Summer movie guide: Comedies

“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, Dan AykroydDirector: Dennis DuganStory: After saving fellow firefighter Chuck Ford (Sandler), Larry Allensworth (James) asks for a favor. Red tape is stopping him from naming his two kids as his life-insurance beneficiaries. He’s a widower, but he needs a domestic partner. That’s where Chuck comes in. But when a city worker becomes suspicious, they have to prove they’re really a gay couple with a little help from their lawyer (Biel).Buzz: According to Entertainment Weekly, this script has been rewritten multiple times and had at least three directors attached, plus a multitude of stars, including Will Smith and James Gandolfini. “Blades of Glory” proved you can make a funny movie about gay panic without making it homophobic. Will this film be able to do the same? Director Dugan is a frequent Sandler collaborator (“Happy Gilmore,” “Big Daddy”). Web site: http://www.chuckandlarry.com/Release date: July 20 “Hairspray”Starring: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah. Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Brittany SnowDirector: Adam ShankmanStory: Like “The Producers,” this is a big-screen version of a Broadway play based on a movie (the original John Waters film is well worth renting). Tracy Turnblad (Blonsky) dreams of being a dancer on the Corny Collins Show and she and her best friend Penny (Bynes) both have a crush on dancer Link Larkin (Efron). Tracy auditions and gets on the show, much to the dismay of the snooty Amber Von Tussle (Snow) and her mother Velma (Pfieffer). When Tracy decides it’s not fair that the African-American kids are only allowed to dance on the show once a month, she enlists the help of her mom (Travolta), dad (Walken) and record-shop owner Motormouth Mabel (Latifah). Buzz: This may be this summer’s surprise hit. Yes, we’ve been down this disappointing musical path before with “Phantom of the Opera” and “The Producers,” but this film has a great cast and it’s full of actors who can actually sing and dance: Efron (“High School Musical”), Bynes, Latifah, Travolta and Pfieffer (“Fabulous Baker Boys” and the unforgettable “Grease 2”). John Waters also recently gave this version his blessing. Shankman (“Bringing Down the House”) has also been a choreographer on a number of films including “She’s All That” and the musical episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”Web site: http://www.hairspraymovie.com/ Release date: July 20 “Evan Almighty”Starring: Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, John Goodman, John Michael Higgins, Jimmy Bennett, Wanda Sykes, Jonah HillDirector: Tom ShadyacStory: When newscaster Evan Baxter (Carell) becomes a Congressman and says that he’d like to make the world a better place, God (Freeman) takes him up on his offer and tells him that he needs to build an ark for an upcoming flood. Suddenly animals swarm at him in twos, he loses his job and his wife (Graham) thinks he’s lost his mind. With a little help from his family and the animals, he decides to build the ark.Buzz: With a budget of $175 million, this is one of the most expensive comedies ever, and considering Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston are nowhere to be found, that’s a serious risk. Carell proved himself in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and on “The Office,” but let’s hope this isn’t the start of a bad streak (his next film “Get Smart” seems like a bad choice along the lines of Will Ferrell in “Bewitched”). Shadyac directed the first film, and Sykes (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”) always brings the laughter. Web site: http://www.evanalmighty.com/ Release date: June 22 “Superbad”Starring: Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Bill Hader, Christopher Mintz-PlasseDirector: Greg MottolaStory: Evan (Cera) and Seth (Hill) are two high-school seniors who will be going their separate ways after graduation and are determined to make the most of their senior year, which includes throwing a huge party. Their pal “McLovin,” after witnessing a convenience store robbery, gets tangled up with two not-so-serious cops (Rogan and Hader).Buzz: It’s easy to make a bad teen comedy, but this is looking like one of those rare teen-movie classics. Cera is best-known for his role as George Michael Bluth on “Arrested Development,” while Rogen (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”) is emerging as one of this summer’s big stars — he also co-wrote the screenplay. Director Mottola is primary known for directing great TV shows (“Undeclared,” “Arrested Development”), but he also made the very good “Daytrippers.” This is one of those summer sleepers to watch. Web site: http://www.areyousuperbad.com/ Release date: August 17 “Charlie Bartlett”Starring: Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, Tyler Hilton, Jake Epstein, Lauren Collins, Dylan Taylor, Mark Rendall, Kat Dennings, Derek McGrathDirector: John PollStory: Charlie Bartlett (Yelchin) has been kicked out of a multitude of private schools. When his mom (Davis) gives up and enrolls him in public school, he finds himself becoming a therapist for the other students, and selling them prescription drugs he gets from his own psychiatrist. Downey co-stars as the school principal. Buzz: This film sounds a little like “Rushmore,” and the drug twist makes it reminiscent of “The Chumscrubber” (both are worth renting). After seeing the film at Tribeca, Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.net wrote that though the film follows a familiar teen movie formula in some ways, “it also has a very clever premise and its own distinct charm and personality.” Web site: http://www.charliebartlett-themovie.com/ Release date: August 3 “Hot Rod”Starring: Andy Samberg, Isla Fisher, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Sissy Spacek, Ian McShaneDirector: Akiva SchafferStory: Self-proclaimed stunt man Rod Kimble (Samberg) plans to jump 15 buses in order to raise money for abusive stepfather’s (McShane) heart operation. Rod wants him to get better so he can kick his butt. Buzz: Samberg is “Saturday Night Live’s” current breakout star for the video “Lazy Sunday.” And as Vince Vaughn’s love interest, Isla Fisher was one of the best things about “The Wedding Crashers.” McShane is best known for his role as Al Swearengen on “Deadwood.” Great cast, but this looks to be an incredibly silly movie.Web site: Release date: August 3 “Death at a Funeral”Starring: Matthew Macfayden, Rupert Graves, Peter Dinklage, Alan Tudyk, Daisy Donovan, Kris Marshall, Andy Nyman, Jane AsherDirector: Frank OzStory: In this British comedy, when Daniel (Macfayden) goes to his father’s funeral, he begins to realize that his father may have been concealing the fact that he was gay. Dinklage co-stars as one of Daniel’s father’s special friends. Buzz: This film won the audience award at the U.S. Comedy Festival. Director Frank Oz is the man behind the wonderful “Bowfinger” and the awful “Stepford Wives.” Macfayden is best known for his role as Mr. Darcy in the most recent “Pride & Prejudice.” After seeing the film at the Comedy Fest, Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net wrote, “I have not laughed this much since I saw ‘Borat’ for the first time last year.”Web site: NA Release date: June 29

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