Under Hollywood rules, the summer of 2011 actually started last week with the thundering arrival of “Thor” at a cineplex near you. No matter that — for most people — summer begins Memorial Day weekend and, according to the calendar, not until June 21.
So, it’s time for us to pick the handful of films that look like they will (or should) make the biggest splashes from now until Labor Day, the prime moviegoing weeks when the really big bucks are raked in at the box office. This year, the choices range from perhaps the surest blockbuster hit in the history of summer films (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”) to what could be the late summer chick flick hit (the film version of “The Help,” Kathryn Stockett’s addictive best-seller). Just remember: The history of summer films is littered with movies that came out with little buzz and turned into hits, thanks to word-of-mouth, from “Thelma & Louise” in 1991 through “The Blair Witch Project” and “The Sixth Sense” (1999) to 2009’s “The Hangover.”
So, for your summer consideration (as always, dates are subject to change):
‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’
Opens: May 20
The story: Johnny Depp’s Capt. Jack Sparrow searches for the Fountain of Youth in the fourth entry in this critic-proof franchise, but the first with a stand-alone story. Great to see spicy Penélope Cruz join the cast as Blackbeard’s pirate daughter and Ian McShane as her nasty dad. Based on an impenetrable novel by Tim Powers, the film also delivers zombies and mermaids — and brings back crusty Keith Richards as Jack’s crusty dad.
The buzz: Real good. The trailer looks great packed with fancy stunts, colorful scenery and family fun, along with the familiar Sparrow quips and foppishness as “Pirates” comfort food. The built-in fan base is salivating. A big plus: Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) takes over for Gore Verbinski, who directed the first three, the last of which was gawd-awful. Still, Depp can do no wrong; even “The Tourist” had its moments.
‘The Hangover II’
Opens: May 26
The story: The original “Hangover” was an out-of-left field hit two summers ago, when it scored surprisingly good reviews for a raunchy flick and even emerged as an Oscar contender. Directed by Todd Phillips, it swirled around the adventures of three friends (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis) who manage to find all kinds of outrageous trouble on the dark side of Las Vegas while searching for a missing friend (Justin Bartha). This time around, the three go looking for another missing friend — in Bangkok, where they run into a drug-dealing monkey, among others.
The buzz: Strong. The film has a built-in audience, and Phillips and most of the cast are back for more fun. Will lightning strike twice? Most likely.
‘Kung Fu Panda 2’
Opens: May 26
The story: Usually, it’s Pixar that dominates the animation field when it comes to well-made blockbusters. But the first film in the “Kung Fu Panda” series not only did huge box office business but also was a smartly scripted, beautifully made tale of Po, the most awesome martial arts bear in the world, and his posse, the Furious Five, fighting evil.
The buzz: Solid. The first film pleased both adults and kids, most of the excellent voice cast led by Jack Black as Po is back, and Jennifer Yuh Nelson (who directed the highly praised opening sequence in the original) is onboard as director.
‘Cars 2’
Opens: June 24
The story: Lightning McQueen, the race car voiced by Owen Wilson in “Cars” No. 1, tunes up for the World Grand Prix. Not only does his buddy Mater (Larry the Cable Guy as a tow truck) go along for the ride but, because of an identity screw-up, he also drops a couple of spy cars into the mix: a vintage sports car (Michael Caine) and a fancy coupe (Emily Mortimer) acting as agents for the crown. Pixar honcho John Lasseter directs.
The buzz: Strong. The not-so-dazzling “Cars” was tarnished by its blueprint-like similarity to “Doc Hollywood.” Based on the spectacular “Cars 2” trailer — much more captivating than the one for “Cars” — the sequel comes supercharged and with a new paint job. Lasseter (“Toy Story” and “TS2”) is all about quality, creativity and entertainment, and “Cars 2” looks like a big winner. If Pixar builds it, they will come. In throngs.
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’
Opens: July 15
The story: If you don’t know the story of the Boy Wizard by now, you are a real Muggle. This is the final installment of a true film epic, which has spread out over the past decade with eight movies drawn from the seven books in the J.K. Rowling series. The last of the Rowling novels was such a tome that it was split into two parts for the movie version. The first half (which grossed $954 million worldwide) was perhaps the darkest film of the series, ending with the death of house elf Dobby at the hands of the evil Bellatrix and Voldemort (the ultimate Big Bad) breaking into Dumbledore’s tomb and stealing the powerful Elder Wand. The centerpiece of Part 2? The Battle of Hogwarts, the final smackdown between good and evil.
The buzz: Deafening. Folks were going to flock to the movie anyway, but anticipation has been ramped up by really good trailers.
‘X-Men: First Class’
Opens: June 3
The story: This is a major reboot of the franchise, set in the 1960s during the Cuban missile crisis when Professor Xavier and Magneto were allies. James McAvoy is the younger Xavier, and Michael Fassbender takes on the Magneto role. The cast also includes Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence as a teenage Mystique, Rose Byrne as Moira McTaggert and “Mad Men’s” January Jones as Emma Frost. Director Matthew Vaughn (the underrated “Kick-Ass”) leads the reboot.
