Summer in the City with Lots of Thrills, Chills and Laughs

That season is upon us. The kids are out of school, the thermometer is heating up and the evenings will be free. What to do? Let’s go to the movies.

CinemaCon has promised sequels and tentpoles, but the releases are heavy on horror as well. It’s been a long haul since the pandemic shut down the movies, followed by the strikes of 2023, but the wheels have been turning and many of the anticipated movies that were delayed are getting their release. There’s something for everyone from kids to teens, young adults to old and everything in between. So relax, grab a cocktail (or soda) and ponder what there is to see after you’ve piled into the IMAX to see “Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning,” part two of the 2023 blockbuster “Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One.” This summer will prove that movies are no longer an impossible mission. Lots of familiar faces from the small screen grace the Cineplex this summer, so …

Let’s all go to the movies (dates may change).

Early June

“Ballerina” is a spinoff of the John Wick Universe starring a beautiful girl assassin taken under the wing of the Ruska Roma criminal group. This violent tale of revenge will have special effects that pop and a cast that shines. Starring Ana de Armas, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston—and what would a John Wick movie be without John Wick—Keanu Reeves.

“The Life of Chuck” is a lovely, inventive movie of many moods, telling its story in reverse. Chuck is a man who lived his best life despite setbacks. Deliberately confusing, Chuck may not actually be the lead of the three chapters, featuring an end, a middle and a beginning, but he’s on everyone’s mind. Based on a Stephen King short story brought to the screen by Mike Flanagan, it’s more a question of what you make of this seemingly end-of-days scenario that begins at the end and gradually unspools to the beginning. Starring Tom Hiddleston and Chiwetel Ejiofor, look for Mark Hamill as the grandfather.

“Dangerous Animals” is about a serial killer who feeds his victims to sharks. His chumming turns to yumming when he abducts beautiful surfer Zephyr, who must find a way to escape. From Shudder Studios, whose very name lets you know what to expect.

“I Don’t Understand You” is the vacation of their dreams that becomes a nightmare they couldn’t have anticipated. Dom and Cole, a wealthy gay couple, are anticipating the birth of a child by surrogacy. It’s their 10th anniversary, and they’ve decided to celebrate and reconnect by going to Italy. Not speaking the language should never have been the problem it becomes as they dodge polite little old ladies and vengeful sons. Starring the always charming Andrew Rannells and Nick Kroll, their timing is pitch-perfect, and you’ll often find yourself laughing where you shouldn’t.

“The Ritual” in this case is an exorcism; but not your everyday exorcism. This one will be performed by two priests, long in conflict with one another. The hook is that the priests are played by Al Pacino and Dan Stevens, and it’s based on a true story. For fans of horror, rotating heads, and those who believe in such things.

“How to Train Your Dragon,” the live-action interpretation of the beloved animation hits, will star an awesome CGI dragon and charming youngsters who will protect the dragon from the Vikings at all costs, even if it means betraying hundreds of years of tradition.

“Materialists” boasts a star-studded cast of today’s hotties: Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. Johnson’s character, a successful matchmaker of very high-end couplings, is drawn to an ultra-wealthy dreamboat (Pascal) who only has eyes for her. The snag? Her very handsome and sincere ex, who still pines for her, and possibly she for him. The hook? It’s written and directed by Celine Song, whose very heartfelt feature, “Past Lives,” was Oscar-nominated, as was she.

Late June 

“Elio” is the latest Pixar animation tale from Disney. Eleven-year-old Elio is accidentally shot into space, landing on another planet. Upon arrival, he is forced to pretend to be the leader of Earth or risk annihilation. Really, what choice does he have? Sweet, fast-thinking Elio must find a way out of this mess. I bet his mom is sorry she didn’t listen when he called and said he had an emergency.

“Bride Hard,” starring Rebel Wilson, is a hostage film—it seems to be a popular platform this summer. Wilson, a spy, reluctantly agrees to be the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding to a billionaire. When bad guys arrive to take the wedding party hostage, they have no idea what they’re in for. Director Simon West hopes it’s for the laughs.

“28 Years Later” returns for the sequel to “28 Weeks Later” (which was the sequel to “28 Days Later”). Danny Boyle is back to save us from zombies with a heavy-hitting cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. They mean business.

“M3GAN 2.0” finds that AI assassin, M3GAN, is up to her old tricks and we have to hope that Gemma, her creator, and her niece Cady can convert M3GAN to good and save the world from the evil defense contractor who stole her technology.

“F1,” the highly anticipated new Brad Pitt Formula One-plotted film, has Pitt as a retired champion lured back by his old boss (Javier Bardem) to mentor the latest hotshot to a championship. Tobias Menzies and Kim Bodnia add firepower. The draw, besides the stars, will be the footage from real Grand Prix races. Think “Top Gun” in a car.

July 1

“Jurassic World Rebirth” and it’s back to the future, so to speak. A new crew has been hired to breach the confines of a dinosaur island full of raptors to try stealing an egg that might save humanity. It will be up to the intrepid scientists, Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, to make it out alive if their boss, Mahershala Ali, has anything to do with it. There will be scary creatures.

