Could it actually be summer time already??? The spring movie season has come and gone and it could be argued that some of the year’s biggest movies have come and gone. But there are still several interesting and not-so-interesting movies on the summer horizon. So here is how this works: First I’ll talk about the summer releases that I am genuinely interested in and want to spread the word about. These are films I’ll certainly flaunt. I’m also going to pick five releases that are (from my perspective) toilet ready. These I’ll flush. It’s ‘Flaunt It or Flush It’ time again.
FLAUNT ‘EM
“Edge of Tomorrow” (June 6, 2014) – I know Tom Cruise has gained many detractors over the years but I have to say I still really like him when he has the right material. “Edge of Tomorrow” looks like it could be really good science fiction material. It involves alien invasions, a futuristic military, and the real kicker – time loops. But perhaps the cake topper is Emily Blunt who is one of my favorite actresses working today. She’s terribly underappreciated and I can’t wait to see what she brings to the film. There are calls to be cautious, but I think this could be a really good time. My fingers are crossed and my hopes are high that this will be a real treat this summer.
“The Rover” (June 12, 2014) – I’m usually excited anytime I see that Guy Pearce has a new film being released. I was even more excited when I heard his new movie “The Rover” was written and directed by David Michod, the filmmaker who gave us “Animal Kingdom”. “The Rover” is described as a futuristic western set on the outback. The trailer looks rugged and gritty and even Robert Pattinson looks intriguing. This may not be a movie that has found its way onto your radar, but this Australian dystopian crime thriller looks like it could be fantastic and Guy Pearce looks like the perfect lead. I’m onboard.
“Guardians of the Galaxy” (August 1, 2014) – When I first heard that Marvel Studios was doing a movie based on their lesser known Guardians of the Galaxy characters I really thought they were finally overstepping their bounds. I didn’t see any way that the movie could find an audience. But then I saw the trailer and I noticed the tone that writer and director James Gunn was shooting for. Now I’m completely onboard. This thing looks like a blast. A buffed up Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Lee Pace, Benicio del Toro, Glen Close, John C. Reilly, Michael Rooker. A wonderful assortment of fine actors and a superhero story that goes beyond quirky. Yep, I’ll flaunt it!
“Boyhood” (July 11, 2014) – Richard Linklater has given us some of the best character studies ever put to film. He is a master of capturing relationships, emotions, and settings while soaking them with an undeniable authenticity. “Boyhood” may be his most fascinating and challenging project. It’s a story about a boy and the evolution of his relationship with his two divorced parents. Linklater started the film in 2002 when his young lead actor was 7 years old. For each of the next 12 years he brought his actors back together to film portions of this movie in order to capture the authenticity of growing up from a child into a young adult. It’s incredibly ambitious and it looks like a personal labor of love.
“Lucy” (August 8, 2014) – In many ways “Lucy” looks like the anti-superhero superhero movie. Scarlett Johansson stars as the title character, a woman forced by a drug mob to do their bidding. But when a particular drug implanted into her system goes haywire, she is endowed with superhuman abilities. The question is how will she use them? This looks like a film loaded with potential. It’s written and directed by Luc Besson which could either be a really good thing (“Leon: The Professional”) or a really bad thing (“Taken 2”). Right now I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt because the early trailer really won me over and Johansson should knock it out of the park.
FLUSH ‘EM
“22 Jump Street” (June 13, 2014) – Yes I understand that the first film in this series found a big audience. I have to admit that I don’t understand why. I tried to watch it, but by the midway point it had milked it’s one big joke dry. Now we are in for more of the same brain-dead humor only now the setting is college instead of high school. Wow, what a major turn. Channing Tatum (an actor that I’m still not impressed with) and Jonah Hill (an actor I’m even less impressed with) are back along with the obnoxious Ice Cube. I have no doubt that this movie will make a bunch of money, but for me it’s a flusher all the way and I’m avoiding it at all costs.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (August 8, 2014) – I have to admit that I thought I was having my leg pulled when I heard they were bringing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles back to the big screen. But then I saw Michael Bay’s name attached and I knew it must be true. To make matters worse, then I saw the first teaser trailer and I knew this would be a flusher. There are so many things that push me away. First off, the CGI turtles look freaky. And then you have Oscar caliber talent like Megan Fox and Johnny Knoxville. I don’t see this thing working in any regard and all of the crappy uninteresting components looks to be enough to snuff out any bit of nostalgia. This is a movie that I could completely do without.
