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Summer 2011 is filled with sequels, spin-offs, and reboots. That's right, as exciting as the season's blockbusters may seem, we're being inundated with one of the most unoriginal summers the movies have ever seen. Within that context, though, which movies rise above the "Yeah, we phoned this one in" benchmark? Find out with our patent-pending originality meter.
From 1 to 10, where do these releases register? >>
Posted 06.24.11 by reelz -
Mr. Popper's Penguins looks like something to avoid, even if you have kids. Send the babysitter.
"...a likable trifle..."
— Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly"...an amiable family comedy..."
— Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter"There's no story beyond the utterly formulaic and not the slightest semblance of realism, but your kids will enjoy it if they're young enough and pretty easy to please."
— Andrew O'Hehir, Salon"...a stupefying dumb family movie..."
— Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times"Basically a feature-length advertisement for Manhattan landmarks..."
— Simon Abrams, Slant Magazine"...an excruciating dud..."
— Nick Schager, Village Voice -
The upcoming comedy Mr. Popper's Penguins began as a 1938 children's book written by Richard and Florence Atwater, one that many might remember from elementary school. Initially set to be directed by Noah Baumbach (Greenberg) and star Ben Stiller, the movie was likely a different movie then, before Twentieth Century Fox turned it into a vehicle for Jim Carrey with Mark Waters (Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past) directing.
Opening in a packed summer movie season, Fox is banking on audiences getting excited about seeing Carrey goof around with a bunch of penguins, releasing both an international trailer and a domestic trailer in the past two months to promote the movie. The latest promotional footage comes from two preview clips, which are good indications of the movie's humor and whether Carrey plus penguins equals a funny movie.
watch the clips >> Posted 06.03.11 by Ryan -
Twentieth Century Fox has released a new trailer for Mr. Popper's Penguins, Jim Carrey's comedic contribution to a loaded summer movie season.
Based on the children's book written by Richard & Florence Atwater in 1938, the movie adaptation changes Carrey's character from a house painter to a successful New York businessman who inherits six penguins from his father. While the latest trailer adds more new footage not shown in the international trailer, the movie just looks like an excuse to have Carrey clown around with penguins. Which may be more than enough for some moviegoers.
watch the trailer >> Posted 05.21.11 by Ryan -
It's been a long, brutal winter in most parts of the country, so it's no surprise that even Hollywood is looking to get a jump on summer. The rollout of blockbuster movies starts this Friday, a full month before the Memorial Day Weekend.
As you'd expect (and hope), the mix of movies being offered up is heavy on the Action/Adventure movies (11) and Comedies (10). There's also plenty of offerings for Kids/Families (8). What's new this year is the addition of more R-rated comedies, thanks in no small measure to The Hangover's runaway success two summers back. Along with it's sequel, see what else is playing this summer — complete with trailers and photo galleries.
See the 2011 Summer Movie Guide >>
Posted 04.25.11 by reelz -
Mr. Popper's Penguins was originally conceived as a children's book written by Richard & Florence Atwater in 1938. The original story followed a house painter who dreams of traveling to the Antarctic and gets his dreams partially come true when he comes into the possession of two penguins who eventually blossom into ten more. Children and parents have been delighted by the story 's humor and pathos for decades, and the book has often been assigned reading in elementary schools.
The movie adaptation, so far, looks like an excuse to have Jim Carrey goof around with penguins in his New York apartment. The recently released international trailer offers more footage than the previous teaser trailer, though both show Carrey as a work-obsessed businessman who inherits penguins from his father and has his life changed forever (as is typical of most movies where an unsuspecting character finds themselves suddenly in possession of an animal). Mark Waters (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past) directed the movie, which co-stars Carla Gugino, Madeline Carroll and Angela Lansbury.
Watch the trailer >> Posted 04.19.11 by Ryan -
The first trailer for Jim Carrey's new movie, Mr. Popper's Penguins, has been released online. Directed by Mark Waters (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), the movie is an adaptation of Richard & Florence Atwater's 1938 children's book of the same name. It tells the story of how a wealthy businessman's (Carrey) life changes drastically after he inherits six penguins. Carla Gugino, Madeline Carroll and Angela Lansbury also star.
WATCH THE TEASER TRAILER >> Posted 03.24.11 by BrentJS