July 30, 2013: Upcoming Movie Releases to Look Forward to! Or Not!

2 GUNS

Release Date: August 2, 2013

What it’s about: A DEA agent and a U.S. naval intelligence officer become unlikely allies in an off-book effort to take down the criminals who set them up.

What it’s got working for it: Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington are the Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg of our generation.

What’s it’s got going against it: This movie look about as fresh as last week’s dinner.

PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS

Release Date: August 7, 2013

What it’s about: Teenage demigods travel to The Bermuda Triangle in their quest for the Golden Fleece.

What it’s got working for it: Someone took the trouble of making this movie which is based on a book series, so it’s safe to assume there’s a pre-existing audience for this Harry Potter/X-Men mash-up.

What’s it’s got going against it: Teenage demigods?  Seriously?

WE’RE THE MILLERS

Release Date: August 7, 2013

What it’s about: A small-town drug dealer enlists the help of a stripper, a wannabe customer, and a teen street punk to pose as a straight-arrow family and help him smuggle a shipment of marijuana over the Mexican border.

What it’s got working for it: Jason Sudeikis.  And the trailer actually looks funny!

What’s it’s got going against it: Trailer can be deceiving, front-loaded with the funniest (sometimes the ONLY funny) parts in the actual movie.

DISNEY’S PLANES

Release Date: August 9, 2013

What it’s about: Talking planes.

What it’s got working for it: If you sat through Cars in its entirety then you could probably do the same for this movie.

What’s it’s got going against it: Seriously, what’s next?  Disney’s Washer Dryers?

ELYSIUM

Release Date: August 9, 2013

What it’s about: In a distant future where the wealthy live on a space station called Elysium while the masses live below on Earth, a champion rises to save the planet’s impoverished inhabitants.

What it’s got working for it: Director Neill Blomkamp of District 9 fame helms what looks like a mighty good-looking movie.

What’s it’s got going against it: Uh, you do realize this is just an old Star Trek episode, right?  The Cloud Minders.  Look it up.

KICK-ASS 2

Release Date: August 16, 2013

What it’s about: The sequel to Kick-Ass sees (more) grown-up versions of Hit Girl and Kick-Ass team up with a new bunch of caped crusaders to take on Red Mist.

What it’s got working for it: Loved the original.

What’s it’s got going against it: Older versions of these characters lack the charm that made the original so watchable.

LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER

Release Date: August 16, 2013

What it’s about: Inspired by the true story of a White House butler who served eight American presidents.

What it’s got working for it: A terrific cast headlined by Forest Whitaker.

What’s it’s got going against it: The trailer walks a fine line between poignant/stirring and pat/cloying.  The movie could fall on either side.

JOBS

Release Date: August 16, 2013

What it’s about: Apple founder Steve Jobs.

What it’s got working for it: Jobs was an interesting guy – in both good and bad ways.

What’s it’s got going against it: How much of the real Jobs will the film capture?  The brilliant inventor who revolutionized technology?  As well as the guy who made it a habit to park in handicapped spots?

PARANOIA

Release Date: August 16, 2013

What it’s about: A brilliant young tech wiz gets caught up in a high-stakes world of industrial espionage.

What it’s got working for it: Well…there’s Harrison Ford.  And Gary Oldman.

What’s it’s got going against it: Liam Hemsworth as the brilliant young tech wiz.  You buying it?  Me neither.

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES

Release Date: August 21, 2013

What it’s about: A teenager finds out she’s a descendant of the Shadowhunters, protectors of this world from otherworldly creatures.

What it’s got working for it: Again, it’s based on a book series that was presumably popular enough to warrant a movie.

What’s it’s got going against it: In the tradition of Twilight and The Hunger Games comes…more of the same.

THE FROZEN GROUND

Release Date: August 23, 2013

What it’s about: An Alaskan State Trooper hunts down a serial killer.

What it’s got working for it: An intriguing premise…

What’s it’s got going against it: …that has been done to death.  What sets this movie apart?

THE WORLD’S END

Release Date: August 23, 2013

What it’s about: A group of former buddies, now middle-aged men, reunite for a massive pub crawl – that takes a decidedly unearthly turn.

What it’s got working for it: From the people who brought us Shaun of the Dead.

What’s it’s got going against it: Also Hot Fuzz.

YOU’RE NEXT

Release Date: August 23, 2013

What it’s about: A gang of masked murderers crash a family reunion, but unbeknownst to all, a far more dangerous killer resides in the house.

What it’s got working for it:  An interesting twist on the serial killer genre.

What’s it’s got going against it: The trailer doesn’t deliver on the promised inventiveness.  Just looks like more of the same old same old.

CLOSED CIRCUIT

Release Date: August 28, 2013

What it’s about: A couple take on the defense of an accused terrorist.

What it’s got working for it: It looks like a smart, suspenseful international thriller.

What’s it’s got going against it: Possibly too cerebral for its own good?

GETAWAY

Release Date: August 30, 2013

What it’s about: A former race car driver must race the clock in a Shelby Cobra Mustang to save his wife.

What it’s got working for it: Could be a cross between Speed and Bullitt.

What’s it’s got going against it: Or Speed II and Gone in 60 Seconds.

Tagged: 2 Guns, Close Circuit, Disney's Planes, Elysium, Getaway, JOBS Lee Daniel's The Butler, Kick-Ass 2, Paranoia, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, The Frozen Ground, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The World's End, We're the Millers, You're Next