[Ed. note: Each week I'll be breaking down the big summer blockbuster movie releases. If you're curious about what's coming out in future weeks, be sure to check out the Summer Movie Preview. And for all things film, please check out our movie site.]
FRIDAY, MAY 29TH
Box office gold: Up
Worth seeing? Youre going to skip Pixars follow-up to WALL-E? The plot is simple: An old coot ties thousands of brilliantly animated balloons to his house, and takes off for adventure with a stow-away boy scout on board. The directors Pete Docter, the director of Monsters, Inc., and Bob Peterson, the writer of Finding Nemo are two Pixar vets who could pull this off in their sleep. To top it off, Up has already passed the snooty French smell test by being selected to open the Cannes Film Festival, the first time an animated film has enjoyed the time slot. Up should finish in the top three at the summer box office.
Counter-programming: Ups brand of cute and cuddly Disney fun isnt your bag? Check out Drag Me to Hell instead. Sam Raimi (Spider-Man) returns to his horror-movie roots with this tale of a loan officer (Alison Lohman) who is seriously cursed after she forecloses on old lady with a creepy eye to impress her boss. A warning to those hoping Hell matches the low-fi brilliance of Raimis Evil Dead movies: The preview is as glossy as it gets.
Previews after the jump