPAA Rating: PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality

Plot: In this sixth installment, the final battle with Voldemort is fast approaching. Rather than continuing to treat Harry as a child, Dumbledore prepares him for the deathly conflict ahead. New character Horace Slughorn holds a valuable key to unearthing secrets from Voldemort's past. The Hogwarts students, now well into their teenage years, battle their own feelings of the heart, adding some humor to balance the darkening plot.

Concerns: Though Voldemort only makes brief appearances in flashbacks, his presence pervades the whole. (Ralph Fiennes' young nephew plays the sullen, 11-year-old version of Voldemort.) Echoing the books, each new installment reflects a darker tone as it marches toward the last volume. A recurring character that Harry Potter audiences have loved since the beginning is murdered. (On the other hand, if children have previously read the book, they won't be surprised.)

7/24/09: "G-FORCE" (in Digital 3D)

Bill Nighy, Will Arnett with voice cast of Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan

MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG

Plot: Talk about using a film as a guinea pig: "G-Force" combines live action 3D with comedic, computer-animated guinea pigs to enact a story about covert, elite crime-fighting rodents who've been trained to infiltrate and stop evildoers in their tracks. Bill Nighy ("Pirates of the Caribbean") plays the evil billionaire, while Will Arnett carries the human comedy as the cynical FBI guy trying to muzzle the creatures.

Concerns: Minor. Since this is Disney, it should be kid-friendly all the way. With visual effects maestro Jerry Bruckheimer as producer, the action promises to be non-stop. Tracy Morgan voices the rowdiest guinea pig of the bunch, while Penelope Cruz speaks for a seductive Mata Hari in fur. Convincing depictions of talking animals are usually a surefire hit with the younger set – this offering should prove to be relatively mild, silly fun.

7/31/09: "BANDSLAM"

Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelan Connell, Lisa Kudrow, David Bowie

MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements and mild language

Plot: A music-driven teen comedy, new nerd in town Will is flattered when Charlotte, a gifted singer/songwriter, asks him to manage her off-beat trio for an upcoming battle-of-the-bands contest. She's as surprised as Will when the band develops its own unique sound, with a real shot at success. But disaster strikes and Charlotte unexpectedly quits. With Will's new-found self-confidence shattered and the contest approaching, he and the band must choose whether to admit defeat, or face the music and play.

Concerns: A subplot of first romance signifies that there will be some mild sensuality. If the music isn't a winner, and if the plot or the characters don't interest the audience, the concern will be only that of boredom.

(BANDSLAM / (Left to right) LISA CHUNG, ELVY YOST, CHARLIE SAXTON, TIM JO, RYAN DONOWHO, VANESSA HUDGENS, GAELAN CONNELL and ALYSON MICHALKA / Photo Credit: Van Redin / © 2008 Summit Entertainment. All rights reserved.)

7/31/09: "THEY CAME FROM UPSTAIRS"

Kevin Nealon, Robert Hoffman, Doris Roberts, Tim Meadows and Ashley Tisdale

MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG

Plot: Arriving at their vacation home in Maine, the Pearson family kids discover some unexpected roommates have moved in upstairs. Namely, an alien crew. (The initial confrontation between the youngest girl and the friendliest alien is a virtual steal from "ET".) But since the aliens' mind control guns only work on adults, it's up to the kids to save their parents and the rest of the world from a world-destroying invasion.

Concerns: Minor, if any. It's a kid-oriented comedy/adventure, with lots of physical comedy (look to see Grandma somersaulting through the air), pratfalls, battles on skateboards, using any household item that's not nailed down. The knee-high aliens aren't all that disturbing, even for the youngest crowd.

8/7/09: "SHORTS"

Jon Cryer, William H. Macy, Leslie Mann, James Spader, Jimmy Bennett, Kat Dennings

MPAA Rating: PG for mild action and some rude humor

Plot: 11-year-old Toe Thompson isn't happy living in Black Falls, a bland town where everyone's employed by the same company. When a rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky, he discovers that the rock is able to grant wishes for anyone who holds it. Soon, ill-advised wishes crowd the town (tiny spaceships, crocodile armies, eccentric beasts). But it's not until the grown-ups seize the magic rock that the trouble starts. Toe and his friends must join forces to save Black Falls from itself, discovering that what you wish for is not always what you want.

Concerns: Minor. The exaggerated creatures may startle the youngest audience members, but all-in-all, the children will be heartily engaged by the wacky fun of a magical neighborhood run amok.

(SHORTS / Lug (REBEL RODRIGUEZ, left) and Laser (LEO HOWARD, right) watch Loogie (TREVOR GAGNON) / Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures / TM & © 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.)

8/7/09: "G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA"

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sienna Miller

MPAA Rating—Predicted: PG-13

Plot: An origin story detailing the rise of the enemy force known as Cobra, the film is set ten years into the future. From the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps, the elite G.I. Joe team uses the latest in high tech spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt Scottish arms dealer Destro. As is the usual plotline, the villains threaten to plunge the world into utter chaos. Directed by the writer/director of the first three "Mummy" movies.

Concerns: Many CGI bombings, including a falling Eiffel Tower. A white-sheathed Ninja employs martial arts using two swords. Other intense action scenes include underwater battles under polar ice caps and exploding glass ceilings. The two women combatants sometimes dress in skin-tight outfits, combining their sexuality with their athletic abilities. Since the chaos is filmed to give as real a sense as possible, the effects may disturb younger viewers.

Posted on Friday, May 15, 2009 by M. Farthing filed under

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