Summer 2009 movie preview: Ho-hum?

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - There always is great anticipation for the slate of big-budget movies that fill local movie theaters during the summer.

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Why? Just look at what was in theaters last summer: "The Dark Knight," "Iron Man," "Speed Racer," "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," "Sex and the City," "Kung Fu Panda," "Wall-E," "Get Smart," "Hancock," "Hellboy 2," "Mama Mia!" and "The X-Files: I Want to Believe."

This summer's offerings will be released between May 1 and Labor Day. And the lineup may take as big a drop as the economy.

It starts with "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," a fourth dip in the mighty mutants movie pool. Even if "Wolverine" lives up to its highest potential, it just doesn't look to have the punch of last year's big comic book movies.

"Wall-E" showed last year that a tiny robot could be a big hit. It is hard to imagine moviegoers showing the same enthusiasm about the grumpy old man star of this summer's big animation offering, "Up."

Sure, this summer has the eagerly awaited "G.I. Joe" movie. But look what else is on tap: yet another "Terminator" movie; a remake of "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3"; Will Ferrell starring in a big-screen version of "Land of the Lost"; and sequels to "Night at the Museum" and "Transformers." We've been there, seen that schedule.

It could have been an even worse summer lineup. The updated version of "Star Trek" and the latest "Harry Potter" films were pushed back from their original scheduled release dates last December. Because of their loyal fans, the two films should stack up to be the big hits of this summer.

Here's a look at some of the movies you can expect the next few months:

Friday:

_"Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"

Director: Mark Waters

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Breckin Meyer

The plot: A committed bachelor is shown the errors of his dating ways by a trio of ghosts.

Prediction: This film will haunt the cast for years to come.

_"X-Men Origins: Wolverine"

Directed by: Gavin Hood

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston

The plot: Wolverine's past is revealed.

Prediction: Franchise is not as sharp as it was.

_"Battle for Terra"

Directed by: Aristomenis Tsirbas

Voice Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Luke Wilson, Justin Long

The plot: Peaceful inhabitants of the planet Terra come under attack from the last surviving members of humanity adrift in an aging spaceship.

Prediction: Storyline sounds a little heavy for animation crowd.

May 8:

_"Star Trek"

Directed by: J.J. Abrams

Cast: Chris Pine, John Cho, Bruce Greenwood

The plot: A look at the early years of the James T. Kirk crew of the Enterprise.

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Prediction: It will boldly go to box-office heights.

May 15:

_"Angels & Demons"

Directed by: Ron Howard

Cast: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer

The plot: Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon helps the Vatican solve a mystery.

Prediction: You may need a scorecard to keep all of the players and plots straight.

May 21:

_"Terminator Salvation"

Director: McG

Cast: Sam Worthington, Christian Bale, Bryce Dallas Howard

The plot: John Connor leads his army against Skynet and its army of Terminators in 2018.

Prediction: The lack of interest in the Fox TV series "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" could be a bad omen for the film.

May 22:

_"Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian"

Directed by: Shawn Levy

Cast: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Hank Azaria

The plot: Museum exhibits come to life in a new building.

Prediction: Should be a big family attraction.

May 29:

_"Up"

Directors: Pete Docter and Bob Peterson

Voice Cast: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger

The plot: A 78-year-old balloon salesman finally fulfills his dream of a great adventure.

Prediction: Doesn't look warm and fuzzy enough to keep kids coming back to the theater.

June 5:

_"The Hangover"

Director: Todd Phillips

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham

The plot: A Las Vegas bachelor party goes bad.

Prediction: Could be this year's "Forgetting Sara Marshall."

_"Land of the Lost"

Directed by: Brad Silberling

Cast: Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, John Boylan

The plot: A scientist and two aides are pulled back through time.

Prediction: Year's biggest disaster.

_"My Life in Ruins"

Directed by: Donald Petrie

Cast: Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Maria Adanez, Sheila Bernette

The plot: A woman seeks a new lease on life while working as a travel guide in Greece.

