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As the NCAA men's basketball tournament begins to secure 65 teams from around
the country there are inevitably a few good teams that are on the "bubble." Some
will make it to the big dance, some won't. The same analogy holds true to movies
as well. After sitting through 15 minutes of trailers at your local theater,
there are always a few films that generate a response of, "I dunno about that
one. It could sneak onto my viewing schedule, or ... it could not." With that in
mind, here are a few "bubble" movies that are hitting theaters over the next few
months.
"The Ruins"
Pros: It's hard to believe, but DreamWorks has a good track
record with scary flicks after releasing "The Ring" and "Disturbia." Plus, the Mexican holiday setting lends
itself to a plethora of eye candy from the sexy, young cast.
Cons: A bunch of vacationers are infected by an evil
creation from an ancient civilization, causing death and destruction? It may be
original, but sounds an awful lot like a bad TV movie on SciFi.
"Superhero Movie"
Pros: This genre has been ripe for a smart send-up for
years, and writer/director Craig Mazin might be the man to do it after reviving
the "Scary Movie" franchise. Cons: If the trailer
has some of the best moments in the movie, the quality of this comedy
could be a lot closer to the extremely lame "Date Movie" and "Epic Movie" than classics such as "Airplane" or "The Naked Gun."
"Righteous Kill"
Pros: Robert De Niro and Al Pacino reunite for the first time since "Heat" as two New York detectives on the hunt for a dangerous
vigilante. Cons: Wouldn't this movie have been cool in ...
1992? Now it feels more like a very special episode of "Law & Order."
"The Happening"
Pros: Something strange is happening. People are dying and
it's spreading fast across the country. But never fear: Everyday hero Mark Wahlberg seems determined to save his family
from this reportedly "natural" disaster. Cons: This seems
awfully similar to Shyamalan's last few flicks, most notably "Signs." Can the former wunderkind create movie magic by reusing
that tired "something is out there" formula one more time?
"The Love Guru"
Pros: Mike Myers spent years honing this new character
before bringing it to the big screen. Plus, Justin Timberlake looks like he's willing to
completely embarrass himself in his skivvies for a laugh.
Cons: The trailer seems painful but, as a friend recently
remarked, the original "Austin Powers" wasn't funny until the jokes sunk in a few days
later and upon second viewings. Perhaps moviegoers will feel the same about
"Guru"?
"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon
Emperor" Pros: Popcorn movies
are always good escapist entertainment in the hot, sticky summer, and Maria Bello is a fine replacement for Rachel Weisz. Cons: Do people
really care about this franchise? And has director Rob Cohen ever made a movie you'd pay to see twice?
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