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Snakes, pirates and sea nymphs ... oh my
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“Idlewild”
Starring: André Benjamin, Antwan Andre Patton, Paula Patton, Terrence Howard, Patti LaBelle, Ving Rhames, Ben Vereen
Director: Bryan Barber
Story: This musical set in the prohibition era South, tells the story of club manager Rooster (Patton) who has to deal with gangsters who want his club, and piano player Percival (Benjamin) who has to choose between his girl (Patton) and obligations to his father (Vereen).
Buzz: There’s been much controversy surrounding the delays in this film (it was originally shot in 2004). Outkast claims they needed to complete the accompanying soundtrack album before it was released. Want more controversy? How about the fact that Outcast’s Benjamin and Big Boi (Patton) don’t share many scenes together in the film? Well, despite that, there doesn’t seem to be an OutKast breakup in the works — the Atlanta duo’s next project is a tribute to Rosa Parks. Director Barber has helmed many OutKast videos — this is his first feature film.
Web site: http://www.idlewildmovie.net/
“DOA: Dead or Alive”
Starring: Devon Aoki, Sarah Carter, Natassia Malthe, Matthew Marsden, Jamie Pressly, Eric Roberts, Holly Valance
Director: Corey Yuen
Story: Based on the “Dead or Alive” video game franchise, five women (Aoki, Carter, Mathle, Pressly, Valance) are invited to participate in a world fighting tournament on an exotic island. Hey, it’s based on a video game, so don’t expect much more in the way of plot — but there will skimpy outfits on all the girls.
Buzz: This sort of looks like “Charlie’s Angels” with a lot more kung fu. Definitely a movie for the crowd (read: young male computer programmers) who enjoy those “Tomb Raider” movies. Director Yuen is best known as a fight choreographer (“Bulletproof Monk,” “Cradle to Grave”) which means the action scenes should be fierce. It’s hard not to assume that Pressley took this gig before she got her fun role on “My Name is Earl,” because she certainly doesn’t need to slum like this anymore.
Web site: NA
“How to Eat Fried Worms”
Starring: Luke Benwald, Tom Cavanaugh, Kimberly Williams, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Adam Hicks
Director: Bob Dolman
Story: Based on the 1973 children’s book by Thomas Rockwell, this film tells the story of a fifth-grade boy (Benwald) who stands up to a bully (Hicks) and then finds himself making a bet that he can eat 10 worms in a day. With a little help from his friends and enemies, he tries to come up with the most appetizing ways possible to prepare them. Eisenberg (best known from those Pepsi commercials) is the girl Billy wants to impress.
Buzz: This is strictly for the kids, and was even co-produced by the family-friendly Walden Media, who were behind “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Hoot” and are producing the upcoming “Charlotte’s Web.” Expect a lot of gross-out humor surrounding the consumption of those pesky worms, but nothing too disgusting — it’s still Walden. As someone who loved the book as a kid, I would hope young fans could get a taste of the fun story.
Web site: http://www.friedwormsmovie.com/
“Invincible”
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Greg Kinnear, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rispoli, Kevin Conway
Director: Ericson Core
Story: Inspired by a true story, Wahlberg stars as Vince Papale, one of the Philadelphia Eagles biggest fans back in the ’70s. When new coach Dick Vermail (Kinnear) decides to hold open tryouts for the team, Papale defies the odds by making the team, despite the fact that he’s 30 years old and has only played one year of high school football. He becomes a town hero as he gets to live every fan’s fantasy; but can he cut it in the NFL?
Buzz: This film is obviously aimed at the fans who embraced “The Rookie,” but it doesn’t quite have the hook (the students pushing their coach into trying out) that made that film so winning. Definitely some late-summer filler here.
Web site: NA
“Material Girls”
Starring: Hilary Duff, Haylie Duff, Anjelica Huston, Brent Spiner, Lukas Haas, Joanne Baron, Natalie Lander, Colleen Camp, Beckie King
Director: Martha Coolidge
Story: The sisters Duff star as wealthy sisters (what else?) who are heiresses to a cosmetics fortune. But when a scandal breaks, the family faces investigation and the sisters may be stripped of their fortune.
Buzz: Yikes, the sisters will also produce a remake of the Madonna song to go with the film. Director Coolidge made one of the better teen flicks from the ‘80s, “Valley Girl” and the quirky “Rambling Rose,” but she’s often made missteps with films such as, “The Prince and Me” and “Out to Sea.” Duff is definitely a likable on-screen presences, but it’s hard to imagine her ever making the transition to adult roles (of course, considering that she’s only 19, she may not have to worry about it for awhile). Sister Haylie resides firmly in Hilary’s shadow and playing her sister in this film probably won’t change that. For tween girls only!
Web site: NA
“The Quiet”
Starring: Elisha Cuthbert, Edie Falco, Camilla Belle, Shawn Ashmore, Martin Donovan
Director: Jamie Babbit
Story: Cuthbert stars as Nina Deer, a popular cheerleader with a seemingly normal home life. When her parents (Falco and Donovan) adopt a deaf girl (Belle), Nina’s social life implodes and family secrets get revealed. One of Nina’s friends (Ashmore) develops a fascination with the adopted girl, who may be hiding secrets of her own.
Buzz: This is director Babbit’s first feature film since the funny 1999 film, “But I’m a Cheerleader.” In the meantime, she’s been directing a lot of TV, including episodes of “Gilmore Girls,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Malcolm in the Middle.” Donavan is one of those great characters who, the moment you see him, you realize you’ve seen everywhere (“The Opposite of Sex,” “Saved!” and much more). Ashmore is best known as Iceman from the “X-Men” films, while Cuthbert is everyone’s least favorite character, Kim Bauer, on “24.” Belle is definitely a star on the rise. Recent films include, “Chumbscrubber,” “The Ballad of Jack and Rose” and the lead in the “When a Stranger Calls” remake (which I can forgive her for, since she’s a struggling actress).
Web site: http://www.sonyclassics.com/comingsoon.php?filmid=311&page=1
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