“Think Like A Man Too” (June 20, 2014) – Tell me if you have heard this before – a group of friends head to the wild and raucous land of Las Vegas to sew some wild oats prior to an upcoming wedding. Totally original material, right? That’s what you get from “Think Like A Man Too”. It’s listed as a romantic comedy but there’s nothing in the trailer that looks either romantic or funny. To make matters even worse, the movie stars the loud and utterly obnoxious Kevin Hart, an actor whose shtick is about as entertaining as a root canal. This movie looks about as dopey and unoriginal as anything else we will see in 2014.
“Tammy” (July 2, 2014) – What pops into your mind when you hear that Melissa McCarthy has a new movie? Here’s what I think: It’s Melissa McCarthy playing a goofy and eccentric oddball with a foul mouth and an endless supply of weight gags. Much like so many others in the modern comedy genre, McCarthy has become a one-trick pony and her act does nothing for me. Long gone are her great days from “The Gilmore Girls”. I do think she has some genuine talent but she’s fallen into this lame R-rated comedy rut and “Tammy” just looks like more of the same. No thank you. I’m flushing this one without an ounce of hesitation.
“Step Up: All In” (July 25, 2014) – How on earth is this series still in existence? Has it honestly developed that big of a following? Do people genuinely care enough to warrant movie after movie? Apparently so and it boggles my mind. Yes we are getting yet another “Step Up” movie and there is nothing that makes me think this one will be any better than the others. Look, I understand that it’s all about the dancing and you can’t take the “acting” or even the story seriously, but I need more than these movies provide. I know that somewhere there are people anxiously anticipating this movie. But me, I’ll flush it and pop in a Gene Kelly film instead.
Keith & the Movies 
Keith, you never disappoint, no arguments from me. You’ve managed to place each film in its correct place, you have excellent taste in film, my good man ;).
My wife may argue that point! 😉
Seriously thank you for that. Appreciate you checking out the list. Some pretty good variety coming out in the next three months. Here’s hoping they equal good movies as well!
The early praise for Edge of Tomorrow caught me off guard, wasn’t expecting it to be good by any means lol. Now I’m looking forward to it! Also, I really hope Lucy works out, looks terrific!
Hahaha great selection here Keith!
Thanks Zoe! I’ve been doing these for a couple of years now and they are always a lot of fun to put together.
I always enjoy seeing what you put up for them 😀
I figure I may some that disagree about 22 Jump Street. I’m already sick of the TV commercials. I can’t imagine sitting through the movie.
I didn’t even see the last one, so I will be avoiding. I can’t say I’m psyched about Edge of Tomorrow though. It looks like a stock standard action flick so will see. No theatre trip for that.
But Emily Blunt! ahhhhhh…….
You’ve assisted me on another post for that! 😛 Thank you!
Oh, I’m in total agreement, Keith. 🙂
Awesome! A fair crop of potentially good movie and real stinkers on the way.
ANOTHER Step Up?! Wow, I don’t know how these things happen. I’m very excited for Guardians of the Galaxy and The Rover, and it looks like Edge of Tomorrow could be cool. Agree about Emily Blunt.
Somehow those Step Up movies keep finding their way to the screen. It absolutely amazes me. Blunt is fantastic. She can play just about any role. I’m really hoping she gets a bigger opportunity as a lead actress. I firmly believe she can pull it off.
Good selection… I think I might just go and see 22 Jump Street because I think Channing Tatum is hilarious when he does comedy. I’m still in two minds about Edge if Tomorrow because I can’t stand Tom Cruise but I adore Emily Blunt.
22 Jump Street will do very well at the box office. But every time I see Jonah Hill running around with an octopus on his head screaming “It’s inking in my mouth” I want to throw my remote!!!! lol
I’m actually really excited for 22JS and Tammy but I do like Hill and Melissa 🙂 Guardians of the Galaxy looks crazy fun.