Prediction: Could be a surprise hit because it is from the same people behind "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

June 12:

_"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3"

Directed by: Tony Scott

Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro

The plot: A subway dispatcher must deal with the hijacking of a subway train where the passengers will be killed unless a ransom is paid.

Prediction: Washington combined with Travolta should make this a thrill ride.

"Imagine That"

_Directed by: Karey Kirkpatrick

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Nicole Ari

The plot: A man finds help in dealing with the problems in his life through his daughter's imaginary world.

Prediction: Murphy has a rocky film track record.

June 19:

_"Year One"

Directed by: Harold Ramis

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Cast: Jack Black, Michael Cera, Hank Azaria

The plot: Two cavemen go on a journey filled with big discoveries.

Prediction: Ugh!

_"The Proposal"

Director: Anne Fletcher

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman

The plot: A high-powered executive needs to get married to avoid being deported. Her long-suffering assistant must say "I do."

Prediction: Bullock will need to be at her best or this will become "Wedding Bell Blues."

June 26:

_"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

Directed by: Michael Bay

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Rainn Wilson

The plot: Autobots and the Decepticons wage another shape-changing battle.

Prediction: Should be the box-office champ of the summer.

"Cheri"

_Director: Stephen Frears

Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates

The plot: An aging courtesan has a romantic relationship with a wealthy young man.

Prediction: Pfeiffer handles period films well.

July 1:

_"Public Enemies"

Directed by: Michael Mann

Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale

The plot: The story of notorious gangster John Dillinger.

Prediction: Ticket sales should be criminal.

_"Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"

Directed by: Carlos Saldanha

Cast: Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, John Leguizamo

The Plot: The animated gang runs into a few dinosaurs.

Prediction: It's about time.

July 15:

_"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

Director: David Yates

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson

The plot: In his 6th year at Hogwarts, Harry discovers Voldemort's dark secret.

Prediction: Loyal fans will give the movie magical box-office numbers.

July 24:

_"The Ugly Truth"

Directed by: Robert Luketic

Cast: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Eric Winter

The Plot: A morning show producer can't find Mr. Right. Her solution might be a gruff TV personality.

Prediction: This could be the hit Hiegl needs.

_"G-Force"

Director: Hoyt Yeatman

Cast: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis

The plot: A covert government program trains animals to work in espionage.

Prediction: The blend of live action and animation could win over a broad audience.

July 31:

_"Funny People"

Directed by: Judd Apatow

Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill

The plot: A comedian has a near-death experience.

Prediction: This different approach by Apatow is a gamble.

Aug. 7:

_"G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"

Directed by: Stephen Sommers

Cast: Dennis Quaid, Marlon Wayans, Sienna Miller

The plot: An elite military team fights the mysterious Cobra organization.

Prediction: Should soldier up some moviegoers.

_"Julie & Julia"

Directed by: Nora Ephron

Cast: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci

The plot: The lives of chef Julia Child and Julie Powell follow similar paths.

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Prediction: It has to be better work by Streep than in "Mamma Mia!"

_"When in Rome"

Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Cast: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Will Arnett

The plot: An ambitious woman who has been disillusioned with romance takes a trip to Rome where she magically meets a group of suitors.

Prediction: Should earn more than three coins from a fountain.

_"Shorts"

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Cast: Jon Cryer, William H. Macy, Leslie Mann, James Spader

The plot: A strange rock grants wishes to anyone who holds it.

Prediction: Has the potential to make moviegoers wish to go back for a second viewing.

Aug. 14:

_"The Time Traveler's Wife"

Director: Robert Schwentke

Cast: Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana, Arliss Howard

The plot: A couple tries to hold on to their romance despite the fact one of them lives in a shifting timeline.

Prediction: Time travel is always a tricky plot device.

_"Ponyo"

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Voice Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, Matt Damon

The plot: The animated film is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Little Mermaid."

Prediction: Never bet against Miyazaki.

Aug. 21:

_"Inglourious Basterds"

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent

The plot: The lives of several people come together in German-occupied France.

Prediction: Should end summer on a high note.

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© 2009, The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.).