Guardians of the Galaxy (August 1)
While the promise of an outer space superhero adventure filled with Marvel characters like Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Star-Lord are reason enough to get excited about Guardians of the Galaxy, the most enticing thing about it is actually behind the camera: director James Gunn.
Gunn is a risky, out-of-left-field choice for a movie like this, which is what makes him so perfect for the job. His past films, Slither and Super, turned their respective genres on their heads and gave us unique, fun viewing experiences. And with a cast like Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Benicio del Toro, John C. Reilly, Dave Bautista, and Vin Diesel, you know that’s exactly what we’re going to get come August 1st.
The first trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy showcased the movie’s wacky tone and comedic moments, but was also peppered with some of the best action we’ve seen from Marvel Studios so far, which should make it an absolute must-see on the big screen.
– JG
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (August 8)
Why is this adaptation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons on the list of our most anticipated summer movies? Call it a morbid curiosity. Though director Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles, Wrath of the Titans) hasn’t done much of anything to endear himself to us critics, and Michael Bay of the destructo-porn Transformers franchise is involved as a producer, there’s still a sliver of a chance that this might not be terrible.
Josh Applebaum & Andre Nemec (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) and Evan Daughtery (Divergent) penned the script, and some of the actors on board are quite promising. William Fichtner will play the Turtles’ archnemesis The Shredder, and the actors playing the Turtles (Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, and Pete Ploszek with Johnny Knoxville’s voice) all seem like solid choices. Will Arnett is on hand to play camerman Vernon, and Megan Fox will take on the role of April O’Neil. More than ever, Fox’s acting chops will be needed, and she has assured reporters that she’s a huge fan of the Turtles, so the actress will surely be bringing her A-game.
To put it simply, it’s too early to tell whether Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will sink like a rock or surprise everyone. So, for now, why not give it the benefit of the doubt?
– IF
Let’s Be Cops (August 13)
Though initial trailers for Let’s Be Cops haven’t had us rolling in our seats wuite as much as we hoped they would, there’s still reason to hold out hope for this summer comedy.
Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. star as two buddies who dress up like cops for a costume party, only to be mistaken for actual officers of the law. Once they realize how much power their fake badges command, the two decide to keep up the charade a while longer, only to become drawn into a treacherous web of dangerous criminals and corrupt cops. Along the way, they flirt with sorority girls, scare drug users and generally wreak mayhem throughout Los Angeles.
A great supporting cast including Nina Dobrev, Andy Garcia, Keegan-Michael Key, James D’Arcy and Rob Riggle, in addition to a hard R-rating, offer more than enough reasons to keep an eye out for Let’s Be Cops.
– IF
