The Summer Reloaded 

At any rate, here's a schedule of 52 movies that are expected to open locally between May 2 and August 29. Most are national releases, while a handful are art-house features that are expected to hit Charlotte during the hot-weather months. As always, dates are subject to change.

MAY 2

X2

PLOT: Even as Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) tries to learn more about his mysterious past, he and the other X-Men must defend themselves against a military man (Brian Cox) hell-bent on wiping out all mutants.

THE LOWDOWN: This sequel to the 2000 summer hit brings back practically the entire first cast (including English thesps Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen and Oscar winners Anna Paquin and Halle Berry) and introduces several new characters, such as Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler. (See Hugh Jackman interview in this issue's Flicks section.)

Also: In THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE (based on the Disney Channel show), the spunky teen (Hilary Duff) heads to Rome, where she finds amore and becomes a singing sensation.

MAY 9

DADDY DAY CARE

PLOT: After getting laid off, two fathers (Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin) decide to open a day-care facility, figuring it'll be a piece of cake to look after some kids.

THE LOWDOWN: Murphy's three 2002 flops (The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Showtime and I Spy) will be forgiven and forgotten once the box office comes close to Nutty Professor/Dr. Dolittle heights. . .This may end up being tame and lame, but the clever use of the Psycho music in the preview gets me every time.

A MIGHTY WIND

PLOT: The members of three folk groups (played by, among others, Eugene Levy, Christopher Guest, Catherine O'Hara and Parker Posey) get together for an "oldies" memorial concert in this "mockumentary."

THE LOWDOWN: This reunites most of the principal cast and crew from Best In Show and Waiting For Guffman -- in other words, we're there.

MAY 15

THE MATRIX RELOADED

PLOT: In this middle chapter in the Matrix trilogy, Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) must save the fabled city of Zion from being destroyed by the ruling computers.

THE LOWDOWN: The most anticipated movie of the summer should also emerge as the most profitable, fighting off challenges from X2, Bruce Almighty and Finding Nemo. . .New characters include good girl Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith) and bad girl Persephone (Monica Bellucci). . .The final installment, The Matrix Revolutions, will be released November 5, 2003.

MAY 16

DOWN WITH LOVE

PLOT: A best-selling advice writer (Renee Zellweger) and a suave journalist (Ewan McGregor) go through the romantic paces in this update of those beloved Rock Hudson/Doris Day comedies.

THE LOWDOWN: Like Far From Heaven, this hopes to duplicate not just the subject matter of its screen antecedents but their style as well, right down to Technicolor saturation and fake studio backlots. . .The cast includes Tony Randall, who co-starred in three Hudson-Day romps way back when.

Also: John Malkovich directs Oscar nominee Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls) in THE DANCER UPSTAIRS, a political thriller set in a volatile South American country. . .In LAUREL CANYON, the liberal lifestyle of an LA record producer (Frances McDormand) causes a rift in the relationship between her conservative son (Christian Bale) and his open-minded fiancee (Kate Beckinsale). . .According to the studio press release, the original Japanese title for POKEMON HEROES is Guardian Spirits of the Water Capital: Latias and Latios; let's see them put that on a US marquee and still draw the kiddies. . .THE SHAPE OF THINGS, the latest from director Neil LaBute (Nurse Betty, Possession), takes place among art lovers in a college town; Paul Rudd (Clueless) and Rachel Weisz (About a Boy) star.

MAY 23

THE IN-LAWS

PLOT: Comic hijinks ensue when the father of the bride, a nebbishy foot doctor (Albert Brooks), meets the father of the groom, a daredevil CIA agent (Michael Douglas).

THE LOWDOWN: Anybody who's seen 1979's The In-Laws (with Alan Arkin, Peter Falk, and writer Andrew Bergman's great one-liners) knows that this new version has its work cut out for it. Still, it's hard to dislike the Brooks-Douglas pairing.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY

PLOT: Tired of blasphemous humans, God (Morgan Freeman) appears before an angry young man named Bruce (Jim Carrey) and bestows on him all his mighty powers, challenging the puny mortal to do a better job.

THE LOWDOWN: With Carrey at the helm of an irresistible premise, how can this not be a hit?. . .Jennifer Aniston co-stars as Carrey's supportive girlfriend.

MAY 30

FINDING NEMO

PLOT: The aquatic equivalent of looking for a needle in a haystack, as a mild-mannered fish must search the ocean for his missing son.

