Summer Movie Preview 2015

FILM | Chuck Koplinski

It’s summertime and at the movies that means two things – superheroes and sequels. Of the mainstream films being released between June and Aug., more than onethird will be followups, TV takeoffs or tales featuring meta-humans. Most of the rest will be comedies, animated features, horror flicks and teen movies.

However, each summer season has the occasional gems that pop up here and there. These are films that studios release in the hope that audiences, having become burnt out on special effects-laden productions intended to rack up big box office instead of engaging the viewers’ minds, may be craving some adult fare. A few of the features listed below have the potential to fall in that category, while some of the major studio releases may contain a worthy idea or two.

What follows are descriptions of 31 movies set for wide release between the first week of June and Labor Day, as well as a list of eight indies that seem to be the most promising of the lot. Here’s hoping there are more surprises on tap than there were last year, the most disappointing summer movie season in many years.

Entourage (June 5) – The HBO series that followed the adventures of young movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his posse (Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Dillon) gets the big-screen treatment. Big time wheeling and dealing drive superagent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) to the edge of his sanity. Sounds like more of the same, while bigger stars like Liam Neeson, Mark Wahlberg and Armie Hammer are just a few of the many familiar faces slated to appear in cameos.

Spy (June 5) – Melissa McCarthy attempts to carry a film on her own again as a CIA paper-pusher who volunteers for a dangerous mission to take down a nefarious arms dealer (Jude Law). The trailer contains nothing to give viewers any hope, but pairing the comedienne with action star Jason Statham could produce a chuckle or two.

Insidious: Chapter 3 (June 5) - What do you do when you hit a narrative dead end while writing a sequel? Why, come up a prequel, which is what Leigh Whannell does with this creepy tale about how psychic Elise Rainer (series regular Lin Shaye) came to discover her powers and use them to declutter houses of unwanted spooks.

Jurassic World (June 12) – Proving once more that dinosaurs will never be truly extinct as long as special effects can bring them to life and big box office dictates they continue to create havoc on the big screen, the fourth entry in the multibillion dollar franchise takes us back to Isla Nublar, an amusement park where the main attraction just might eat you. Chris Pratt stars in his latest step towards becoming the world’s biggest movie star.

Inside Out (June 19) – With lackluster efforts such as Cars 2 and Brave being released in recent years, Pixar Animation has shown it has feet of clay just like other production companies. Reports from the Cannes Film Festival indicate their latest feature will put them back in the winner’s circle as we go inside the brain of a confused teenage girl to witness conflicting emotions compete for control of her mind.

Ted 2 (June 26) - Licking his wounds from the box office and critical disaster that was A Million Ways to Die in the West, writer/ director Seth MacFarlane returns to the scene of his biggest success with this sequel to the surprise 2012 hit. This time, the title bawdy stuffed bear goes to court to be declared human so that he and his fiancée can have a child. Good sport Mark Wahlberg returns as Ted’s straight man.

Max (June 26) – This year’s candidate for “Most Family-Friendly Film” focuses on a combat dog suffering from post-traumatic syndrome that’s adopted by the family of his handler who was killed in combat. The film’s patriotic tone, scenes of canine derring-do and its PG rating look to make this a surefire hit.

Big Game (June 26) – This one has camp classic written all over it as Samuel L. Jackson stars as the president of the United States, who finds himself fighting for his life when Air Force One is shot down and lands in a vast remote forest. As terrorists close in, the only one who can help the chief executive is a 13-year-old boy on a hunting trip. I’m buying my ticket right now.

Terminator Genisys (July 3) - Yep, Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in the role that made him an international star as the Terminator, sent back in time once more to change the past in order to alter the future. Director Alan Taylor (Thor: The Dark World) promises a shakeup of the status quo where Terminator mythology is concerned by using that handy narrative device, alternate timelines. As long as they employ one where events from the truly dreadful Terminator: Salvation cease to exist, I’m on board.

