Selena Gomez has built up quite a fan following starring in the popular teen TV series Wizards of Waverly Place, and now she’s hoping those fans will follow her to the big screen with Monte Carlo. Gomez is surrounded by an attractive cast and pretty scenery in the romantic comedy, but will fans accept her in a more mature role?
Starring: Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, and Katie Cassidy
Directed By: Thomas Bezucha
Release Date: July 1, 2011
Genres: Comedy, romance, adventure
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexual content
Official Synopsis: Based on the Jules Bass book Headhunters published in 2001, Monte Carlo finds Selena Gomez playing a teen named Grace who’s mistaken for a socialite while on a trip to Paris. Flying off to Monte Carlo for a charity ball and auction, Grace and her friends find themselves involved in the search for a million-dollar necklace that goes missing.
Tom Hanks wasn’t satisfied to just star in Larry Crowne, he also co-wrote the script and directed the film. It’s the first time he’s directed a feature film since That Thing You Do!, and Hanks is obviously committed to making Larry Crowne one of his crowning achievements.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Bryan Cranston
Directed By: Tom Hanks
Release Date: July 1, 2011
Genres: Comedy, drama, romance
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexual content
Movie Review: Read the review
Official Synopsis: Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he’s worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves…often moving around town in a herd of scooters.
In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot, who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. The simple guy who has every reason to think his life has stalled will come to learn an unexpected lesson: when you think everything worth having has passed you by, you just might discover your reason to live.
Larry Crowne Cast and Characters:
Tom Hanks – ‘Larry Crowne’
Julia Roberts -‘Mercedes Tainot’
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Cedric the Entertainer
Taraji P Henson
Bryan Cranston
Wilmer Valderrama
Pam Grier
Rami Malek
George Takei
Grace Gummer
Rita Wilson
Jon Seda
Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks teams up with Oscar winner Julia Roberts for Larry Crowne, a comedy/drama/romance which also finds Mr. Hanks behind the camera as director. And as if wearing two hats wasn’t enough, Hanks dons three, writing the screenplay with Nia Vardalos.
And what’s Hanks’ connection to Ms. Vardalos, you ask? Vardalos starred in the sleeper hit My Big Fat Greek Fat Wedding, which Hanks’ Playtone company produced.
The Plot: Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he’s worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves…often moving around town in a herd of scooters.
In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot, who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. The simple guy who has every reason to think his life has stalled will come to learn an unexpected lesson: when you think everything worth having has passed you by, you just might discover your reason to live.
The first Transformers opened to mostly positive reviews and went on to do over $700 million in business worldwide in 2007. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was panned critically but still managed to beat its predecessor by raking in $835 million in 2009. Michael Bay promises this third Transformers film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, will recapture the fun of the original film and correct Transformers 2‘s shortcomings.
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, and Patrick Dempsey
Directed By: Michael Bay
Release Date: June 29, 2011
Genres: Action, adventure, sci-fi
Running Time: 2 hours 32 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality, and innuendo
Film Review: Read the review
Interview: Shia LaBeouf Interview Video
Interview: Patrick Dempsey Interview Video
Official Synopsis: Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. When a mysterious event from Earth’s past erupts into the present day, it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Cast and Characters:
Shia LaBeouf – ‘Sam Witwicky’
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley – ‘Carly’
Josh Duhamel – ‘US Army Major Lennox’
Tyrese Gibson – ‘Master Sergeant Epps’
John Malkovich
Patrick Dempsey
Ken Jeong
John Turturro – ‘Agent Simmons’
Frances McDormand
Peter Cullen
John Lasseter’s back behind the wheel, directing this sequel to the 2006 Pixar hit, Cars. Cars 2 has many of the same actors returning to voice characters, with the exception of Paul Newman who sadly passed away in 2008.
Starring: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, and Michael Caine
Directed By: John Lasseter and Brad Lewis
Release Date: June 24, 2011
Genre: Animated comedy
MPAA Rating: G
Film Review: Read the review Hawaiian Vacation Animated Short: Clip and photos
Official Synopsis: Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2” when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours, and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.
Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. Adding to the fast-paced fun is a colorful new all-car cast that includes secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors.