I figure 22 Jump Street will make big bucks. Personally I sit there shaking my head whenever I see the trailer or TV spots. Tammy just looks like MM doing the one and only thing she ever does. But who knows…
I agree with some of your choices there Keith, I still don’t understand the appeal of McCarthy, she’s annoying and not funny at all. Same with Kevin Hart.
I’ll probably see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles just because I’m a big fan of the franchise and it will remind me of my childhood, love them turtles, ha ha. 22 Jump Street might be a rental since I enjoyed the first one. If it gets tons of good reviews, then I’ll see in theater if not, it’s a rental. The Rover just looks like a cheap and serious version of the Mad Max films, it might be descent though. I’m going to see an advance screening of Edge of Tomorrow next Monday, hopefully it’s good, it’s getting lots of good reviews so far. Guardians of the Galaxy looks like it will be fun. The rest I’m not that interested in seeing.
Oddly there is an pretty big assortment of stuff for all tastes – something that isn’t always the case in the summer months. I think The Rover looks pretty great and I’m even more excited due to its director. I think it looks a little closer to our reality than the Mad Max films. But who knows, hopefully it will be great.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate it.
The Flush em selections look horrendous. I ended up enjoying 21 Jump Street a year or so after it opened, but the trailer for the sequel looks flaccid by comparison, and my enjoyment was not so great that I will take a chance and spend fifteen bucks. All of the Flaunt ems look great, I’m very interested in Boyhood, which I’ve not heard of before this. The technique sounds interesting, it’s not a documentary like the Up series though. That’s what has me intrigued. The trailers for Guardians of the Galaxy have absolutely turned it into my most anticipated summer film. Bravo to the marketing department, Blue Swede better get a slice of the box office.
I had the exact same change of mind about Guardians. I was interested but didn’t see how it could be made into an enjoyable summer movie. But after the trailers and publicity I am all onboard. It looks like just the sort of thing the Marvel Universe needs. It injects an entirely different vibe. Well, at least that is what I’m hoping it does.
Nice opinions. I liked 21 Jump Street overall and will check out 22, but it’s dialogue and humor did wear thin a bit at the end. GofG should be interesting off the fact alone that it is so different.
A bit surprised that there is no Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. May be my most anticipated film of the summer. Also looking forward to (despite the putrid first) The Purge: Anarchy and How to Train Your Dragon 2.
Great mention of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. It was REALLY hard to leave it off. I am absolutely on board to see it. I think the only reason why I didn’t include it was because I didn’t just love the first one. Don’t misunderstand me, I liked it a lot. But I’m a little more cautious about the sequel. Still, I have a good feeling about it.
Thanks for checking it out and sharing your thoughts. ALWAYS appreciated.
What was the last good film Luc Besson made? It must have been a long time ago so i’m not sure about Lucy
That’s fair. He has made a small handful that I liked. But his recent track record hasn’t been good at all. That’s definitely enough reason to be concerned.
Perfect! I agree with all of the placements.
I really, really hope that Lucy is a good one. SJ is just on fire right now and is, as Captain America 2 showed, very capable as an action star.
I agree. Besson is the wild card though. He doesn’t have the best reputation these days. Still I have hope that Lucy can be really good.
Regardless of people’s picks, I really do think that the year’s biggest blockbuster’s have already come and gone this year (Spiderman 2, Godzilla, Captain America 2, XMen), save for Nolan’s Interstellar. I don’t really think there’s a movie release left that I’m genuinely interested in, save for David Fincher’s ‘Gone Girl,’ ‘Dawn of the Apes,’ and Interstellar, and only one of those is a summer blockbuster. Looks like a long, hot movie season for me
Maybe I’ll take your advice tho and check out Guardians. I really have no idea how much Marvel really thinks that a tree and a talking raccoon are marketable, but I guess that at this point the Marvel Cinematic Universe could sell water to a well and still half a billion dollars 😛
You’re right, the bulk of blockbusters have already hit. But that’s why in surprised at the variety of stuff on the way. Really pumped for The Rover and Boyhood. So much potential for those films. Guardians is a gamble but it looks like Marvel and company have the tone just right. We shall see!
