After last year's lackluster and downsized season, the slate of the upcoming summer movies appears to be far more potent and energized. We have a large number of sequels and remakes on hand ("Fast X", "The Little Mermaid", "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny", "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning") that are poised to reliably get folks back in theaters and to make some serious cash. But there are even a few intriguing original titles, indies and adult dramas on the way that will hopefully convince adults that it's safe to return to the cinema. Here is my annual spotlight on a few of the summer films that have caught my attention and anticipating their arrival.
All release dates are subject to change:
"YOU HURT MY FEELINGS"
Release date: May 26, 2023
The writer/director, Nicole Holofcener and Julia Louis-Dreyfus have finally reunited with "You Hurt My Feelings" which follows their delightful romantic-comedy for mature adults, "Enough Said" ten years ago. Louis-Dreyfus plays Beth, a successful yet insecure writer who is happily married to Don (Tobias Menzies), a well liked teacher. After discovering that her husband has not been completely honest about his thoughts on the draft of the novel she's been struggling with, Beth spirals out of control, questioning her life and long marriage.
"PAST LIVES"
Release date: June 2, 2023
In this directorial feature film debut by playwright, Celine Song, "Past Lives" looks at close childhood friends in South Korea, Nora (Grace Lee) and Hae Song (Teo Yoo) but are separated once Nora's family relocates to the US. Twenty years later, the two are reunited for one week and while each has moved on to other relationships, their reconnection has rekindled their feelings from the past.
"SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE"
Release date: June 2, 2023
Taking place a year after the events in "Into the Spider-Verse", the animated sequel, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" has Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) being approached by Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) about completing a mission to save all the various Spider-People in the different universes from the Spot (Jason Schwartzman), a dangerous villain whose body is covered in interdimentional portals that allows him to travel through space and time.
"THE FLASH"
Release date: June 16, 2023
Following multiple delays caused by production setbacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and several scandals involving the lead actor, "The Flash" is finally ready to reach theaters. Ezra Miller returns as Barry Allen who as The Flash, uses his ability to move at superhuman speed to travel back in time to prevent the death of his mother (Maribel Verdú). But this act traps him in this now altered reality where he gets help from his younger self, an older Batman (Michael Keaton) and the Kryptonian, Kara Zor-El (Sasha Calle) to save this world from the regenerated General Zod (Michael Shannon) and then attempt to get him back to his proper place in time.
"NO HARD FEELINGS"
Release date: June 23, 2023
Jennifer Lawrence returns in the raunchy comedy, "No Hard Feelings" playing Maddie, a young woman suffering from some financial troubles. When her car gets repossessed, this creates a major problem for her as she was only making ends meet as an Uber driver. Desperate for work, Maddie answers an ad by parents (Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti) that want to hire a woman to "date" their teenage son (Andrew Barth Feldman) who shows no interest in dating or sex. I laughed out loud a couple of time just watching this trailer so I think this should be fun. This is director, Gene Stupnitsky's follow-up to his teen coming-of-age comedy, "Good Boys" from 2019.
"BARBIE"
Release date: July 21, 2023
Based on the most famous doll in the world, "Barbie" is the first live-action movie of this iconic toy. Margot Robbie brings this plastic fashion doll to life and Ryan Gosling play Barbie's boyfriend, Ken. Not too much has been revealed about the story but it's set in Barbieland with Barbie setting off to the real world after being told she's less than perfect. Greta Gerwig has co-written (with her partner, filmmaker Noah Baumbach) and directed this comedy-fantasy and has attracted an impressive cast. Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Hari Nef and pop-singer, Dua Lipa play various Barbies; Simu Liu and Kingsley Ben-Adir as different Kens; Will Ferrell as a toy company CEO and Helen Mirren as the narrator.
"STRAYS"
Release date: August 23, 2023
"Strays" may feature cute, live animals animated with CGI but this crude comedy is strictly for adults. After a Border Terrier named Reggie (Will Ferrell) discovers from a group of stray dogs lead by Bug (Jamie Foxx) that he was actually abandoned by his hateful owner, Doug (Will Forte) and not lost, he plots revenge against him. And the film features the additional voices of Isla Fisher, Randall Park, Josh Gad and Sofia Vergara. Josh Greenbaum ("Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar") directs.
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