Alright, as just mentioned, Warner Bros. released their 2009 schedule which has borne new photos of Robert Rodriguez’s new kids film “Shorts,” Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes,” and Jody Hill’s follow-up to “The Foot Fist Way” starring Seth Rogen, titled, “Observe and Report” among others (some minor “Where The Wild Things Are” updates as well) including the return of Todd Phillips’ with “The Hangover, a film we’ve been mildly curious about (great cast; more below).
“Shorts” has a August 7, 2009 release date and features William H. Macy, Kat Dennings, Leslie Mann, James Spader and Jon Cryer.
“Shorts” is set in the suburb of Black Falls, where all the houses look the same and everyone works for BLACK BOX Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated, whose Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX is the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget that’s sweeping the nation. Other than keeping his parents employed, however, Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX has done nothing for 11-year-old Toe Thompson, who just wants to make a few friends…until a mysterious rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky, hits him in the head and changes everything. The Rainbow Rock does Mr. Black’s BLACK BOX one better: it grants wishes to anyone who holds it. Before long, wishes-gone-wrong have left the neighborhood swarming with tiny spaceships, crocodile armies, giant boogers…and outrageous magical mayhem around every corner. But it’s not until the grown-ups get their hands on the Rock that the trouble really starts. Now Toe and his newfound friends must join forces to save their town from itself, discovering along the way that what you wish for is not always what you want.
There’s not much that we don’t know about Guy Ritchie’s modern adaptation of “Sherlock Holmes” (we did a script review a few months back). It stars Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong and is now officially set for a November 20, 2009, release date (that could have been there for months and we probably wouldn’t have noticed).
In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous characters, “Sherlock Holmes” sends Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country.
RDJ’s Holmes is a drunkard and a brawler for fun hence the photo of him on the right with his shirt off about to get into illegal underground boxing/scrapping fight.
Jody Hill is not a household name yet, but in comedy circles, he’s an up-and-comer. The director helmed the not-so-great Danny R. McBride comedy, “The Foot Fist Way,” and it was funny enough that someone (WB) let him make another film. This one, titled “Observe And Report” is about mall cops who take their jobs a little too seriously (unfortunate similarities to Kevin James’ “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” which comes out in January) and stars Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Ray Liotta, Patton Oswalt,Michael Pena and comedian Aziz Ansari who is also set to star in Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” also in 2009. Last we heard, “Observe And Report” had a lot of off-color humor and was potentially being killed by poorly-received test screenings which suggest studio interference. Who knows…if anyone has updates, send them our way. The release date is April 10, 2009
At the Forest Ridge Mall, head of security Ronnie Barnhardt patrols his jurisdiction with an iron fist, combating skateboarders, shoplifters and the occasional unruly customer while dreaming of the day when he can swap his flashlight for a badge and a gun. His delusions of grandeur are put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher. Driven to protect and serve the mall and its patrons, Ronnie seizes the opportunity to showcase his underappreciated law enforcement talents on a grand scale, hoping his solution of this crime will earn a coveted spot at the police academy and the heart of his elusive dream girl Brandi, the hot make-up counter clerk who won’t give him the time of day. But his single-minded pursuit of glory launches a turf war with the equally competitive Detective Harrison of the Conway Police, and Ronnie is confronted with the challenge of not only catching the flasher, but getting him before the real cops do.
God, Todd Phillips used to be the best comedy director on the planet (“Old School”) and then he ran into troubles (“Starsky & Hutch”), but he looks like he might have a tentative return to form with “Hangover,” a comedy which stars Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper (“Wedding Crashers”) as three best friends at a wild Las Vegas bachelor party who lose the groom just hours before his wedding. The film also stars, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong (of the Apatow family players), Gillian Vigman (“Step Brothers”) and Jeffrey Tambor is rumored. Seeing these pretty amusing-looking pictures, we’re pretty stoked for this one that comes out June 26, 2009.
Two days before his wedding, Doug and his three friends drive to Las Vegas for a blow-out bachelor party they’ll never forget. But, in fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they can’t remember a thing. For some reason, they find a tiger in the bathroom and a six-month-old baby in the closet of their suite at Caesars Palace. The one thing they can’t find is Doug. With no clue as to what transpired and little time to spare, the trio must retrace their hazy steps and all their bad decisions in order to figure out where things went wrong and hopefully get Doug back to L.A. in time to walk down the aisle.
Other WB 2009 films that we have little interest in include, “Final Destination: Death Trip 3D” (we’re sure the title speaks as to why) and “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” which stars the very-cute Emma Stone in what seems like a ghost horror, and “My Sister’s Keeper” which is a Cameron Diaz cancer film, sure to be an unintentional comedy, but if you’re curious, Cinematical isn’t as picky and has posted the entire list.
Someone take away Robert Rodriguez’s pen and paper PLEASE. (And his green screen, for that matter.)
The more stills I see from Holmes, the higher it gets on my list of films to see next year.