Cars 2 Cast and Characters:
Owen Wilson – ‘Lightning McQueen’
Larry the Cable Guy – ‘Mater’
Michael Caine – ‘Finn McMissile
Emily Mortimer – ‘Holley Shiftwell’
Jason Isaacs – ‘Siddeley’ and ‘Leland Turbo’
Thomas Kretschmann – ‘Professor Zundapp’
Cheech Marin – ‘Ramone’
John Ratzenberger – ‘Mack’
Tony Shalhoub – ‘Luigi’
Guido Quaroni – ‘Guido’
Eddie Izzard – ‘Miles Axlerod’
John Turturro – ‘Francesco Bernoulli’
Brent Musburger – ‘Brent Mustangburger’
Joe Mantegna – ‘Grem’
Peter Jacobson – ‘Acer’
Bonnie Hunt – ‘Sally’
Darrel Waltrip – ‘Darrell Cartrip’
Franco Nero – ‘Uncle Topolino’
David Hobbs – ‘David Hobbscap’
Patrick Walker – ‘Mel Dorado’
Jeff Garlin – ‘Otis’
Bruce Campbell – ‘Rod Torque Redline’
Jenifer Lewis – ‘Flo’
Sig Hansen – ‘Crabby’
Vanessa Redgrave – ‘The Queen’ and ‘Mama Topolino’
Brad Lewis – ‘Tubbs Pacer’
Jeff Gordon – ‘Jeff Gorvette’
Paul Dooley – ‘Sarge’
Richard Kind – ‘Van’
Michael Wallis – ‘Sheriff’
Not that many actresses get to carry the load in an R-rated comedy, but Cameron Diaz sure does in Bad Teacher. And her character truly is a ‘bad’ teacher…in more ways than one.
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, and Justin Timberlake
Directed By: Jake Kasdan
Release Date: June 24, 2011
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 92 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG for mild rude humor and some language
Film Review: Read the review
Official Synopsis: Some teachers just don’t give an F. For example, there’s Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz). She’s foul-mouthed, ruthless, and inappropriate. She drinks, she gets high, and she can’t wait to marry her meal ticket and get out of her bogus day job. When she’s dumped by her fiancé, she sets her plan in motion to win over a rich, handsome substitute (Justin Timberlake) – competing for his affections with an overly energetic colleague, Amy (Lucy Punch).
When Elizabeth also finds herself fighting off the advances of a sarcastic, irreverent gym teacher (Jason Segel), the consequences of her wild and outrageous schemes give her students, her coworkers, and even herself an education like no other.
Bad Teacher Cast and Characters:
Cameron Diaz – ‘Elizabeth’
Justin Timberlake – ‘Scott’
Lucy Punch – ‘Amy’
Jason Segel – ‘Russell’
John Michael Higgins – ‘Principal Wally Snur’
Phyllis Smith – ‘Lynn Davies’
Dave Allen – ‘Sandy Pinkus’
Jillian Armenante – ‘Ms Pavicic’
Matthew J Evans – ‘Garrett Tiara’
Kaitlyn Dever – ‘Sasha’
Kathryn Newton – ‘Chase’
Noah Munck – ‘Tristan’
Eric Stonestreet – ‘Kirk’
Thomas Lennon – ‘Carl’
Alanna Ubach – ‘Angela’
David Paymer – ‘Dr. Vogel’
Jim Carrey’s Mr Popper’s Penguins co-star Carla Gugino says you can’t help but smile whenever you’re around a penguin. And she ought to know, having spent time on the set with the cute little guys.
Directed by Mark Waters, Jim Carrey stars as Mr Popper, Carla Gugino is Amanda, Madeline Carroll is Janie, Ophelia Lovibond is Pippi, Angela Lansbury is Mrs Van Gundy, and Clark Gregg plays Nat Jones. The cast also includes Jeffrey Tambor as Mr Gremmins, David Krumholtz as Kent, Philip Baker Hall as Franklin, James Tupper as Rick, and Maxwell Perry Cotton as Billy.
Rated PG for mild rude humor and some language, the penguin comedy heads to theaters on June 17, 2011.