Magic Mike XXL (July 3) – Channing Tatum and the rest of his chiseled buddies return to hit the road and head to Myrtle Beach to put on one last ab-revealing performance. This looks to be the most illadvised sequel of the year. The sure hand of director Steven Soderberg, who prevented the first film from becoming nothing more than an exploitation flick, is missing from this sophomore effort.

Minions (July 10) – Those annoyingly funny, cute asexual sidekicks from the Despicable Me films get their own feature in this prequel that finds minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob being recruited by Scarlett and Herb Overkill (voices of Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm) to help them take over the world.

The Gallows (July 10) – Another lowbudget horror flick from Blumhouse Productions (Insidious, Sinister) finds a group of high school grads resurrecting a play from 20 years earlier in an attempt to commemorate the anniversary of the tragedy that beset it. However, things don’t come off as planned. Here’s hoping this feature proves to be a sleeper, a la The Blair Witch Project.

Self/less (July 10) – More science runs amok as Ben Kingsley stars as a wealthy, cancer-stricken man who undergoes a radical procedure that transfers his consciousness into a younger, healthier man (Ryan Reynolds). Do I have to tell you this is not a good idea? As directed by Tarsem Singh (The Cell) this is sure to be a visual knockout.

Ant-Man (July 17) - It’s not summer unless there’s a Marvel superhero extravaganza to take in. This season’s offering is the first big-screen adventure of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a reformed convict who undergoes a procedure that allows him to shrink to the size on an ant. Sure, this is a neat party trick, but does this guy belong in the same room as Thor and the Hulk? We’ll have to wait and see. Michael Douglas also stars as Hank Pym, the inventor of Lang’s size-altering gizmo.

Trainwreck (July 17) – Comedienne Amy Schumer writes and stars in this humorous tale of an insecure young woman who actually finds a guy (Bill Hader) who may be worth her time. Now if she can only kick her self-destructive behavior to the curb, she may have a future with this fella. Word on the street is that, if nothing else, this film will show that Schumer’s costar, LeBron James, may have a future career in the movies once he gets done with that basketball thing he’s wrapped up in.

Pixels (July 24) – This could be the summer’s coolest movie or its biggest disaster. It seems that video feeds of classic arcade games that float off into space have been misinterpreted as a declaration of war by a race that attacks earth in the form of characters from the very games they misconstrued. Adam Sandler, Kevin James Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad star as gamers from the 1980s who are recruited to take down the giant Pac-Men, Donkey Kongs and Centipedes that are ravaging cities one by one. Here’s hoping this is as charming as it is silly.

Paper Towns (July 24) – With the adaptation of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars scoring big at the box office last year, it was inevitable that more of the author’s work would make it to the big screen. This tale focuses on a group of teens who set out on a road trip to find a peer who’s gone missing. With no established stars or director, your guess is as good as mine on this one.

Southpaw (July 24) – The most daring actor of his generation, Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a boxer who allows his personal life to fall apart as he climbs his way to the top. Sure, it sounds as cliché as they come, but the way in which Gyllenhaal commits himself to a role provides a sliver of hope that this may be something special.

The Vatican Tapes (July 24) – From the “Haven’t I heard this one before?” file, a priest and two Vatican exorcists battle demons for the soul of a young woman. Zzzzzzzz…

The Gift (July 31) – Joel Edgerton writes, directs and stars in this creepy tale about a married couple who have their lives turned upside down when a man from their past ingratiates himself into their lives. From horror masters Blumhouse Productions and with Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall as the couple in question, there should be enough talent on the screen to elevate this above other thrillers.

Fantastic Four (Aug. 7) – Marvel Comics’ first superhero group is rebooted here with a more grounded approach to provide us with the origin story of Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, the Thing and their arch-nemesis, Dr. Doom. With a budget of over $120 million, 20 th Century-Fox hopes to erase the memory of the two previous films in the franchise.

Masterminds (Aug. 7) – Jason Sudeikis, Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson and Kristen Wiig star in this fact-based tale of a security guard who organizes and pulls off one of the biggest bank robberies in U.S. history. With Napoleon Dynamite himself, Jared Hess, directing, this promises to be an irreverent, madcap comedy.

