The summer of 2010 kicks off with the return of Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man in the appropriately titled sequel: Iron Man 2. However, once we've had our fill of Iron Man, the rest of the summer is nearly superhero-free. The summer's serving up aliens, vampires, werewolves, and well dressed women, but with the exception of Jonah Hex (whose title character, let's face it, isn't exactly a household name) Iron Man 2 is providing the only superhero excitement of the summer. Let's just hope the rest of May, June, July and August's releases can make up for the lack of unnaturally strong men in bizarre costumes.
1. 'Iron Man 2'
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, and Mickey Rourke
What It's About: Robert Downey Jr is back in peak form as the billionaire Tony Stark who, when he's not partying and/or hitting on women, saves the world as Iron Man. But this time around the government wants to butt in on Iron Man's action - and Stark isn't willing to share his technology.
Release Date: May 7, 2010
2. 'Robin Hood'
Starring: Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett
What It's About: Originally, this Robin Hood tale wasn't even going to focus on Robin Hood. The first pitch of the story had the Sheriff of Nottingham as the central character, with the story told from his point of view. But ultimately that's not what wound up being filmed. Instead, Robin Hood is once again the story of a man who steals from the rich to give to the poor, with Crowe playing the expert archer.
Release Date: May 14, 2010
3. 'Shrek Forever After'
Featuring the Voices Of: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, and Antonio Banderas
What It's About: The merry gang of ogres and assorted animal sidekicks return for the fourth - and final? - film of the franchise. This one's set in an alternate universe (following a curse by Rumpelstiltskin) in which Shrek and Fiona aren't married and Puss in Boots is a giant orange fluffball who'd rather eat than fight.
Release Date: May 21, 2010
4. 'MacGruber'
Starring: Will Forte, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig and Val Kilmer
What's It About: Inspired by the 1980's TV series MacGyver, MacGruber follows the exploits of a man who can make a bomb out of a paper clip, sticky note, and empty tube of toothpaste. Okay, so those aren't exactly what he'd use - but you get the point. In the film, MacGruber comes out of self-imposed retirement for one last job: to protect the world from a stolen nuclear warhead.
Release Date: May 21, 2010
5. 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time'
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton
What It's About: Based on a popular video game series, Jake Gyllenhaal shows off his buff - and bronzed - body as a prince (of Persia) who teams up with a gorgeous princess (Gemma Arterton) to keep a dagger filled with the Sands of Time (special sand capable of reversing time) safe from the wrong hands.
Release Date: May 28, 2010
6. 'Sex and the City 2'
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall, and Cynthia Nixon
What It's About: The lovely ladies who first graced the small screen from 1998 to 2004, and then starred in one of the most successful female-driven films of all time, are back on the big screen in what's sure to be the year's most fashionable film. Marriage and children can't keep Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte down, as the foursome heads off to Abu Dhabi for a little fun and relaxation (and sex).
Release Date: May 28, 2010
7. 'Get Him to the Greek'
Starring: Russell Brand and Jonah Hill
What It's About: Russell Brand returns as the leather-clad rocker Aldous Snow in this spin-off from Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Jonah Hill's also back, but he's not playing the same character he played in FSM so maybe it's best to just pretend not to remember him being a part of the first film. In Greek, Hill is charged with escorting the unruly rock star from England to the Greek Theater in LA for a comeback concert. Hilarious R-rated hijinx are sure to ensue.
Release Date: June 4, 2010
8. 'The A-Team'
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, Liam Neeson, and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson
What It's About: And here's another film based on a once popular TV show. The series, which ran from 1983 to 1987 on NBC, featured four Vietnam veterans wrongly convicted of a crime they didn't commit. Together as 'The A-Team', they attempted to clear their names while helping out people in need. The film follows the same general premise but moves the action forward so that instead of being involved in Vietnam, the four soldiers did tours of duty in Iraq.
Release Date: June 11, 2010
9. 'The Karate Kid'
Starring: Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith
What It's About: Ralph Macchio was the original Karate Kid in a series of films that made 'wax on, wax off' a popular saying. Pat Morita co-starred as the oh-so-wise Mr. Miyagi who not only taught the kid how to defend himself physically, but also served up important life lessons. This time around it's Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's son Jaden who gets to learn how to fight and martial arts legend Jackie Chan who's doing the teaching.
Release Date: June 11, 2010
10. 'Jonah Hex'
Starring: Josh Brolin, Michael Fassbender, and Megan Fox
What It's About: Who is Jonah Hex? That's a question a lot of non-comic book fans will be asking when the gunslinger who survived death moseys into theaters for what's likely to be the first film of a franchise (if it performs up to expectations at the box office). Josh Brolin takes on the lead role as the bounty hunter who must track down a dangerous villain out to unleash hell on earth.
