August 7: 'Shorts' | What to Watch, Summer 2009 | Comcast.net

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What to Watch, Summer 2009

August 7: 'Shorts'

A young boy living in a cookie-cutter suburb gets hit on the head with a rainbow-colored rock that grants wishes to anyone who holds it in this family-oriented fantasy comedy from "Spy Kids" director Robert Rodriguez.

Rebel Rodriguez, Leo Howard and Trevor Gagnon in "Shorts." The movie hits theaters on Friday, August 7. (Photo: Warner Brothers)

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May 21: 'Termina... The year is 2018. Judgment Day has come and gone, leveling modern civilization. An army of Terminators roams the post-apocalyptic landscape, killing or collecting humans where they hide in the desolate cities and deserts. But small groups of survivors have organized into a Resistance, hiding in underground bunkers and striking when they can against an enemy force that vastly outnumbers them.Only one man saw Judgment Day coming. One man, whose destiny has always been intertwined with the fate of human existence: John Connor.

Christian Bale stars as John Connor in "Terminator Salvation," which opened in theaters Thursday, May 21. (Photo by Richard Foreman/Warner Bros.)
May 22: 'Night a... Night has fallen upon the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The guides have gone home, the lights are out, the school kids are tucked in their beds, yet something incredible is stirring as former night guard Larry Daley finds himself lured into his biggest, most imagination-boggling adventure yet in which history truly comes alive. In this second installment of the Night at the Museum saga, Larry faces a battle so epic it could only unfold in the corridors of the world's largest museum.

Amy Adams and Ben Stiller star in "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," in theaters Friday, May 22. (Photo: 20th Century Fox)
May 29: 'Drag Me... An old woman places a powerful curse on a bank officer, Christine (Alison Lohman), after she refuses to give her a loan, transforming her life into a living hell. Haunted by an evil spirit and misunderstood by a skeptical boyfriend, Christine seeks the aid of seer Rham Jas to save her soul from eternal damnation. To help the shattered Christine return her life to normal, the psychic sets her on a frantic course to reverse the spell. As evil forces close in, Christine must face the unthinkable: how far will she go to break free of the curse?

The scary movie opens on Friday, May 29. (Photo: Universal)
May 29: 'Up' A feisty septuagenarian teams with a fearless wilderness ranger to do battle with a vicious band of beasts and villains in this computer-animated adventure scripted by Pixar veteran Bob Peterson and co-directed by Peterson and "Monsters, Inc." director Peter Docter.

The film hits theaters on Friday, May 29. (Photo: Dreamworks)
June 5: 'The Han... A blowout Las Vegas bachelor party turns into a race against time when three hung-over groomsmen awaken after a night of drunken debauchery to find that the groom has gone missing, and attempt to get him to the altar before his wedding day. With no memory of the previous night's transgressions and precious little time to spare, the trio sets out on a hazy attempt to retrace their steps from the previous night, and discover exactly where things went wrong.

Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms star in the buddy flick, "Hangover." The movie opens on Friday, June 5. (Photo: Warner Brothers)
June 5: 'Land of... Has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall, is sucked into a space-time vortex and spat back through time. Way back. Now, Marshall has no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to survive in an alternate universe full of marauding dinosaurs and fantastic creatures from beyond our world. Sucked alongside him for the adventure are crack-smart research assistant Holly and a redneck survivalist named Will. Chased by T. rex and stalked by painfully slow reptiles known as Sleestaks, Marshall, Will and Holly must rely on their only ally—a primate called Chaka to navigate out of the hybrid dimension.

Danny McBride, Will Ferrell and Anna Friel in "Land of the Lost," (Photo: Universal)
June 5: 'My Life... A Greek tour guide named Georgia ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star Nia Vardalos) attempts to recapture her kefi (Greek for "mojo") by guiding a ragtag group of tourists around Greece and showing them the beauty of her native land in this sun-soaked comedy. Along the way, she manages to open their eyes to wonders of an exotic foreign land while beginning to see the world through a new set of eyes in the process.

Nia Vardalos stars in "My Life in Ruins," opening Friday, June 5. (Photo: Fox Searchlight)
June 12: 'The Ta... New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber's ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder, the criminal mastermind and leader of the highly-armed gang of four threatens to execute the train’s passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit the gang and save the hostages. But there’s one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?

John Travolta stars in "The Taking of Pelham 123," which hits theaters Friday, June 12. (Photo: Sony Pictures)
June 12: 'Imagin... A powerful financial executive whose career was sent spiraling down the drain due to sudden lack of confidence finds the answers to his inexplicable setback in an imaginary world dreamt up by his young daughter in a fantasy comedy starring Eddie Murphy and co-scripted by Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson (the writing duo behind "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey").

