Signpost Summer Cinema Synopsis

While Weber State University students are juggling school, work and social lives, the movie industry is doing its part to provide a summer of stories. The major movie releases are going to include quite a few familiar faces, due to the many sequels of former blockbuster hits. Some of the major movies this summer include the sequels "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," "Terminator: Salvation" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." "I am excited for Harry Potter," WSU student Cody Allen said. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is probably one of my more favorite Harry Potter books out of the series." Quinton Cragun also agrees, saying that he is awaiting the arrival of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince because it's one of his favorite books. It appears that this installment of Harry Potter, slated for At some point everyone has had a boss that, for whatever reason, they have hated. This makes "The Proposal" relatable, though not many people have gotten the opportunity to blackmail that boss with the threat of deportation. Ryan Reynolds plays Andrew Paxton, the quick-witted assistant to a veritable wicked witch of the publishing world, Margaret Tate, played by Sandra Bullock. Upon learning she is facing deportation back to Canada, Tate attempts to blackmail Paxton into marrying her. Once he realizes her plan can either help his career or land him in prison for fraud, he takes her home to Alaska to celebrate his Grandmother's birthday and introduce her to his family. The story is your average recipe for a romantic comedy. Bullock and Reynolds' chemistry works well. From the beginning where they can barely stand each other, all the way through when they start warming up to the idea and beyond, they portray every facet of their relationship with spot-on humor and timing. Reynolds' small Alaskan town is made up of Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen as his parents, and Malin Akerman as his once-upon-a-time girlfriend, who takes Bullock along with the rest of the girls out to a bar and gets her a stripper in a particularly entertaining scene. Another standout performance comes from veteran actress Betty White as Reynolds' traditional Alaskan native Grandmother. Not only does she fit the perfect image of the sweet Grandmother, she also acts exactly like a woman celebrating her 80th birthday would. The scene in which White and Bullock are ceremonially chanting in the woods is enough to make anybody's sides ache from laughter. Overall "The Proposal" delves deep enough into both of its genres to make it entertaining to everyone: enough romance for the romantic types and enough comedy for those looking for a good laugh. I give it a solid 7 out of 10 stars for firing on all laugh bases, while not turning into a running gag in and of itself. Signpost Summer Cinema Synopsis release in July, will be yet another moneymaker for the series. Playing to their market, movie production companies have begun to revive old television series' from the '80s, starting with "Transformers" last year, its sequel this year, and the creation of a live-action "G.I. Joe" hitting theaters in August. Big budget blockbusters don't seem to be breaking the bank for the general public. Despite the current economic climate, ticket sales don't seem to be getting any smaller. "I think people nowadays are looking to escape," said Jon Winterbottom, General Manager of the Megaplex 13 in Ogden. "They want to be entertained, and what better way than to lose yourself in a story." There will be yet another Halloween franchise installment with "H2: Halloween 2" which is set for release in August. "H2: Halloween 2" was directed by Rob Zombie, who also directed the recent remake of the original. This story is said to follow a different lead than the former "Halloween" films, and that viewers will be in for a few surprises. Other horror films such as "Orphan" and the foreign Nazi zombie flick "Dead Snow" hope to deliver scares to the public. Even movies targeted at kids are holding their own in the market. "Up" has already grossed $250 million since its release in May, with "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" scheduled for release in July. Many of these films can attribute their success to appealing to adults as well. The recent addition of providing the option of seeing some of them in 3-D is another benefit. This summer's most anticipated, and controversial comedy "Brüno," will be released in early July. Sasha Baron Cohen, remembered for his portrayal of Borat is back as a very flashy and controversial Austrian fashion reporter that trots the globe to discover the latest in fashion, and to gather the opinions on aspects of pop culture, dragging the public and other celebrities into his outrageous escapades. Comedies seem to be the market most production companies are targeting, which so far has brought in big bucks. "The Hangover" is one of the most talked about films of the year already, and more comedies are headed to theaters soon. Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler square off in a battle of the sexes in "The Ugly Truth," and "Funny People" is the newest from celebrated comedy director Judd Apatow, both scheduled for July releases. All in all, it seems as though this is shaping up to be an entertaining summer.