This summer’s big movies will unleash spiders, wizards, ministers and a camel or two on families. From amongst the crop of would-be family films, we’ve selected a dozen worth looking forward to–or in some cases, impossible to miss. Note: Release dates are subject to change.
May 28
Raising Helen
Synopsis: New York fashionista-party girl (Kate Hudson) finds herself caring for her sister’s three kids–and falling for their principal, who’s also a pastor (John Corbett).
Rating: PG-13 (thematic issues involving teens).
Expect: An edge without the raunch. Director Garry Marshall was the brains behind “The Princess Diaries” (and its sequel, see below) and “Happy Days.”
If we were directing: A dream sequence where Hudson’s music groupie from “Almost Famous” tangos with Corbett’s deejay from TV’s “Northern Exposure.”
June 4
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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Synopsis: The third movie based on J.K. Rowling’s books takes the wizard into nasty territory; this time, he’s an escaped con’s target.
Rating: PG (frightening moments, creature violence, mild language).
Expect: The unexpected. This Potter has an unlikely director, Alfonso Cuaron (of the Mexican smash “Y Tu Mama Tambien”).
If we were directing: A quidditch grudge match.
June 11
Garfield
Synopsis: Bill Murray voices the lazy, gluttonous cartoon-strip feline who is out to help–that’s right, help–his owner Jon (Breckin Meyer) recover his kidnapped dog.
Rating: No MPAA rating yet posted.
Expect: Hard to say. Could be as brainless as the Mike Myers “The Cat in the Hat,” or Murray could give this otherwise mediocre character some of his trademark bite.
If we were directing: Murray trips back to his “Saturday Night Live” days and caterwauls a lounge version of “Star Wars.”
June 16
Around the World in 80 Days
Synopsis: First made in 1956, this latest film version of the Jules Verne novel casts Steve Coogan as Phineas Fogg and Jackie Chan as Passepartout.
Rating: PG (action violence, some crude humor, mild language).
Expect: An interesting take on Passepartout by Chan, who has a nice comic touch.
If we were directing: So it wasn’t in the novel, but there’s gotta be a good excuse for Chan to break out the butt-kicking martial arts moves.
June 18
Dodgeball: A True Underdog
Story
Synopsis: In this comedy, a ragtag team enters a Las Vegas dodgeball tournament to save their local gym from takeover by a fitness chain; Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller star.
Rating: PG-13 (rude and sexual humor, language).
Expect: A silly showdown. C’mon, this is dodgeball.
If we were directing: This one begs for a casino chase scene with hundreds of red dodgeballs.
Napoleon Dynamite
Synopsis: An odd high school boy who lives in Idaho with his grandmother surfs chat rooms for love and plots to help his best friend become the school president.
Rating: No MPAA rating yet posted.
Expect: A lack of typical teen conventions. This kid feeds his grandmother’s llama when she’s away.
If we were directing: A good explanation how the title character got named after Elvis Costello’s alter ego.
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Synopsis: In this Mongolian film, rural herders seek out an animal shaman who will, though a musical ceremony, help a mother camel to accept the baby she has rejected.
Rating: PG (some mild thematic content).
Expect: A baby, a mama and an attempted reconciliation? Expect this one to tug at your heart.
If we were directing: Confrontational interview with that bad, bad mother camel.
June 30
Spider-Man 2
Synopsis: In this follow-up to the surprise 2002 smash, Tobey Maguire returns as the web-slinging crime fighter, facing a new nemesis, Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina) and relationship problems with his girlfriend M.J. (Kirsten Dunst).
Rating: PG-13 (stylized action violence).
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Expect: The same smarts that set the first film apart. This time, Peter Parker’s Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) struggles with being a widow.
If we were directing: Daily Bugle hires disgraced journos Jayson Blair, Stephen Glass and Jack Kelley as a trio of conniving paperboys.
July 2
America’s Heart and Soul
Synopsis: Director Louis Schwartzberg travels the country taking in the scenery, talking to everyday Americans, and interviewing examples of the exceptional, including a blind mountain climber and Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry’s.
Rating: No MPAA rating yet posted.
Expect: Some remarkable stories, and a different view of America.
If we were directing: Some insight from Mr. Ben as to why his fight-the-power company sold out to the Anglo-Dutch consumer giant Unilever for $326 million.
July 16
A Cinderella Story
Synopsis: This fairy tale for the digital age stars Hilary Duff as Sam Martin, a teen who meets her Price Charming on the Web; when they meet, Sam leaves behind her cell phone instead of a glass slipper.
Rating: PG (mild language and innuendo).
Expect: Duff to turn on the teen charm a la “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.” Ah, but will it work?
If we were directing: Fairy Godmother casts a spell on cell phone companies having something to do with accurate billing. Now that’s a fairy tale.
Aug. 11
Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Synopsis: This time, Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is groomed to become queen of Genovia, but there’s a catch: She has to get married to capture the crown.
Rating: No MPAA rating yet posted; “The Princess Diaries” (2001) was rated G.
Expect: Mia’s love interest from the first film, Michael Moscovitz (Robert Schwartzman), is said to not be coming back for this sequel, which will open up romantic possibilities.
If we were directing: Princess Mia goes on “The Bachelorette.” Problem solved.
Aug. 27
Benji–Off the Leash!
Synopsis: Thirty years after his first “Benji” film and 17 years since the last, writer-director Joe Camp is back. This time, Benji tries saving his mom from a small-town breeder.
Rating: PG (mild language).
Expect: The dog saves the day. Duh.
If we were directing: Benji visits his old doghouse replete with smiley-face pins, blacklight posters and a stack of Peter Frampton records.