"Imagine That," starring Eddie Murphy, is in theaters on Friday, June 12. (Photo: Paramount)
June 19: 'The Pr... When high-powered book editor Margaret faces deportation to her native Canada, the quick-thinking exec declares that she’s actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew, who she’s tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences.

Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock in "The Proposal." The romantic comedy opens on Friday, June 19. (Photo: Buena Vista)
June 19: 'Year O... Written and directed by Harold Ramis, this comedy stars Jack Black and Michael Cera. Produced by Ramis and Judd Apatow after the former appeared in the latter's "Knocked Up", "Year One" is being executive produced by actor/screenwriter Owen Wilson. Oliver Platt, Olivia Wilde, Vinnie Jones, David Cross, and "Superbad's" Christopher Mintz-Plasse co-star in the Columbia Pictures production.

Michael Cera and Jack Black in "Year One." The comedy opens on Friday, June 19. (Photo: Sony Pictures)
June 24: 'Transf... Michael Bay returns to helm the sequel to the highly successful big-screen adaptation of the Transformers toy line for DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures. Much of the original cast returns for the second installment, including Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, and John Turturro, with Rainn Wilson joining in the fun as a college professor.

Megan Fox and Shia LeBeouf star in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" opening on Wednesday, June 24. (Photo: Paramount)
June 26: 'My Sis... After their daughter is stricken with leukemia, a couple conceives a younger sister who can provide a donor match, but the family is torn apart when, after years of medical procedures, the healthy younger sibling sues her parents for the right to decide how her body is used.

Sofia Vassilieva and Abigail Breslin star in the drama "My Sister's Keeper." The movie opens Friday, June 26. (Photo: Warner Brothers)
July 1: 'Ice Age... The subzero heroes are back. Scrat is still trying to nab the ever elusive nut, while maybe finding true love. Manny and Ellie await the birth of their mini-mammoth. Diego the saber toothed tiger wonders if he’s growing too soft and Sid the sloth gets into trouble when he creates his own makeshift family by hijacking some dinosaur eggs. On a mission to rescue the hapless Sid, the gang ventures into a mysterious underground world, where they have some close encounters with dinosaurs, battle flora and fauna, run amuck and meet a relentless, one eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck.

A scene from "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," opening Wednesday, July 1. (Photo: 20th Century Fox)
July 1: 'Public ... Based on author Bryan Burrough's ambitious tome "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-43," director Michael Mann's sprawling historical crime drama follows the efforts of top FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale ) in capturing notorious bank robber John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp.

The films opens on Wednesday, July 1. (Photo: Universal)
July 8: 'Bruno' "Borat" trickster Sacha Baron Cohen returns to the big screen to offer yet another stinging dose of sociopolitical satire in this comedy that finds him assuming the persona of gay fashionmonger Bruno, the self-proclaimed "voice of Austrian youth TV." Originally conceived as part of Cohen's cult television series "Da Ali G Show," the character of Bruno offered a cleverly costumed Cohen the opportunity to highlight the absurdities of the fashion industry by interviewing unsuspecting fashion icons and other haute couture hangers-on.

Sacha Baron Cohen in "Bruno," which hits theaters on Wednesday, July 8. (Photo: Universal)
July 8: 'I Love ... When a geeky high-school valedictorian (Paul Rust) throws caution to the wind by expressing his love for a popular cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere) during his graduation speech, life finally starts to get interesting in this coming-of-age comedy adapted from the book by journalist/author/screenwriter Larry Doyle.

A scene from "I Love You, Beth Cooper," starring Hayden Panettiere. The film opens Wednesday, July 8. (Photo: 20th Century Fox)
July 15: 'Harry ... Adolescent wizard-in-training Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for another year of schooling and learns more about the dark past of the boy who grew up to become Lord Voldemort in this, the sixth installment of the film series that originated from the writings of author J.K. Rowling.

Michael Gambon stars in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," opening Wednesday, July 15. (Photo: Warner Brothers)
July 24: 'The Ug... Katherine Heigl stars as a lovelorn television producer who's made to run a gauntlet of romantic exploits by a pig-headed morning-show host (played by Gerard Butler) as a way to prove whose romantic methods are more accurate.

Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler in "The Ugly Truth." The romantic comedy hits theaters on Wednesday, July 24. (Photo: Sony Pictures)
July 31: 'Funny ... George is a very successful stand up comedian who learns that he has an untreatable blood disorder and is given less than a year to live. Ira is a struggling up-and-coming stand up comedian who works at a deli and has yet to figure out his onstage persona. One night, these two perform at the same club and George takes notice of Ira. George hires Ira to be his semi-personal assistant as well as his friend.

