The idea of “summer movies” is already past its time, as “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War” prove that “summer” is now year-round in the movie business. Still, old habits die hard – such as my annual Summer Movie Preview post. Here are one blatantly obvious and nine not-so-obvious films on the summer schedule that I wouldn’t mind seeing:
“Dark Crimes” (May 11) – In what could be his comeback vehicle, Jim Carrey stars in this grim and stylish mystery with a clever hook: He suspects a crime novel is actually a chronicle and admission of the author’s real-life murders. This is definitely a movie where you have to be in the mood for it.
“How to Talk to Girls at Parties” (May 18) – Easily the weirdest-looking entry on this list, this adaptation of a Neil Gaiman short story blends the titular lesson with science fiction, as a teenager finds that the first girl he’s able to talk to (Elle Fanning) is an alien.
“Mary Shelley” (May 25) – Dakota Fanning shined earlier this year in the 19th century TV murder mystery “The Alienist,” and now her sister, Elle, follows as the title character in this biography. Shelley, of course, is the novelist of 1818’s “Frankenstein,” with which she challenged entrenched stereotypes about women’s ability to write and launched the new genre of science fiction.
“Adrift” (June 1) – Like “The Perfect Storm” with perhaps a happier ending, this film about a couple (Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin) sailing across the Pacific looks like one of those survival films that’s harrowing to watch but rewarding in the end.
“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (June 22) – I liked 2015’s “Jurassic World” but lamented how far the franchise has drifted from its scary roots. While it is repeating themes of conservation and animal rights from 1997’s “The Lost World,” it aims to do so with a scarier spin overseen by veteran horror director J.A. Bayona.
“Eighth Grade” (July 13) – This teen film starring an actress who actually is the age of her character aims to give an acne-and-all spin on the coming-of-age genre. The previews and buzz suggest it might succeed.
“Shock and Awe” (July 13) – Every year seems to produce one good mainstream libertarian movie and one good mainstream journalism movie. This entry might fall into both categories, as it chronicles Knight Ridder’s investigation of whether the Bush administration is lying about WMDs in Iraq as a pretense for war.
“Like Father” (Aug. 3) – Someone leaves Kristen Bell at the altar (LOL) because she’s a workaholic. This gives her time to bond with her similarly afflicted father, played by Kelsey Grammer. With no trailer out, this is just a gut-feeling selection.
“The Meg” (Aug. 10) – It’s adapted from a bad 1997 novel, but that might not matter. This adventure film raises important scientific questions such as: Is it scarier to be eaten by a shark if it is the size of a city block? How, logistically speaking, does a shark that big get into waters shallow enough that it’s filled with swimmers? And how many swimmers can it gobble up in one fell swoop?
“Juliet, Naked” (Aug. 31) – This is the latest adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel, which is enough of a hook. But as a bonus, it’s the most music-centered adaptation of his work since “High Fidelity,” as it chronicles a woman (Rose Byrne) who falls for a past-his-prime musician (Ethan Hawke) whom her husband (Chris O’Dowd) is obsessed with.
What movies are you looking forward to this summer? Share your list in the comment thread.
Click here for a schedule of nationwide releases.