Release Date: June 18, 2010
11. 'Toy Story 3'
Featuring the Voices Of: Tom Hanks and Tim Allen
What It's About: Toy Story changed the world of animated films when it hit theaters in 1995. And when Toy Story 2 hit theaters in 1999 it was widely proclaimed to be not only better than its predecessor, but one of the best animated films ever released. Toy Story 3 finds all the familiar toys of the first two films back for yet another wild adventure, but this time their owner's ready to leave the world of playing with toys behind to head off to college.
Release Date: June 18, 2010
12. 'Grown Ups'
Starring: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Kevin James
What It's About: It must be nice to put together a big Hollywood film just so you can hang out with your friends and get paid for it... Okay, maybe that's not the only reason Grown Ups exists, but I'm willing to bet that excuse was part of the reason Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, David Spade, and Rob Schneider got together to make this comedy about a group of childhood friends who get together to honor the memory of one of their former coaches.
Release Date: June 25, 2010
13. 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, and Kristen Stewart
What It's About: Who cares what it's about? It's got vampires and werewolves and teen romance and shirtless studs running around in the rain...does it really need a plot too? Fine, it does have a story to tell. This third film of the Twilight series finds Bella back with her vampire beau, Edward, while her werewolf friend, Jacob, still longs for their relationship to proceed past the friendship stage. And there's a pesky redhead vampire who'd like nothing better than to take...check that...make dinner out of Bella.
Release Date: June 30, 2010
14. 'Predators'
Starring: Adrien Brody and Alice Braga
What It's About: Arnold's too busy being governor of California to hunt down Predators, so this new addition to the franchise is lead by Oscar winner Adrien Brody (an unlikely choice to star in a huge action film). Produced by Robert Rodriguez and directed by Nimrod Antal (Vacancy), Predators is set on an alien planet and has Brody heading up a group of highly skilled fighters being hunted down by the Predators who are trying to learn the best ways to kill humans.
Release Date: July 9, 2010
15. 'Knight & Day'
Starring: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz
What It's About:Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz reunite for Knight & Day, an action comedy that's decidedly less intense than their last outing together (2001's Vanilla Sky). Knight & Day puts Cruise and Diaz through the wringer as they race around the globe trying to stay alive and out of trouble.
Release Date: June 25, 2010
16. 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer
What It's About: Nicolas Cage loves fantasy films, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice should help him fulfill his fantasy film fantasies. In the action-packed film, Cage gets to play a wizard who must defend Manhattan from his arch-nemesis. The very busy Jay Baruchel (She's Out of My League, How to Train Your Dragon) plays an average Joe who becomes Cage's apprentice.
Release Date: July 16, 2010
17. 'Despicable Me'
Featuring the Voices Of: Steve Carell, Jason Segel and Russell Brand
What It's About: Universal Pictures wants to make sure everyone knows all about this film, launching TV spots early in the year and keeping the film's name out there in front of potential moviegoers months in advance. And even though Universal put out all these advance clips, the plot really hasn't been made apparent from the trailers. What it is about is a criminal mastermind out to steal the moon. Yes, the moon.
Release Date: July 9, 2010
18. 'Inception'
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page
What It's About: Let writer/director Christopher Nolan explain: "Inception's a difficult film to summarize. It's about a team of people, led by Leonardo DiCaprio, who have a technology that allows them to enter people's minds. So it's really a grand-scale action film set within the architecture of the human mind. It's a different concept. And one of the things that's fun about an original idea and an original script we put together is the audience isn't going to know exactly what to expect when they sit down to watch it. And for me as a viewer that's the ultimate movie-going experience..."
Release Date: July 16, 2010
19. 'Dinner for Schmucks'
Starring: Steve Carell and Paul Rudd
What It's About: Steve Carell and Paul Rudd were together in Anchorman, and Rudd was the stud and Carell was the slow one. They worked together again in The 40 Year Old Virgin, and Rudd was a guy who had it all together while Carell played the 40 year old who collected action figures and hadn't had sex. Guess which one plays the 'schmuck' in Dinner for Schmucks...
Release Date: July 23, 2010
20. 'Salt'
Starring: Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber
What It's About: Originally, Salt was written as a male role and Tom Cruise was supposed to be starring in the film. Fast forward through the scripting and production process and it's Angelina Jolie who's in the lead playing a CIA agent accused of being a Russian spy.
Release Date: July 23, 2010
21. 'The Other Guys'
Starring: Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell
What It's About: Mark Wahlberg's returning to lighter fare with a starring role opposite Will Ferrell in the cop comedy The Other Guys. The two play detectives who want to be like their idols, brilliant cops Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and Highsmith (Samuel L Jackson), but just aren't of the same level. However, events occur which allow Wahlberg and Ferrell's characters their moment to shine - if they don't mess up the opportunity.
Release Date: August 6, 2010
22. 'Scott Pilgrim vs the World'
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Chris Evans
What It's About: Michael Cera stars as Scott Pilgrim, a normal guy who plays in a band, is usually unemployed, and falls in love with Rose (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). But getting together with Rose isn't easy. She's got seven evil boyfriends and Scott must take each one on in order to win the right to be her boyfriend. And you thought your dating life was complicated.
Release Date: August 13, 2010
