Struggling for speaking points with your new roommate? Try brushing up on the best and worst of this summer's flicks for the perfect icebreaker. After all, summer is synonymous with blockbusters and gut-busters.
The past several months were replete with high-grossing films, but an overabundance of Jason Bateman-anchored comedies and transitional flicks hyping next summer's super-movie, "The Avengers," (2012) plagued the entertainment industry. After a mediocre season, however, viewers were left with a few diamonds in the rough and optimistic visions of a summer movie revival in 2012.
Biggest Surprise
One could make an argument here for "Friends With Benefits" (2011), as even preteen girls were quick to note this film's mimicry of the poorly received "No Strings Attached" (2011), released five months prior. Unlike "No Strings," "Benefits" featured the unexpected onscreen chemistry of stars Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. Their spark melded harmoniously with a witty script and Timberlake and Kunis' comedic executions, refined during recurring appearances on Saturday Night Live and a tenured run on "That '70s Show" (1998-2006), respectively.
Nonetheless, after countless remakes, spin-offs and cultural references, even fewer moviegoers expected a further extension of the "Planet of the Apes" series to succeed. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011) seemed destined to flop and become an ugly blemish on James Franco's rising career. Instead, viewers saw a movie that did not take itself too seriously in its efforts to rejuvenate a dormant franchise. When Caesar the chimp (Andy Serkis) utters his first English word to the audience, the mood is at once hair-raising and titillating, cementing this film in disaster movie lore.
Worst Flop
This summer's movie pool was devastatingly feeble in its efforts to dazzle audiences, but one film is especially noteworthy for its failures: "Green Lantern" (2011). Riding the renaissance of the comic-adapted movie, "Lantern" had all the pieces in place to excel: Hollywood stalwart Ryan Reynolds coming off of his best individual performance to date, a bloated budget of about $200 million and its own themed ride at Six Flags Great Adventure. Not to mention that "Lantern" had already obtained a substantial, loyal following through decades of comic book sales and myriad adaptations.
In a competitive field of summer comic book flicks ("Thor," "X-Men: First Class" and "Captain America: The First Avenger," to name a few), "Lantern" proved to be the weakest link. Whereas its rivals reaped positive reviews and oodles of cash, "Lantern" was universally panned for its lackluster script, and its global gross continues to flounder below its budget.
Best Kids' Movie
Although fiery explosions and Lamborghini chase scenes are characteristic of summer flicks, children's films also tend to hit a critical apex in the warm weather months. Yet younger viewers did not escape unscathed from the profusion of cinematic garbage spewed by studio executives this summer. Movies like "Zookeeper," "The Smurfs," "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" and "Cars 2" left kids praying for an early release of the upcoming "Puss in Boots." (2011). Surprisingly, the kid's film that really shamed the rest was the golden oldie, "Winnie the Pooh" (2011).
By recapturing nostalgic characters like Pooh Bear, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore, "Winnie the Pooh" eschewed the slapstick humor that is all too common in modern children's movies, instead focusing on the gentle naiveté of Christopher Robin and his familiar anthropomorphic troupe. A true underdog with a negligible budget, "Winnie the Pooh" showed that the endearing series still echoes with America's youth, despite a less-than-astounding international gross.
The Big Winner
As cliched and obvious as the choice may be, this summer's best film was "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011). "Hallows: Part 2" quickly quelled any opposition to a two-part finale, delivering intense action sequences in rapid succession and underscoring romantic storylines between beloved characters. Director David Yates took on a career-defining task and garnished the multi-billion dollar "Harry Potter" franchise with a cherry on top. Out of all of this summer's films, "Hallows: Part 2" had the highest stakes, as it was expected to satisfy the insatiable appetites of J.K. Rowling's faithful, who had dedicated ample time over the past 14 years to immersing themselves in the mystical world of the "Boy Who Lived."
"Hallows: Part 2" was triumphant and precise in its efforts to wrap up the greatest media phenomenon of our generation, aptly allowing viewers with separation anxiety to wistfully close the "Harry Potter" chapter of their lives. Now, occasional followers and unparalleled fanatics alike can recall the "Harry Potter" film installments in an overwhelmingly positive light.