THE LOWDOWN: This animated effort comes from the Disney-Pixar union that also yielded Monsters, Inc. and the Toy Story tales, so expect a financial gain of tidal wave proportions. . .The vocal cast includes Albert Brooks, Willem Dafoe, Ellen DeGeneres and Geoffrey Rush.

THE ITALIAN JOB

PLOT: Several crooks map out an intricate robbery involving a massive traffic jam and plenty of gold bullion, but there's a traitor in their midst.

THE LOWDOWN: The 1969 original starred Michael Caine, Noel Coward and Benny Hill; this version gives us the more traditional teaming of Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron and Edward Norton. . .The director is F. Gary Gray, whose Vin Diesel vehicle A Man Apart was taken off the shelf a few weeks ago and promptly tanked.

Also: A group of teenagers find themselves being terrorized by slobbering hillbillies in WRONG TURN. Does anyone get to squeal like a pig?

JUNE 6

2 FAST 2 FURIOUS

PLOT: Former cop Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker) works with an undercover agent (Eva Mendes) to take down a drug dealer on the streets of Miami.

THE LOWDOWN: With apologies to Walker, it was the combination of Vin Diesel and fast cars, not Paul Walker and fast cars, that made 2001's The Fast and the Furious a $144 million sleeper smash. Unfortunately for all concerned, Diesel took a powder on this one, preferring to make sequels to Pitch Black and XXX instead. . .Director Rob Cohen also decided to pass, leaving a slumming John Singleton (Boyz N The Hood, Shaft) holding the car keys.

Also: On the shelf since 2001, the film version of Elizabeth Wurtzel's PROZAC NATION finally reaches the screen, with Christina Ricci cast as the clinically depressed Harvard student.

JUNE 13

HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE

PLOT: Two LA cops -- one a vet (Harrison Ford), the other a rookie (Josh Hartnett) -- investigate a murder within the rap community.

THE LOWDOWN: Geez, could this sound any more generic? Ford's commercial clout has dissipated in recent years, so writer-director Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, the recent flop Dark Blue) had better hope he can help reverse the trend. . .The supporting cast is interesting: Lena Olin, Martin Landau, Dwight Yoakam and Lolita Davidovich (aka Mrs. Ron Shelton).

Also: FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY centers on two of the stars from TV's American Idol. Whatever. . . Combining two successful franchises, the folks at Nickelodeon and Paramount have elected to bring out RUGRATS GO WILD!, which finds the "Rats rubbing diapers with the Wild Thornberry family in Africa. . . Before the Farrelly brothers became funny, they made 1994's dreary Dumb and Dumber, which grossed $127 million and helped make Jim Carrey a star; now we get WHEN HARRY MET LLOYD: DUMB AND DUMBERER, a prequel that focuses on the doofuses (now played by Eric Christian Olsen and Derek Richardson) during their high school days.

JUNE 20

THE HULK

PLOT: After an experiment goes awry, scientist Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) discovers he has the ability to transform himself into a not-so-jolly green giant.

THE LOWDOWN: The pedigree is top-grade: The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon team of director Ang Lee and writer James Schamus, plus a cast that includes Nick Nolte, Sam Elliott and A Beautiful Mind Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly. . . Fans of the Marvel Comics icon are divided over whether the Hulk (a computer-generated creation), glimpsed in the trailer, looks "cool" or "fake."

Also: An author (Luke Wilson) falls in love with the stenographer (Kate Hudson) transcribing his latest work in ALEX AND EMMA, a romantic comedy from Rob Reiner. . . From France, Patrice Leconte's THE MAN ON THE TRAIN is actually about two men on a train: an elderly gentleman (Jean Rochefort) and a younger criminal (longtime French singing star Johnny Halliday), both of whom envy the others' lifestyle.

JUNE 27

CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE

PLOT: The Angels (Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu) must prevent a list that names everyone in the Witness Protection Program from falling into the wrong hands.

THE LOWDOWN: The original was a high-spirited lark that made $125 million, and this one might even do better. . . You get Bernie Mac as Bosley's brother (alas, Bill Murray is a no-show), John Cleese as the father of one of the girls, Demi Moore as an Angel-gone-bad, and even a cameo by original TV Angel Jaclyn Smith.