Nice work Keith. I generally agree with you, though I hold out a little more hope than you for a couple in your flushin section. Extremely excited for Boyhood. That looks exceptional. I am really not sure about Edge of Tomorrow though. I think the trailer is truly abysmal. But I have started to read some pretty good reviews of it though, so it might be a goer.
Boyhood is incredibly intriguing. Of course it’s also exciting just to see that it comes from Linklater. The guy is a great filmmaker. I’m really excited about Edge. Now it absolutely could be another generic sci-fi summer movie. But it also could be something quite different and that’s what I’m hoping for. Fingers are crossed.
Have you seen Edge yet Keith? I am hoping to catch it over the weekend. Have been won over by everyone saying how much they enjoyed it and that it is a lot more fun than the trailers make out.
No man, I haven’t seen it yet but I’m off tomorrow and I’m excited. I was one who was actually intrigued by the trailers. I think the entire manipulated time loop angle has tons of science-fiction potential. Hopefully they capitalize on it.
I’d swap out Edge of Tomorrow and Guardians of the Galaxy for Life Itself and The Immigrant and replace 22 Jump Street with A Million Ways to Die in the West but other than that I’m in agreement. I’m really looking forward to Boyhood, it’s looking like it’s Linklater’s most ambitious project to date.
I didn’t consider Life Itself because it has been out in limited form for a while. I still haven’t seen it but I’m very interested. I almost get sick any time I see the 22 Jump Street trailer so it’s pretty firmly placed. A Million Ways would definitely be on there but since it comes out today it didn’t really fit in the June, July, August timeline I was eyeing. It looks absolutely dreadful though, doesn’t it?
Hi ya Keith! I just got back really late last nite. Boy I wish I had stayed at Rue Cler, it’s such a strategic location. Well, there’s always next time 🙂
Great post man, y’know I wasn’t sold on Edge of Tomorrow but seeing all the rave reviews intrigued me. Plus the ads were EVERYWHERE in Paris. Have you seen it yet? I’d agree w/ all your Flush ‘Em picks. I’d probably rent 22 Jump Street as I like the first one but not worth seeing on the big screen IMO.
Ruth!!! So glad to hear you had a wonderful and safe trip. I really want to hear more about it. I wish you guys lived closer because my wife and I would have to see all of your pictures. 😀
Haven’t seen Edge yet. Hey, I haven’t even seen X-MEN yet. So much going on here. I’m hoping to do a double feature Friday and catch them both.
Pretty much total agreement here mate! I might end up going to see Turtles but probably only for my 7 year old self. There’s a very good chance it’ll be terrible though.
There’s really an interesting variety of movies coming in the next three months, wouldn’t you say? From superhero movies to personal projects like Boyhood. Hopefully they all deliver.
Great choices bro! I’m definitely up for The Rovet and Boyhood and would flush the exact same ones as yourself. Stinkers, man!
You mean you’re not all in for the new Step-Up movie? 😉
Boyhood sounds incredibly intriguing. The Rover looks like it has the grit and that age to be a really good film. Plus it looks like a rich performance from Guy Pearce. I’m game.
I look forward to 22 Jump Street but I sympathize with you for sure, it’s a one-note comedy. It surprised the heck out of me in 2012 so I’m buying back into the hype. I have a feeling it will fall short though. Your Flaunts are very much things I look forward to. I’m most in agreement with The Rover. Looks great.
I haven’t heard about whether The Rover is getting a wide or limited release. Really hope I don’t have to wait a long time to see it.
I’m checking out Edge of Tomorrow in the morning. Can’t wait. Emily Blunt…nuff said.
Absolutely man. Love her. She was fantastic in Looper, and now this looks like another good turn for her. I’m very happy to hear great things about EoT. 😀
I’m really surprised at just how strong the reviews have been for it. I was already excited but now I’m really jazzed. Just need to temper my expectations.
Exactly. This is going to be my problem. 🙂
Pingback: » Movie Review – Edge Of Tomorrow Fernby Films