The Summer ‘08 movie season did more than rake in buckets of cash. Every summer slate does that, give or take a few million.
It restored this movie fan’s faith in the film blockbuster, and I bet I’m not alone. It was touch and go for a while, though.
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” did its best to squash my inner child, the same child who first fell in love with movies. “Indy” represented the most cynical part of the season – the can’t miss sequel that leaves audiences wishing they stuck to the originals.
Good thing “Iron Man” beat “Indy” out of the gate. The Marvel Comics hero proved to be smarter, funnier and more explosive than any silly superhero movie had a right to be. It also re-established star Robert Downey, Jr. as an A-lister – he’d cement that status with a brilliant turn in “Tropic Thunder” later.
“Speed Racer” crashed after the second lap, and “Sex and the City” scored big despite being a two-plus hours pander-fest – look, they’re doing a dressing room montage! Ooh, Mr. Big is writing Carrie a blank check for their new home!
June offered the good, the bad and “The Happening,” proof that M. Night Shyamalan isn’t the next Steven Spielberg. He’s the next Uwe Boll.
“The Incredible Hulk” proved an upgrade over Ang Lee’s soporific version, but it wasn’t good enough for audiences to demand a sequel. “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” allowed Adam Sandler to dabble in geopolitical humor before reverting to lazy form.
And “Wall*E” proved Pixar’s many talents include hypnotizing the masses into thinking its inferior product is worthy of Oscar buzz.
But then big, beautiful July arrived, and with it the summer’s true salvation. “Step Brothers” showed Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly should synch their schedules more often. And even the misfire that was “Hancock” couldn’t detract from the cultural event that lived up to all the press and posthumous accolades.
“The Dark Knight” left me breathless. A smart, sophisticated thriller that just so happened to be based on a comic book. Arguably the best movie of the year.
And “Tropic Thunder,” and its deliriously anti-PC humor, took the sting out of “Pineapple Express,” the stoner comedy that proved a great red-band trailer does not a classic comedy make.
No summer season offers a consistently solid lineup of all-stars. The seasons must be measured by the quality, and quantity of highs. And by that scale, Summer ‘08 deserves a standing ovation.
(Photo: “Iron Man,” Summer ’08’s first blockbuster, set the gold standard for the season)
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