Jim Carrey is still fooling around with family comedies while Cameron Diaz ditches the ditz for a trashy role. Ryan Reynolds is playing a jewelry store owner or something like that.
June 17
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Jim Carrey is up to his old hijinks, but now there’s more penguins. Carrey plays Mr. Popper, a workaholic who has forgotten about the important things in life, like his two kids. That is, until he ends up inheriting a flock of penguins whom his kids immediately fall in love with. The trio turn his swanky apartment into a winter wonderland and attempt to avoid city officials who want to take the penguins away. Look for Ace Ventura to get hit a lot with big reactions. The film is based on a classic book of the same name. The film materials say that the movie was shot on a refrigerated sound stage with real Gentoo Penguins. It’s unclear why that’ll make anyone want to see a movie with a winter theme in June. Here’s hoping Carrey gets away from “family comedies” in the near future.
Green Lantern
When Ryan Reynolds isn’t creating ironic moments for Alanis Morrisette or getting dumped by Scarlett Johansson for Sean Penn, he’s making sub-par movies. I can forgive him for Blade 3, but lately he’s on a bad streak. His Deadpool portrayal was just a waste in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Let’s hope he’s using his Green Lantern powers for good in this flick. Ryan Reynolds plays Hal Jordan, a playboy test pilot who is handed a mystical green ring that gives him superhero powers as well as membership into a squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe. There was a bit of nerd rage over his outfit, and many photoshops mocking the guy, but I’m hoping for a little more Robert Downey Jr. from Iron Man than Seth Rogen’s Green Hornet from this movie. Don’t let me down, Van Wilder.
June 24
Bad Teacher
Cameron Diaz has gone rogue. She’s no longer the cutesy actress dancing around in her underwear in Charlie’s Angels. She plays the bad teacher who doesn’t really care about the success of her students until she needs them to score high on a test so she gets a bonus. The reason for the bonus? She’d like to add a little silicone to her chest to appeal to the new substitute teacher played by Justin Timberlake. The red band trailer has her dropping f-bombs like a sailor while slinging innuendo. One has to wonder if shock factor is the only thing this flick has going for it. Jason Segel’s in it, so there’s that.
