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Pirates’ returns with its signature swagger [For ages 11-18] PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST Opens July 7 Rated PG-13 The talking skull near the beginning of a particular ride at Disneyland is wrong: Dead men do tell tales. They also make sequels. Bands of undead buccaneers are back, along with swaggering Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), hapless Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and his bride-elect (Keira Knightley) to fend off an army of ghostly soldiers and nemesis Davy Jones, to whom Sparrow owes a blood debt. The only downside is the PG-13 rating, meaning there is just enough violence to put off parents of younger children. That’s a shame. The first movie was as good as the ride, or even better. [For ages 5-12] BARNYARD Opens July 28 Rated PG A light-hearted, CGI-animated version of “Animal Farm” is what this comedy sounds like, but since this is a movie written and directed by Steve Oedekerk of “Ace Ventura” and “Thumb Wars” fame, doubtfully there’s an underlying serious message. This is the filmmaker who scripted Jim Carrey’s “talking rear” gag, for crying out loud. Prepare to cackle, crow, hoot and snort as “Barnyard” shows us a side of cows, sheep and pigs never before seen by man. Apparently, when the farmer’s away, the animals play. And talk, and drive cars, and get into all sorts of human-like mischief. Voice cast is led by Courtney Cox Arquette, Sam Elliott, Danny Glover and Kevin James. (Also this summer) (Released June 30, for ages 11-18): “Superman Returns.” If Warner Bros. could successfully resurrect its Batman film franchise, then doing the same with Superman, the grand poobah of all superheroes, should be a piece of kryptonite-free cake. (Just released, for ages 13 and older): “Nacho Libre.” In this comedy with “Napoleon Dynamite” and “School of Rock” lineage, Jack Black stars as Ignacio, a cook at the same Mexican orphanage in which he was raised. (Aug. 4, for ages 8-12): “The Ant Bully.” Be nice to nature, friends, or you might end up like 10-year-old Lucas Nickle, who is shrunk down to size after attacking an ant hill in this animated film. [dvds] this month THE BENCHWARMERS (Rated PG-13, available July, date not set by press time; ages 11-17): This is a strikeout, swinging. This unfunny baseball comedy is about three doofus adults who take on a bunch of Little League bullies in a tournament. Stars Rob Schneider, David Spade, Jon Heder and Jon Lovitz. Grade: D LADYBUGS (Rated PG-13, available July 25, ages 11-16): Fourteen years before “She’s the Man” had Amanda Bynes cross-dressing in order to play on a boys’ soccer team, Rodney Dangerfield recruited a boy to play in drag on his girls’ soccer team. So coincidences of coincidences, both films come out on DVD a week apart. Not sure what took “Ladybugs” so long, but this is good news for folks who like harmless underdog sports comedies. Grade: C+ POOH’S 80TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION (Rated G, available July 11, ages 3-6): By repackaging the three most recent animated features based on critters from the 100 Acre Wood, Disney continues its 18-month-long milking of the 80th anniversary of the London Evening News’ first printing of A.A. Milne’s bearish stories. The films – “The Tigger Movie” (2000), “Piglet’s Big Movie” (2003) and “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie” (2005) – cheapen an already disingenuous celebration. Grade: D- SHE’S THE MAN (Rated PG-13, available July 18, ages 12-18): Shakespeare it’s not, but the teen comedy based on the Bard’s gender-bending “Twelfth Night” shows its target audience, and fun-minded adults, a good time. The comely cast is led by the effervescent Amanda Bynes, who poses as a boy at a rival high school. |
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