By Rene Rodriguez / MCT
The fall movie season is here, just in time to keep the dogs of summer from permanently souring you from going to the cinema. Between now and Nov. 18, serious Oscar contenders will be crowing for your attention alongside surefire hits as a Shrek spin-off, a Footloose remake and the new Twilight picture. Here is a list of movies expected to open by Thanksgiving.
Sept. 9
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star: Adam Sandler co-wrote this comedy and plays a small-town bag boy whose life is changed when he discovers his parents are former porn stars.
Contagion: An A-list cast including Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow. This thriller is about the outbreak of a deadly virus and the CDC’s efforts to contain it.
Drive: A Hollywood stunt man (Ryan Gosling) moonlights as a getaway driver for the criminal underworld and is targeted for execution after a bungled heist.
I Don’t Know How She Does It: Sarah Jessica Parker finds out if there’s life after Sex and the City with this adaptation of Allison Pearson’s best-seller. The career woman tries to balance her job with her recently out-of-work husband (Greg Kinnear), their two children and the romantic advances of a co-worker (Pierce Brosnan).
The Lion King 3D: The Disney-animated classic returns, only this time it’s in your face.
Sept. 23
Abduction: Taylor Lautner attempts to prove he’s capable of more than playing backup to his Twilight co-stars in this thriller about a young man who discovers his entire life is a lie — just as a squad of trained killers comes calling.
Oct. 7
The Ides of March: George Clooney directed, co-wrote and stars in this adaptation of Beau Willimon’s play about a governor with presidential aspirations who must learn the rules of dirty politics — and quickly — if he hopes to be elected. Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood co-star.
Oct. 14
Footloose: The 1984 Kevin Bacon hit gets a contemporary redo by Hustle&Flow director Craig Brewer.
OCT. 21
Paranormal Activity 3: Now that Saw has run its course, a new horror franchise steps in to spawn a sequel every Halloween. This third installment in the hush-hush series will be an origin tale — where did that demon come from, anyway? — and is rumored to be set in the 1980s.
The Three Musketeers: Matthew MacFadyen, Luke Evans and Ray Stevenson (I know, I know; who?) are the titular trio, made a quartet by the addition of the hot-headed D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) and facing off against baddies played by Christoph Waltz and Orlando Bloom.
NOV. 4
A Very Harold&Kumar 3D Christmas: Six years after their previous adventures, the pothead pals (John Cho and Kal Penn) have grown apart and lead unconnected lives.
Tower Heist: Miami homeboy Brett Ratner directs an all-star cast with this crime caper about workers at a luxury condominium plotting to take back the pensions stolen by a Wall Street plunderer. Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni, Gabourey ( Precious) Sibide, Casey Affleck and Alan Alda partake in the high jinks.
NOV. 11
Immortals: Visionary filmmaker Tarsem Singh ( The Cell, The Fall) brings his inimitable style to this recounting of the legend of the Greek peasant Theseus.
Jack and Jill: Adam Sandler pulls double duty in this comedy about an advertising executive (Sandler) who dreads an annual visit: A Thanksgiving visit by his twin sister (also Sandler). Katie Holmes and Al Pacino co-star for Sandler’s usual director of choice, Dennis Dugan ( Grown Ups, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, Happy Gilmore).
NOV. 18
Happy Feet Two: Those irrepressible dancing penguins are back. Just try and resist them.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1: The esteemed director Bill Condon ( Kinsey, Dreamgirls) takes over for the final two installments — and tries to class up the franchise — in the ongoing story about a teenage girl (Kristen Stewart), the vampire (Robert Pattinson) she loves and the werewolf (Taylor Lautner) she doesn’t.