JULY 2

LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED, WHITE & BLONDE

PLOT: Now a full-fledged lawyer, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) heads to Washington to fight for the rights of animals being used as cosmetic test subjects.

THE LOWDOWN: The $18 million original grossed $95 million during the summer of 2001, so even Elle herself would realize that a sequel was a no-brainer. . . Luke Wilson returns as Elle's boyfriend, with Sally Field and Bob Newhart joining the cast as, respectively, a prominent Congresswoman and a sagacious hotel doorman.

SINBAD: LEGEND OF THE SEVEN SEAS

PLOT: Sinbad battles the wicked goddess Chaos in this animated feature.

THE LOWDOWN: DreamWorks, the studio that rounded up all that grade-A voice talent for Shrek and Antz, appears to have done it again (Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michelle Pfeiffer, Joseph Fiennes), even if the preview makes this look like the sort of generic kiddie fare that helped run Disney's creativity into the ground (think Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Treasure Planet).

TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES

PLOT: This time, another Terminator that looks just like Arnold Schwarzenegger is sent back from the future to protect young John Connor (Nick Stahl) from a "Terminatrix" (Kristanna Loken).

THE LOWDOWN: No James Cameron, and no Linda Hamilton. But Arnie badly needs a hit, so here ya go.

Also: Already playing in limited release, LEVITY stars Billy Bob Thornton as a guilt-ridden former convict who strikes up a friendship with an inner city priest (Morgan Freeman); Kirsten Dunst and Holly Hunter co-star.

JULY 9

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL

PLOT: This take-off on the popular Disney theme park attraction finds our dashing heroes (Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom) squaring off against a dastardly pirate (Geoffrey Rush) and his crew of skeletal zombies.

THE LOWDOWN: Video games have been turned into some truly wretched motion pictures over the years; let's hope this one's decent, so as to prevent a similar rash of putrid flicks based on theme park rides.

JULY 11

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

PLOT: Several familiar names -- for starters, Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery), Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng) -- work as a team in Victorian England to stop an evildoer bent on world domination.

THE LOWDOWN: The popular comic book series sees big-screen life under the eye of director Stephen Norrington (Blade). . . Coming on the heels of X2 and The Hulk, this one will have its work cut out for it.

JULY 18

BAD BOYS II

PLOT: Detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) find themselves caught in the middle of a Miami drug war (wonder if they run into the cast of 2 Fast 2 Furious?).

THE LOWDOWN: The 1995 original was typical generic junk in the Jerry Bruckheimer/Michael Bay style, but since the careers of both Smith and Lawrence have gone supernova since then, expect this follow-up to possibly double the first film's $65 million take.

Also: Pop star Mandy Moore's A Walk to Remember was a modest box office performer (also a critical doormat); now she's back with HOW TO DEAL, about the travails of a teenager in love. . . British comedian Rowan Atkinson stars as JOHNNY ENGLISH in this spoof of the James Bond series.

JULY 25

LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE

PLOT: The female Indiana Jones (Angelina Jolie) continues to trek the globe in search of adventure.

THE LOWDOWN: The 2001 original scored plenty of bank, but very few sang its praises. But with Jan De Bont (Speed) at the controls, maybe this one will be, like, exciting, just as a cliffhanger should be.

SEABISCUIT

PLOT: A jockey (Tobey Maguire), a trainer (Chris Cooper) and a businessman (Jeff Bridges) all place their faith in a racehorse in this adaptation of the best-selling nonfiction book.

THE LOWDOWN: If there's one movie this summer that strikes me as potential Oscar bait, it's this drama from writer-director Gary Ross (Pleasantville). Look for this to be the big title among discerning adults.

Also: The 3-D effects are only so-so in the current Ghosts of the Abyss, so let's see what writer-director Robert Rodriguez can accomplish with the technology in SPY KIDS 3-D: GAME OVER, which reunites the cast of the first two films and throws in Sylvester Stallone (as the villain, no less) for good measure.

AUGUST 1

AMERICAN WEDDING

PLOT: In the third entry in the highly profitable American Pie series, Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) must contend with their friends' shenanigans as they prepare to tie the knot.

THE LOWDOWN: Don't rule out this franchise's appeal just yet: American Pie 2 went against the norm and earned more than the first film, and when asked "Of the sequels this summer (2001), which one was the best?," International Movie Database users picked it over the likes of Rush Hour 2, The Mummy Returns and Jurassic Park III (given that crop, I'd have to agree). . . Scene-stealer extraordinaire Eugene Levy (already having a banner year with Bringing Down the House and A Mighty Wind) returns as Jim's dad.