July 3

“Shiver” is attacking sharks gone wild, terrorizing a town already confronting storms, utter darkness and their own fright. There will be special effects but maybe not an original plot. Will they survive? Should they survive? You be the judge.

July 11

“Superman” is still battling a very dangerous world and continues to romance Lois Lane in the guise of Clark Kent. This time around, Superman/Clark Kent is played by David Corenswet, leading a cast that includes Wendell Pierce as Perry White and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Nicholas Hoult is the evil Lex Luthor, who is joined by new visitors from the DC Universe like Nathan Fillion as the Green Lantern and Rex Mason/Metamorpho, played by the marvelous Anthony Carrigan (Noho Hank from “Barry”).

July 18

“Smurfs” features Rihanna in all her singing glory as Smurfette in the latest incarnation of these beloved animated creatures. As always, the Smurfs will help save, well, whatever needs saving. The fantastic voice cast features Kurt Russell, Nick Offerman, Octavia Spencer and the aforementioned Rihanna, who has written new songs for the feature.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer” is the same story with a new cast. The teens are still being stalked by a killer who knows what they did and is determined to punish them. With cameo appearances by original cast members like Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, they are joined by new leads Madelyn Cline and Lola Tung.

“Eddington” takes place during the pandemic. Tempers are hot and rivalries are elevated, leading the sheriff of this small New Mexico town into conflict with the mayor. Everyone takes a side and previous, controlled conflicts threaten to explode. The all-star cast of this modern-day Western is led by Joaquin Phoenix as the sheriff, and the seemingly ever-present and always-welcome Pedro Pascal is the mayor. In support are Emma Stone and Austin Butler.

July 25

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is betting that the third time is still a charm as this intrepid family of superheroes who fly in and out of their human and animated presence is ready to save the world once again. Voiced and acted by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

Aug. 1

“The Naked Gun” stars Liam Neeson as that bumbling detective, Frank Drebin, in the remake of the beloved 1988 movie that starred Leslie Nielsen. A true send-up of the original, the new detectives play the sons of the original detectives from the 1988 film. It will all hinge on whether Neeson can be funny. But, then again, Nielsen was a shot in the dark when he starred in “Airplane!” in 1980, having been a leading man in drama and romances with no known comic ability. He never looked back.

“Together” is yet another horror film with supernatural elements that strive to tear a loving couple apart. The loving couple is played by James Franco and Alison Brie, which may be tempting enough to dip your toe in this one.

Aug. 8

“Freakier Friday,” much like its origin story, has Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan) in for another role swap and shapeshift. But now, Tess and Anna are a grandmother and mother, respectively, when lightning strikes a second time. How will they negotiate their new roles until they figure out how to return to their old selves? Lessons will be learned.

“Weapons” is an all-star follow-up to “Barbarians,” writer/director Zach Cregger’s cult film from 2022. This time it’s not about a scary Airbnb, but about high school students who have mysteriously disappeared in a town rife with corruption and religious hocus-pocus. Stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Benedict Wong and Amy Madigan lead the action and sophisticated horror of this tale.

Aug. 15

“Nobody 2” is the sequel to “Nobody” and stars the surprisingly multifaceted Bob Odenkirk as Hutch, a retired government assassin who would like nothing better than to live in peace. Unfortunately, the bad guys didn’t get that memo. Odenkirk and Connie Nielsen reprise their roles as estranged husband and wife, alongside Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s father. Sharon Stone adds to the star power. 

Aug. 22

“Americana” ostensibly centers around an archaeological find where greed and need intersect. When a rare Native American artifact is discovered in a small town in South Dakota, the race to claim it brings out the worst in the previously upstanding citizens. There will be crime, violence and occasionally dark humor, or at least we can hope.

“Relay” shows real promise, if only because of its stellar cast led by Riz Ahmed. His character Tom is a broker between rich, corrupt big shots and their victims. Discretion is his specialty and all negotiations are kept strictly secret. That is, until he agrees to help Sarah (Lily James) in desperate fear for her life. In the hands of crack director David Mackenzie (“Hell or High Water”), tension and thrills are guaranteed.

Aug. 29

“The Roses” may be something of a remake (“The War of the Roses”), but at least it’s a comedy for adults starring the great Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, a couple who have less in common than they thought. Director Jay Roach fills out his cast with a team of accomplished comedic actors like Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon, Andy Samberg and the new “it” boy, Ncuti Gatwa (“Doctor Who”).

“Caught Stealing” stars Austin Butler as Thompson, a former baseball player who lands in a deep pit of trouble. Based on the Charlie Huston book series featuring Thompson, he’s an antihero who trouble seems to follow. Also starring Vince D’Onofrio and Zoë Kravitz.

“The Toxic Avenger” is another reboot. This time it’s Peter Dinklage who falls into the toxic waste vat and is transformed into a hideous creature with superpowers. Normally such an event would call for revenge, but this creature chooses to use his newfound powers for good and not evil.

Sept. 5

“The Conjuring: Last Rite” is the ninth installment in the “Conjuring” series and the second one starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as husband-and-wife paranormal investigators. Ben Hardy also stars. If you haven’t yet had enough of demons and the paranormal, then this one is for you.

I predict barrels of popcorn and gallons of soda in store for everyone this summer. Bon appétit.