Leslie Mann, Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Eric Bana star in the comedy "Funny People," which opens Friday, July 31. (Photo: Columbia)
August 7: 'G.I. ... Director Stephen Sommers ("The Mummy," "Van Helsing") adapts the beloved Hasbro G.I. Joe toy line with this Paramount Pictures production that pits the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity against the evil forces of the organization known as Cobra. Dennis Quaid and Channing Tatum star as General Hawk and Duke Hauser, respectively, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marlon Wayans leading the rest of the cast.

Sienna Miller stars in "G.I. Joe." The film opens on Friday, August 7.(Photo: Paramount)
August 7: 'Julie... Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and Julie Powell (Amy Adams) are featured in writer-director Nora Ephron's adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell's "Julie & Julia" and "My Life in France," by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme. Based on two true stories, "Julie & Julia" intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends...until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

Meryl Streep stars as chef Julia Child in "Julie & Julia." The film opens on Friday, August 7. (Photo: Sony Pictures)
August 7: 'Short... A young boy living in a cookie-cutter suburb gets hit on the head with a rainbow-colored rock that grants wishes to anyone who holds it in this family-oriented fantasy comedy from "Spy Kids" director Robert Rodriguez.

Rebel Rodriguez, Leo Howard and Trevor Gagnon in "Shorts." The movie hits theaters on Friday, August 7. (Photo: Warner Brothers)
August 7: 'When ... Disillusioned with romance during her whirlwind trip to Rome, an ambitious New Yorker defiantly swipes a few magic coins from a "foolish" wishing fountain, inadvertently igniting the passions of a motley crew of suitors as she's pursued by a handsome reporter with charm to spare. Beth (Kristen Bell) is at a point in her life where love seems like a luxury she just can't afford. Years of waiting for that perfect romance has made Beth bitter, and one day, while vacationing in Rome, she cynically plucks a handful of coins from a local fountain of love. Almost immediately thereafter, Beth finds herself fending off the advances of a diminutive sausage magnate (Danny DeVito), a lanky street magician (Jon Heder), a doting painter (Will Arnett), and a narcissistic male model (Dax Shepard). Meanwhile, a smitten reporter (Josh Duhamel) does his best to convince Beth that true love isn't just a topic of fairy tales and romance novels.

Josh Duhamel and Kristen Bell in as scene from "When in Rome." The film opens on Friday, August 7. (Photo: Buena Vista)
August 14: 'Taki... Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee tells the story of the Greenwich Village interior designer who inadvertently helped to spark a cultural revolution by offering the organizers of the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival boarding at his family's Catskills motel.

Eugene Levy and Demetri Martin in Taking Woodstock. The movie hits theaters on Friday, August 14. (Photo: Focus Features)
August 14: 'The ... A Chicago librarian suffers from a rare genetic disorder that sends him hurtling through time whenever he is under extreme duress; despite the fact that he vanishes at inordinately frequent and lengthy intervals, he attempts to build a stable future with the beautiful young heiress he loves. Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams star in this dramatic fantasy, which is directed by Robert Schwentke and based on the best-selling book by author Audrey Niffenegger.

Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams star in "The Time Traveler's Wife." The film opens on Friday, August 14. (Photo: New Line Cinema)
August 21: 'Ingl... In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.

Brad Pitt stars in Quentin Tarantino's film "Inglourious Basterds" opening Friday, August 21. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
August 21: 'Post... Recent college graduate Ryden Malby ("Gilmore Girls" star Alexis Bledel) has just survived four years of higher education, but when she's forced to move back into her childhood home, the stress of dealing with her eccentric family, landing a job, and finding the right guy leaves her with precious little time to ponder where her life is truly heading.

A scene from "Post Grad," which hits theaters Friday, August 21. (Photo: Fox Searchlight)
August 28: 'Fina... The "Final Destination" series gets a kick-start with this fourth outing, headed up by the production team behind the second film -- director David R. Ellis and writer Eric Bress. The New Line franchise will be presented for the first time in 3-D with this installment focusing on a teenager that dodges a trip to the grave at a racetrack, only to find that death has a way of equaling the playing field after the fact.

Bobby Campo and Shantel VanSanten star in "Final Destination 4." The movie opens on Friday, August 28. (Photo: Warner Brothers)
August 28: 'H2' Filmmaker Rob Zombie returns to Haddonfield for this Dimension Films sequel that finds the murderous psychopath Michael Myers (once again played by Tyler Mane) out on the loose again.

Tyler Mane and Kristina Klebe in scene from Rob Zombie's 2007 remake of "Halloween." The sequel, "H2," opens on Friday, August 28. (Photo: Dimension Films)

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