Remakes, sequels make 2010 a light year for summer blockbusters

To be charitable, we might call the summer movies of 2010 "risk averse."

That's a fancy business term for "innovatively challenged." Or "creatively nullified." Or just plain "conceptually recycled."

Hollywood will be sending us at least 11 sequels, several remakes and two movies based on TV shows.

You'd think that the summer has been commandeered by studio marketeers pushing easy-to-sell known commodities, instead of serious filmmakers trying out new ideas and pushing the boundaries of the art form.

The summer schedule - which keeps creeping earlier and earlier into the spring calendar - brings back Buzz and Woody, Shrek, Nanny McPhee, Iron Man and Ed and Bella. Even Freddy's back on Elm Street.

Hey, it's summer. But not necessarily a bummer.

I'm looking forward to a few edgy comedies, some provocative dramas (especially Christopher Nolan's "Inception") and intriguing documentaries. Plus, we can hope for an "X" factor, an unknown film that breaks from the pack and blazes new trails.

Here's the Daily Herald's guide to the summer's movies. Just remember that Hollywood executives like to juggle release dates to maximize commercial appeal and consumer frustration, so keep an eye on Time out! for updates.

May 7"Babies" - A documentary chronicling the birth and early times of babies from San Francisco, Mongolia, Tokyo and Namibia. It's quadrupled cuteness!"The Good Heart" - Original Hannibal Lecter actor Brian Cox runs a men-only dive in New York City, until a distraught woman (Isild Le Besco) shows up at his bar in need of help and tests his friendship with the young man (Paul Dano) anointed to take over the place."The Human Centipede" - Stop me if you've heard this one before: On a road trip through Germany, two young women have car trouble and seek help at an isolated villa. They wind up in the basement of the unhinged Dr. Heiter, who plans to create the title creature by connecting the gastric systems of his guests. "Iron Man 2" - Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, who now meets a real manly villain: Mickey Rourke, armed with a laser lasso."Please Give" - A smart and complex drama about conflicting values. A New York woman (Catherine Keener) struggles to enjoy middle-class life when poverty and hopelessness live right outside her door. With Oliver Platt and Sarah Steele.May 14"Casino Jack and the United States of Money" - Alex Gibney's documentary focuses on Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his connection with Russian spies, Indian casinos, Chinese sweatshops and mob-style killings. Sure to be an eye-opener."Just Wright" - Queen Latifah stars as a physical therapist who falls for an NBA superstar (Common). Oh, no! He's falling for Queen's best friend (Paula Patton) who wants to be an NBA trophy wife! What will the Queen do?"Letters to Juliet" - An American (Amanda Seyfried) visiting Verona inspires an aging love-letter author (Vanessa Redgrave) to search for her lost love."The Little Traitor" - A Palestinian boy plots ways to kill the British soldiers occupying his land in 1947. Until he befriends a British sergeant (Alfred Molina) and the two develop a father-son relationship that you just know can't end all that well."Princess Kaiulani" - This fact-based story is set in 1888 when a Hawaiian princess (Q'Orianka Kilcher), 13, is exiled to Great Britain after a political upheaval on the islands. She goes on to eventually meet the president of the United States."Robin Hood" - Russell Crowe, the actor with the "Beautiful Mind" and "Gladiator" body, takes on the sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfadyen). But can Crowe possibly be better than Kevin Costner in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"? Cate Blanchett plays Marion.May 21"Looking For Eric" - A depressed postal worker who loves sports receives an Oprah-like intervention from an unlikely Good Samaritan: soccer superstar Eric Cantona. Directed by Ken Loach."MacGruber" - If this full-length feature is half as funny as its trailers are, then it will be twice as funny as the one-note "Saturday Night Live" sketches on which it's based. Will Forte brings his "McGuyver" rip-off to star in what could be the worst film idea of the year."Mother and Child" - Adoption factors into the lives of three women: Karen (Annette Bening) gave up her baby; Elizabeth (Naomi Watts) was an adopted child; and Lucy (Kerry Washington) wants to adopt. From writer/director Rodrigo Garcia."Shrek Forever After" - The green ogre's first 3-D film borrows heavily from "It's a Wonderful Life." A deal from the infamous Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dohrn) results in Shrek (Mike Myers) never being born. Shrek's last name? Bailey. Why do you ask?May 28"The City of Your Final Destination" - James Ivory directs a drama about an American academic (Omar Metwally) who stubbornly demands to write an authorized biography of a late Uruguayan novelist. His widow (Laura Linney) says no way. His bro (Anthony Hopkins) says yes way. His mistress (Charlotte Gainsbourg) says no, Maybe. Yes."Father of My Children" - A French drama that examines how a successful movie producer (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) seems to lead a charmed, perfect life until his empire financially crumbles and he falls into suicidal desperation."The Misfortunates" - A tragic comedy about a Belgian teenager growing up in a house of alcoholics. Reportedly filled with humor, pathos, drunkenness and debauchery."Paper Man" - Call it "Harvey" for comic book nerds. It's a coming-of-middle-age comedy about a failed novelist (Jeff Daniels) who learns about maturity from a Long Island teenager. Meanwhile, the writer's imaginary superhero pal dispenses advice."Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" - A prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) and a priestess (Gemma Arterton) attempt to stop bad guys from obtaining a magic knife that can turn back the pages of time. Or slice them back. Mike Newell directs."Sex and the City 2" - Better down a few Manolos full of cosmos before sitting through this sequel. The first "SATC" movie was a drab, airless plastique of the fine cable TV series. Remember signs of impending disaster for TV shows? Dream sequences and/or the cast visits a foreign country? Here, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon and Kim Cattrall go to the Middle East. Pass the shoes, please.June 4"Get Him to the Greek" - The ridiculous rocker Aldous Snow from "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" returns in his own comedy. Played (again) by Russell Brand, the rocker heads from London to L.A. with Jonah Hill's music exec trying to keep him straight."Killers" - Ashton Kutcher stars as a retired government assassin forced back into his old ways after marrying Katherine Heigl and being located by some old deadly nemeses. Tom Selleck and Martin Mull co-star."Marmaduke" - Owen Wilson brings his down-home folksy voice to the Great Dane protagonist based on the famous comic strip of the same title. Forced to move with his human family from Kansas to California (right away, this should be a warning to fans), Marmy falls for two prim and proper pooches. It's a live-action comedy with "Babe"-like digital effects."Splice" - What's a summer season without a good, old-fashioned genetic mutation thriller? Oscar winner Adrien Brody stars with Sarah Polley as genetic researchers involved in experiments to merge DNA from humans and animals. They create a beautiful winged chimera named "Dren." But she has issues. Some of them fatal.June 11"The A-Team" - Good thing the U.S. gives every new generation its own war. That way, Hollywood can keep updating its "wronged war vets take action" films. The Vietnam War vets from the 1983 TV series are now Iraq war vets framed for a crime they didn't commit. Hannibal Smith (Liam Neeson) leads the A-Team in a mission to clear their good names. Faceman? Baracus? Howling Mad? These are good names? Starring Patrick Wilson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson and Jessica Biel."The Karate Kid" - Will Smith's son Jaden takes a crack at remaking the 1984 Ralph Macchio classic about a bullied boy taken under the Asian wing of a martial arts master (here, Jackie Chan replacing the late Pat Morita). One thing's for sure from seeing publicity photos of young Smith on the set: Macchio was never that limber."Micmacs" - A homeless man named Brazil, having almost been killed by various munitions, takes revenge against a godless weapons manufacturer with help from a ragtag group of misfits who go by the names Buster, Slammer, Elastic Girl, Calculator, Remington, Mama Chow and Tiny Pete.June 18"Birdemic: Shock and Terror" - Consider it an unofficial sequel to Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 shocker. Fakey-looking birds wage war on humans in a horror tale/romantic thriller that was rejected by the Sundance Film Festival. "The Birds" star Tippi Hedren makes an appearance."Jonah Hex" - Josh Brolin goes head-to-headless with Chicago's John Malkovich in a supernatural western based on the extremely dark DC Comics series. Brolin plays a facially deformed bounty hunter out to nab a violent nut-job after the Civil War."Toy Story 3" - Twelve years have passed since the last "Toy Story." Does that mean Woody has lost his grip? That Buzz has lost his buzz? We shall see when Andy goes off to college and donates his trusty toys to a day-care center run by Lots-o-Huggin' Bear, voiced by Ned Beatty. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen lead the voices, along with Michael Keaton, Joan Cusack, Timothy Dalton, Cheech Marin, Wally Shawn, Bonnie Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg and, OK, enough! Lots more stars, trust me."Winter's Bone" - An Ozark mountain girl (Jennifer Lawrence) tracks down her drug-dealer daddy while attempting to keep what's left of her family together. Turns out the old man put up the family home for collateral on a court bond, then skipped town.June 25"Grown Ups" - Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Chris Rock join Kevin James as old childhood buds who come together for a summer weekend. High jinks ensue. Beware: The tired and uninventive Dennis Dugan directs, and that could spell art-iac arrest for the film."I Am Love" - The passionate daughter of a Russian art dealer, Emma (the ultra-cool Tilda Swinton passionate?), breaks from the Italian upper class of her rich, Milanese industrialist husband. "Knight and Day" - Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz together again! (They made 2001's strange "Vanilla Sky.") He's a secret agent trying to protect a scientist, then this innocent woman falls into his lap (check out the motorcycle scene) and it's a full-tilt action comedy directed by James Mangold."Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead" - Take a little "Hamlet," sprinkle it with Tom Stoppard wit, then add a 2,000-year-old conspiracy involving vampires and the Holy Grail. Featuring former "Karate Kid" star Ralph Macchio. With a score composed and performed by Sean Lennon.June 30"Twilight: Eclipse" - The third in the teen vampire romance series brings back Kristen Stewart as Bella, who must choose between the anemic bloodsucking Edward (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf beefcake Jacob (Taylor Lautner) as the town gets hit by mysterious killings.July 2"The Last Airbender" - First, aren't we all tired of titles with the trite and overused word "Last" in them? Second, will M. Night Shyamalan ever give us another interesting, wacked-out movie? He tells the effects-stuffed tale of a boy (Noah Ringer) who must stop something called the Fire Nation from destroying the Earth, Water and Air nations. Sounds like a 1960s peace song, but it's based on the Nickelodeon TV series "Avatar: The Last Airbender."July 7"The Kids Are All Right" - Two teens (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson), offspring of a lesbian couple (Julianne Moore and Annette Bening), track down their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and invite him to meet the whole family. Chaos ensues.July 9"Despicable Me" - Steve Carell lets his bad self out as Gru, an animated villain plotting to abduct the moon. Can three orphaned girls (Miranda Cosgrove, Elsie Fisher and Dana Gaier) stop the rotund baddie and find a daddy in the process? Other voices by Julie Andrews and Jason Segel."Grease" - It's the word. It's also a singalong experience. The John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John original returns, hopelessly devoted to you."Predators" - Oh, great. Another predator movie. Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Laurence Fishburne, Alice Braga and Danny Trejo star as the prey on another planet where the Predators like to hunt humans (and other life-forms) for sport. It's from Nimrod "Vacancy" Antal, so it might work. Might.July 16"The Concert" - This comedy of second chances concerns an alcoholic Russian custodian (Alexei Guskov) who intercepts an invitation to conduct an orchestra in Paris and sets off to do this with his musician pals. Good thing the guy used to be a conductor for the Bolshoi! With the lovely Melanie Laurent as a romantic interest."Inception" - Chris Nolan, the guy who gave us the amazing "Dark Knight," returns with an irresistible science-fiction concept: dream thieves. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Cobb, who enters people's dreams so he can steal their commercial ideas. (Think of him as a corporate Freddy Krueger.) Ellen Page, Tom Berenger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine and Marion Cotillard co-star."The Sorcerer's Apprentice" - Jay Baruchel plays the Mickey Mouse role in a live-action version of the most popular segment in Walt Disney's 1940 animated classic "Fantasia." Nicolas Cage plays the 1,500-year-old sorcerer, battling evil with flamethrower hands. Alfred Molina stars as Cage's arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath.July 23"Dinner For Schmucks" - Paul Rudd plays an employee of a company that throws a big annual sadistic dinner to which workers are to bring the most pathetic loser dorks they can find as guests. The winner gets a promotion. Rudd chooses Steve Carell as his loser. 'Nuff said. Loosely based on a 1998 French comedy "Le Diner de Cons.""Ramona and Beezus" - Beverly Cleary's popular characters from her 1955 novel "Beezus and Ramona" (it looks like Ramona's agent worked overtime to get her top billing) hits the silver screen after a brief TV series in 1988. Joey King stars as Ramona Quimby, with Selena Gomez as her put-upon elder sibling."Salt" #173;- Hollywood hottie Angelina Jolie plays a seasoned CIA agent named Salt accused of being a Russian spy. She goes on the lam to clear her name, using all her training to elude capture. Co-starring Liev Schreiber and Andre Braugher.July 30"Beastly" - A modern-day New York teenager ("High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens) transforms into a hideous monster to find true love. With Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen and Neil Patrick Harris."Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" - The original "Cats and Dogs" was a charming and inventive comic fantasy pitting felines against canines. In this 3-D sequel, the pets unite to stop a hair-challenged cat (Bette Midler) with plans to wipe out people and dogkind. Let's hope the sly reference to James Bond's lover in "Goldfinger" isn't the cleverest part of the movie. Voices by Chicago's Chris O'Donnell and Michael Clarke Duncan, and former 007 Roger Moore."Charlie St. Cloud" - "High School Musical" star Zac Efron goes romantically tragic in this story about an accomplished sailor who must piece his life back together after a terrible accident. Kim Basinger plays his mom. Amanda Crew plays his long-time girlfriend.Aug. 6"Middle Men" - The story of how a regular businessman (Luke Wilson) wound up making a gazillion dollars with porn on the burgeoning Web during the 1990s. Giovanni Ribisi co-stars along with James Caan, Kelsey Grammer and Kevin Pollack."The Other Guys" - They're not the cops who get the girls and fast cars. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are the other guys, second-tier cops who try to crack a sophisticated fraud case clearly outside of their pay grade and IQ area. Co-starring (take a deep breath) Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Paris Hilton, Steve Coogan and Anne Heche."Step Up 3-D" - So, you thought the 3-D effects in "Avatar" were a little, uh, subtle? John Chu's sequel to "Step Up 2: The Streets" goes 3-D insane with every cheap visual trick he and his crew could think of. The plot? A dance contest, naturally.Aug. 13"Eat, Pray, Love" - Oprah's book club favorite (by Elizabeth Gilbert) comes to the silver screen starring Julia Roberts as a globe-trotting woman searching for love after recovering from a terrible divorce. Javier Bardem, James Franco and Billy Crudup star."The Expendables" - Director Sylvester Stallone joins fellow he-men Bruce Willis and (yes!) Arnold Schwarzenegger in an action fan's dream cast. Willis hires Stallone's mercenaries (Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews and Randy Couture) to overthrow a South American dictator. Toss in Eric Roberts and Steve Austin and you've got the greatest assembly of macho beefcake outside of an Oscar Mayer warehouse."Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" - Yet another superhero romantic comedy/adventure. This one stars Michael Cera as Scott, who must defeat the seven evil exes of his new girlfriend Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) if he wants to prevail in love and life. Co-starring Chris "The Human Torch" Evans and Brandon "Superman" Routh.Aug. 20"Lottery Ticket" - A young man (Bow Wow) from the Atlanta projects attempts to keep his $350 million winning lottery ticket a secret through one agonizing Fourth of July weekend. He doesn't succeed. Co-starring Ice Cube, Loretta Devine and Mike Epps."Nanny McPhee Returns" - The always-captivating Emma Thompson reprises her titular role from the 2005 original fantasy. The magical supernanny returns to teach Maggie Gyllenhaal's children and their spoiled cousins a few lessons about life while Gyllenhaal's husband is away at war. Co-starring Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor and Maggie Smith."The Switch" - Jennifer Aniston plays a single woman with a ticking biological clock who inseminates herself with a turkey baster. Years later, her best pal Jason Bateman reveals that he substituted his own sperm for the sample she thought she was using. Yeah, like that news will make her happy."Takers" - A crime thriller about a gang of highly efficient bank robbers (among them Paul Walker, Idris Elba and Hayden Christensen) who meet their match in a bulldog of a police investigator (Matt Dillon). "The Tillman Story" - A documentary on the life and death of professional football player Pat Tillman, who joined the U.S. Army Rangers in 2002 and was killed in Afghanistan two years later. His death became the focus of controversy after an investigation revealed he was killed by "friendly fire," not by enemy forces as the U.S. military claimed. But was he murdered? Amir Bar-Lev directs.Aug. 27"Going the Distance" - A journalism grad student (the lovable Drew Barrymore) falls for a music executive (Justin Long), and the two try to make a go of a perilous long-distance relationship. Directed by Nanette "American Teen" Burstein."The Last Exorcism" - 1. Aren't we tired of movies with the word "Last" in them? 2. Do we really need another pseudo-documentary-style horror film? 3. This film could be to possession movies what "Fright Night" is to vampire tales. A con-artist (Patrick Fabian) who's been ripping off people by pretending to be an exorcist confronts real evil when he's asked to help a young girl (Ashley Bell) expel a demon or two."Piranha 3-D" - Alexandre Aja, who directed the disappointing remake of "The Hills Have Eyes," directs this 3-D remake of Joe Dante's 1978 thriller about a zillion prehistoric carnivorous fish that come out to play after an earthquake. Just in time for spring break at popular Lake Victoria! Stars include Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames, Elisabeth Shue and Jerry O'Connell.No date yet"No One Knows About Persian Cats" - Bumped from its April 30 release date, this musical drama traces the efforts of two Iranian musicians to secure a visa so they can perform at a London concert. Oh, yeah, they also need a few more band members."Survival of the Dead" - George Romero's fifth zombie horror sequel doesn't have a Chicago release date as of this writing. This one takes place off the coast of Delaware where two feuding families continue to fight even while the zombies grow in numbers and power.False512288"Eat, Pray, Love" False