Official Synopsis: In this family comedy, Jim Carrey is Mr. Popper, a driven businessman who is clueless when it comes to the important things in life – until he inherits six penguins. Popper’s penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland – and the rest of his life upside-down. Filmed on a refrigerated soundstage with real Gentoo Penguins, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a contemporary adaptation of the classic book.
2011 finds three ‘green’ films hitting theaters: The Green Hornet, Green Lantern, and The Muppets (it counts because Kermit’s one of the most famous green characters ever created). Ryan Reynolds zooms around in a green suit created via the magic of CGI, while Gossip Girls star Blake Lively is a much more grounded character.
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong, and Peter Sarsgaard
Directed By: Martin Campbell
Release Date: June 17, 2011
Genres: Sci-fi, action, drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and some drug use
Official Synopsis: In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, an elite, powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. Warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him the ability to create anything his mind can imagine. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds).
Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal’s humanity is one weapon no member of the Corps has ever had, and if–with willpower, determination and the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively)–Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax…he will save the Earth and all of mankind from certain destruction.
Green Lantern Cast and Characters:
Ryan Reynolds – ‘Hal Jordan/Green Lantern’
Blake Lively – ‘Carol Ferris’
Peter Sarsgaard – ‘Hector Hammond’
Mark Strong – ‘Sinestro’
Jon Tenney – ‘Martin Jordan’
Tim Robbins – ‘Senator Hammond’
Geoffrey Rush – ‘Tomar-Re’
Michael Clarke Duncan – ‘Kilowog’
Angela Bassett – ‘Dr Amanda Waller’
Clancy Brown – ‘Parallax’
Jay O Sanders – ‘Carl Ferris’
Temuera Morrison – ‘Abin Sur’
Taiki Waititi – ‘Tom Kalmaku’
Mike Doyle – ‘Jack Jordan’
Nick Jandl – ‘Jim Jordan’
Leanne Cochran – ‘Janice Jordan’
Jeff Wolfe – ‘Bob Banks’
J.J. Abrams (Lost) pays homage to Steven Spielberg with Super 8, a sci-fi adventure film set in the 1970s. It’s reminiscent of Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., and The Goonies, and it’s received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics.
Starring: Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney and Ron Eldard
Directed By: J.J. Abrams
Release Date: June 10, 2011
Genres: Sci-fi, action, adventure, fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and some drug use
Official Synopsis: In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth – something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
Elle Fanning – ‘Alice’
Kyle Chandler – ‘Deputy Jackson Lamb’
Joel Courtney – ‘Joe’
Ron Eldard – ‘Louis’
Noah Emmerich – ‘Nelec’
Gabriel Basso – ‘Martin’
Riley Griffiths – ‘Charles’
Ryan Lee – ‘Cary’
Zach Mills – ‘Preston’
Amanda Michalka
The X-Men franchise gets a reboot with this prequel that tells the backstory of Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr. X-Men-First Class also showcases a few mutants not seen in the previous X-Men movies.
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence
Directed By: Matthew Vaughn
Release Date: June 3, 2011
Genres: Action, drama, sci-fi
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some sexual content including brief partial nudity and language
Official Synopsis: Charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.
X-Men: First Class Cast and Characters
James McAvoy – ‘Professor Charles Xavier’
Michael Fassbender – ‘Erik Lensherr/Magneto’
Rose Byrne – ‘Dr Moira MacTaggert’
Jennifer Lawrence – ‘Raven Darkholme/Mystique’
Nicholas Hoult – ‘Hank McCoy/Beast’
January Jones – ‘Emma Frost’
Lucas Till – ‘Alex Summers/Havok’
Edi Gathegi – ‘Armando Munoz/Darwin’
Zoe Kravitz – ‘Angel Salvadore’
Kevin Bacon – ‘Sebastian Shaw’
Caleb Landry Jones – ‘Sean Cassidy/Banshee’
Jason Flemyng – ‘Azazel’
Alex Gonzalez – ‘Janos Quested/Riptide’
Corey Johnson – ‘Chief Warden’
Demetri Goritsas – ‘Levene’
Glenn Morshower – ‘Colonel Hendry’
Don Creech – ‘William Stryker’
James Remar – ‘US General’
Oliver Platt – ‘Man in Black Suit’
Ray Wise – ‘Secretary of State’