The buzz: Hard-core fanboys are less than thrilled with some aspects of the movie that alter the timeline and character back stories in the original comic books. But the cast is strong, Vaughn has some fanboy cred and the previews are sharp. Might work.
‘Super 8’
Opens: June 10
The story: Anything from director-writer J.J. Abrams (TV’s “Lost,” the terrific reboot of “Star Trek”) immediately merits attention. This time, Abrams draws from his days in the 1970s making little movies with a Super 8 camera with the story, set in 1979, of a group of geeky friends who make little movies with their Super 8. The twist? They witness the derailment of a train carrying cargo from Nevada’s Area 51 — and all sorts of extraterrestrial hell breaks loose.
The buzz: Poppin’. The very cool previews for the film went viral, and the early word on the genre-mixing film is strong.
‘Green Lantern’
Opens: June 17
The story: With the big boys — Batman, Superman — sitting out the summer, the DC Comics world dips into the second string for Green Lantern, a character that has been popular since the 1940s (in various forms) but has never quite reached iconic stature. This is basically an origins tale for the second Lantern, test pilot Hal Jordan, who gets his ring from some extraterrestrial guardians of the universe. (Well, the ring actually chooses him.) Before he can even figure out how to really use its powers, he gets thrown into a battle to save Earth.
The buzz: Like many others, we were more than a bit dubious about converting the Lantern to film, although we love the character. But we’ve become convinced it might work, thanks to some potent theatrical previews. In addition, the studio has really been working the fanboy circuit, screening more than 20 minutes of film at comic book conventions such as WonderCon in San Francisco, where it got a big reception last month. Oh, and Ryan Reynolds looks as if he’s got the right stuff as Hal Jordan.
‘Larry Crowne’
Opens: July 1
The story: Reportedly it’s at least partly based on East Bay native and all-around good fellow Tom Hanks’ experiences at Chabot College. The timely tale focuses on a well-liked, divorced nice guy (Hanks, who also directs) who gets laid off from a big box store because he doesn’t have a college degree. A glass-half-full person, he enrolls in a junior college to better himself and winds up in a class with a glass-half-empty teacher played by Julia Roberts. As you might imagine, emotional wounds start to heal and romantic comedy ensues.
The buzz: Strong: Hanks and Roberts — what more do you need to know? They previously worked together in “Charlie Wilson’s War,” and they look good together in the likable trailer. This is shaping up as a perfect adult alternative to the superpowered summer. And, hey: It’s Hanks and Roberts.
‘Captain America: The First Avenger’
Opens: July 22
The story: The film returns to the character’s comic book roots — World War II with its now-classic sedans and period costumes. Chris Evans, the Human Torch in the “Fantastic Four” films — he’s the one who had a personality — plays Steve Rogers, a 90-pound weakling who volunteers for an experiment that turns him into lean, mean fighting machine buffed out in a red, white and blue costume, with complementary mask and shield, and ready to put the big beatdown on Nazis and other evil.
The buzz: Fanboy and fanmen gold, given the filmmakers’ attempt to capture the flavor of the comics. Tasty retro look. The action-laden trailer’s OK, not great, but shows potential. Of note: The film’s designed to whet appetites for 2012’s superhero-riddled “The Avengers,” with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury popping up here, there and everywhere.
‘Cowboys & Aliens’
Opens: July 29
The story: James Bond and Indiana Jones start as enemies in this sci-fi-western mash-up that plays things pretty straight despite the wonderfully camp title. Daniel Craig trades his stylish 007 garb for that of a grubby gunslinger who wakes up in the desert in 1875, with amnesia and a strange shackle on one arm. In town, he bumps into a longtime enemy (Harrison Ford) he doesn’t recall, and before either can say, “Draw,” people start disappearing and aliens invade. At which point the townsfolk realize it takes a village.
The buzz: Very good. The film carries the Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard producer brands. “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau is at the helm. The trailer brims with Western grit and snazzy effects. And the title is so cool.
‘The Help’
Opens: Aug. 12
The story: A young woman returns to her Mississippi roots in the early 1960s, goes to work at a local newspaper, socializes with wealthy white women, interviews their African-American maids and writes a book about the latter that shakes up the community where maids must use separate bathrooms and their employers see no reason to change.
The buzz: Strong fan base of people enthralled by the 2009 Stockett novel that still rides best-seller lists. It’s a rare women’s drama in a summer of fanboy fodder (and the trailer will attract men searching for something with smarts). A stellar cast includes Oscar nominee Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sissy Spacek, Cicely Tyson and the ubiquitous Stone, an appealing young actress who also stars in summer’s “Friends With Benefits” and “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” If the trailer’s got it right, “The Help” is high-quality entertainment with bite and brains.
Contact Barry Caine at bcaine@bayareanewsgroup.com and Charlie McCollum at cmccollum@mercurynews.com.
