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This summer’s shaping up to be a hot one at the multiplexes, and it’s not yet June. Already “Spider-Man’s” a record-breaking smash hit, and “Star Wars” has a light-saber-yielding Yoda and never-before-seen digital effects. Lucky for moviegoers, Hollywood’s just warming up. Here are five upcoming flicks that we’re betting will be worth the price of popcorn.
“Scooby-Doo”
PG, opens June 14
WHY WE’RE PSYCHED:
It’s Scooby’s first-ever film adventure and we want some real mysteries solved. Like, why does Fred always wear an ascot? Why does Daphne always need rescuing? And why are Shaggy and Scoob always snarfing those Scooby snacks?
COME FOR:
Sweethearts Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar living in a cartoon world
STAY FOR:
Matthew Lillard. He nails Shaggy’s slacker walk, cartoonish voice and freaked-out expressions.
WHAT MOM WILL WANT TO KNOW:
Ruh-ro! Expect rude humor and scary villains.
WE RATE THE MOVIE TRAILERS: (Three popcorn boxes.)
(FOUR POPCORN BOXES MEAN WE’RE TOTALLY REELED IN.)
Zoinks! Scooby’s a pixel pooch, but we think he’s still one great Dane.
“Lilo & Stitch”
PG, opens June 21
WHY WE’RE PSYCHED:
A ‘toon with ‘tude? Lilo, a Hawaiian girl, adopts an ugly dog that turns out to be a dangerous alien on the run.
COME FOR:
The “bad dog/alien gets tamed” tale
STAY FOR:
The Elvis songs
WHAT MOM WILL WANT TO KNOW:
It’s Disney, but the cuddly main character truly can be one bad dog/alien.
WE RATE THE MOVIE TRAILERS: (Three popcorn boxes.)
(FOUR POPCORN BOXES MEAN WE’RE TOTALLY REELED IN.)
Disney wins points for poking fun at its saccharine image. Plus, we dig the Elvis bit.
“Men in Black II”
PG-13, opens July 3
WHY WE’RE PSYCHED:
The original 1997 movie combined cool visual effects (freaky aliens!) and odd-couple secret agents (a wise-cracking Will Smith and so-serious Tommy Lee Jones) for a fresh, funny twist on the buddy movie. After five years, the special effects can only get better.
COME FOR:
Out-of-this-world visual effects (more freaky aliens!)
STAY FOR:
The laughs, as ex-secret agent Tommy Lee Jones gives up his day job as a postal worker
WHAT MOM WILL WANT TO KNOW:
It snagged its rating for sci-fi action violence and some naughty humor.
WE RATE THE MOVIE TRAILERS: (Three and a half popcorn boxes.)
(FOUR POPCORN BOXES MEAN WE’RE TOTALLY REELED IN.)
Cool as those shades. Aliens pop up everywhere–and we can’t get enough of the “didn’t you notice that alien next to ya?” gag.
“Austin Powers in Goldmember”
Not yet rated, opens July 26
WHY WE’RE PSYCHED:
He’s back, baby. Three years have passed since we last saw the international man of mystery, and we can’t wait to see what diabolical scheme Dr. Evil has cooked up to attain world domination.
COME FOR:
Mike Myers as Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Big Fat B@#$%&* and Goldmember
STAY FOR:
Test your own spy powers to catch glimpses of Tom Cruise, Ozzy Osbourne and Gwyneth Paltrow.
WHAT MOM WILL WANT TO KNOW:
The two previous “Austin Powers” flicks were rated PG-13 for their crude humor and sexual references.
WE RATE THE MOVIE TRAILERS: (Two popcorn boxes.)
(FOUR POPCORN BOXES MEAN WE’RE TOTALLY REELED IN.)
Yeah, baby–it’s Mike Myers, again and again and again. To us, the trailer is as fresh looking as orange polyester.
“Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams” Not yet rated, opens Aug. 7
WHY WE’RE PSYCHED:
In the 2001 hit, a brother-and-sister team saved the world by using their wits (and lots high-tech gadgets). This time, the secret-agent sibs battle a bad guy who lives in a volcano.
COME FOR:
More gadgets, more kid spies and more evil villains.
STAY FOR:
The answer to what’s up with Grandpa and a mysterious lunchbox
WHAT MOM WILL WANT TO KNOW:
The original “Spy Kids” earned a PG rating for slightly scary action sequences.
WE RATE THE MOVIE TRAILERS: (Two popcorn boxes.)
(FOUR POPCORN BOXES MEAN WE’RE TOTALLY REELED IN.)
The mini-spies whip out tons of high-tech helpers. But if you’re on a mission to glimpse the villain, the trailer’s a bust.