Ricki and the Flash (Aug. 7) – Starring Meryl Streep and Rick Springfield (never thought I’d type that combo), this dramedy focuses on a veteran rock and roller who tries to reconnect with the family she left behind in her quest for fame. With Oscarwinners responsible for the film’s screenplay and direction (Diablo Cody and Jonathan Demme), this one shows promise.

Shaun the Sheep Movie (Aug. 7) – Aardman Animation, the studio responsible for Wallace and Gromit, bring us this tale of a sheep suffering from ennui who goes to the big city to shake his blues. Chaos ensues.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Aug. 14) – More than a decade in development, this adaptation of the 1960s TV series gives us a Cold War tale in which CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavell) and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) are forced to broker an uneasy truce to bring down a nuclear arms supplier. Is it just me or has the sell-by date on this one long since passed?

Straight Outta Compton (Aug. 14) – Perhaps the most intriguing release of the summer, director F. Gary Gray (Friday) examines the circumstances surrounding the formation of the progressive, hard-edged rap group N.W.A. With Paul Giamatti as manager Jerry Heller and Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E on board as consultants, this has all the earmarks of being the summer’s biggest sleeper.

Sinister 2 (Aug. 21) – Blumhouse Productions’ third release of the summer focuses on a young mother who, with her two young sons, moves into a cursed house. While the first entry in this series was terrifying, none of the talent from that feature is involved this time around.

American Ultra (Aug. 21) – Jesse Eisenberg stars as a drug dealer who takes to hiding in a small town, only to see his peaceful lifestyle disrupted when government operatives come calling. While the plot seems like nothing special, with Bill Pullman, John Leguizamo, Topher Grace, Connie Britton, Walt Goggins and Kristen Stewart on board, this could be more interesting than it first appears.

Hitman: Agent 47 (Aug. 21) – Having botched the first big-screen adaptation of this best-selling video game, 20 th Century-Fox rolls the dice once more in this adventure about the title assassin who’s been genetically engineered to be the perfect killing machine. Meh…

Regression (Aug. 28) – The always adventurous Ethan Hawke stars as a father who’s accused of a crime he can’t remember committing. Emma Watson also stars as the daughter who was the victim of his offense.

We Are Your Friends (Aug. 28) – Zac Efron stars as a Los Angeles DJ hoping to make it big in the electronic music industry. Not much else to say except I hope this one hits all the right notes. Sorry….

Eight indies to look for A Sherlock Holmes mystery, a ribald comedy set in the world of competitive gymnastics, an intriguing Al Pacino feature and the annual Woody Allen feature are among the eight most promising small-budget films to be released in the next three months. Brief descriptions follow along with approximate release dates.

Winner of the Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (June) deals with the unorthodox friendship between two aspiring teen filmmakers and a young woman diagnosed with leukemia…In Manglehorn (June), Al Pacino stars as a small-town locksmith whose life came to a standstill when he lost the love of his life decades earlier. A new friend may be the key to him starting over…Infinitely Polar Bear (July) features Mark Ruffalo as a sufferer of manic depression who tries to win back his estranged wife (Zoe Saldana) by showing he can care for their two rambunctious children…Melissa Rauch of The Big Bang Theory stars as a former bronze medalwinning gymnast who does anything to keep herself in the spotlight when a younger rival’s star begins to rise in The Bronze (July)… Woody Allen’s latest, Irrational Man (July) is reported to be a drama that deals with a philosophy professor (Joaquin Phoenix) wrestling with an existential dilemma when he finds himself torn between two women (Emma Stone and Parker Posey)… Ian McKellan stars as the world’s greatest detective in Mr. Holmes (July), which focuses on Sherlock Holmes in retirement, attempting to find a solution to an unsolved case that’s haunted him for years…Lily Tomlin takes on the title role as a reclusive Grandma (August) who’s forced to come to terms with her life when her teenage granddaughter shows up on her doorstep needing help…Owen Wilson is featured as a Broadway producer who falls in love with a prostitute (Imogen Poots) and then tries to advance her acting career in She’s Funny That Way (August).

Contact Chuck Koplinski at ckoplinski@usd116.org.