GIGLI

PLOT: An incompetent lowlife named Gigli (Ben Affleck) is forced to team up with a professional criminal (Jennifer Lopez) to orchestrate a kidnapping, but soon finds himself falling in love with her.

THE LOWDOWN: Director Martin Brest, whose last two movies (Meet Joe Black and Scent of a Woman) were long and boring, is presumably trying to reclaim the zip of Beverly Hills Cop and Midnight Run with what's being billed as a "romantic gangster comedy". . . You can't turn around without being smacked by incessant Affleck-Lopez press, so the pair better hope the public's tolerance for their overexposure doesn't peak before the movie's release. . . Christopher Walken and Al Pacino are on board in small roles.

Also: No, we didn't accidentally import an old movie listing: Miramax thinks audiences wrongly overlooked George Clooney's CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND this past Christmas, so the studio's giving it another theatrical push before consigning it to video. . . Disney's 70s hit FREAKY FRIDAY goes the remake route (again), with Jamie Lee Curtis and The Parent Trap's Lindsay Lohan as the mom and daughter who magically trade bodies.

AUGUST 8

THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS

PLOT: A New York advertising executive (Cuba Gooding Jr.) ends up in the Deep South, where he ends up leading a gospel choir and falling for a local beauty (Beyonce Knowles).

THE LOWDOWN: Look at the bright side: No matter how generic this sounds (i.e., the same template used in everything from Doc Hollywood to Sweet Home Alabama), it has to be better than recent Gooding outings like Snow Dogs and Boat Trip.

S.W.A.T.

PLOT: Under the watchful eye of a senior commander (Samuel L. Jackson), the new members of the Special Weapons and Tactics unit must escort a dangerous drug lord (Olivier Martinez) out of town.

THE LOWDOWN: This was "inspired" by the popular 70s TV drama. . . Colin Farrell, who played The Recruit under Al Pacino, now plays the recruit under Jackson.

Also: . . Ridley Scott directs Nicolas Cage in MATCHSTICK MEN, about a con artist whose latest job is interrupted by the sudden arrival of his teenage daughter (Alison Lohman of White Oleander).

AUGUST 15

FREDDY VS. JASON

PLOT: The star of A Nightmare on Elm Street and the star of Friday the 13th square off in what's certain to be a cinematic bloodbath.

THE LOWDOWN: Both franchises are reeling, but this teaming should generate some income and lead to a new string of sequels (lucky us).

Also: The flop The Tuxedo found Jackie Chan gaining supernatural powers through his clothes; this time, it's THE MEDALLION that turns him into a supercop. . . Filmed under the title Molly Gunn, UPTOWN GIRLS stars Brittany Murphy (8 Mile) as a socialite who's forced to get a job as a nanny after her inheritance goes poof.

AUGUST 22

MARCI X

PLOT: A pampered socialite (Lisa Kudrow) ends up as the head of a hardcore rap label.

THE LOWDOWN: Damon Wayans plays a character called Dr. Snatchcatcher, which may help explain why this long-delayed movie ended up in the dog days of summer. . . The script is by Paul Rudnik, equally recognized for his monthly Premiere column "If You Ask Me" (under the nom de plume Libby Gelman Waxner) as for his screenplays (In & Out).

Also: Ashton Kutcher (Just Married) agrees to housesit for his boss, with disastrous results, in MY BOSS'S DAUGHTER.

AUGUST 27

HIGHWAYMEN

PLOT: A grieving widower (Jim Caviezel) relentlessly searches for the serial killer who's been running over women with his car. . . including the man's wife.

THE LOWDOWN: Director Robert Harmon made his directorial debut back in 1986 with the Rutger Hauer thriller The Hitcher, a much-loved, much-reviled flick that's picked up a cult following over the years; if he can creep out audiences again, he might have another cult item on his hands.

AUGUST 29

JEEPERS CREEPERS 2

PLOT: Continuing his nasty habit of feasting on the flesh of the living, the Creeper super-sizes by taking on a busload of high school basketball players.

THE LOWDOWN: The dismal 2001 original opened on the last weekend of the summer and stank up theaters throughout the month of September; apparently, it's deja vu all over again.