By Dante' Maddox

Welcome back to CraveOnline's monthly movie guide. This is a big month for comedies which made our new format a little tough. If money is tight and you can't see every single movie that comes out every month, then this list is designed for you. Going to the show can be risky as trailers become more and more deceptive and enticing. The guide will hopefully help you reduce the risk of you come out of the theater wishing you could get your money back.

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Vantage Point


Release Date: February 22, 2008

Cast: Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, William Hurt, Forest Whitaker and Sigourney Weaver.

Director: Pete Travis

Rating:  PG-13

Why you should see it:

Vantage Point might be the movie of the month at the very least. The cast is great, with a wide range of talent. It looks like the films intention is to keep you guessing until the end, and if it does you’ll be glad you spent a couple hours for the experience.

Genre Relation:

The premise is very promising in terms of it not being on the beaten path. The trailer depicted a cinematography that reminded me a little of Inside Man for instance. I think the actors in place for the film are more than sufficient to convey the emotions they want you to feel. This movie could be on par with some of the best in the genre.

The Skinny:

You probably want to see this, because even if it is bad to achieve such a thing would have to be seen to be believed. Not to say that this is necessarily revolutionary filmmaking, but with this cast odds are fairly good that this movie will at least be decent. Out of all the movies for this month, this film is the most promising.

Semi-Pro


Release Date: February 29, 2008

Cast:  Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Will Arnett, Andre Benjamin, Rob Corddry, Maura Tierney, Josh Braaten, DeRay Davis,
Jay Phillips, Jackie Earle Haley and Andy Richter.

Director:  Kent Alterman

Rating: R

Why you should see it?

Because it’s Will Ferrell and you knew I was going to say that! The rest of the class has some real comedic muscle and that might make a difference in a month that is full of comedies. Face it, if you’re not sure which way to go, Ferrell’s track record might be the difference maker. Even though he’s starting to pile up the sports just a bit.

Genre Relation:

If Will Ferrell isn’t careful he’s going to rename the genre of sports comedy to simply ‘Will Ferrell movies’. Not to say that ones he’s made aren’t really good, but does he really want to be that guy? Basketball movies seem to come and go with little to know lasting impact (unless it’s Hoosiers of course) so this might be the movie to change that, as unlikely as that seems.

The Skinny:

As a fan of the man I’m biased. I get the sense that I’m going to really like this movie, and fans of Will Ferrell will flock to theaters. This is definitely one of the movies for February that should be a high priority.

Strange Wilderness


Release Date: February 1, 2008

Cast: Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Jonah Hill, Kevin Heffernan, Ashley Scott, Peter Dante, Harry Hamlin, Robert Patrick, Joe Don Baker, Justin Long, Jeff Garlin and  Ernest Borgnine.

Director:  Fred Wolf

Rating: R

Why you should see it:

Happy Madison makes me laugh, and that’s reason to get to the theater to see Strange Wilderness. The cast looks good, and the story should lend to some great visuals. The idea is so preposterous that it has to be funny. This is easily one of the stand outs for a heavy comedy field this month.

Genre Relation:

The only real indicator that this is a Happy Madison movie is the logo, and a few regular faces. But even the regular players switch things up character wise on a regular basis. Because of that the movies never feel old, or the theme’s necessarily overdone (at least not by them).

The Skinny:

This is a tough call with Will Ferrell also hitting the courts this month, but I think you really should try and see both of these movies, they are both likely to be more worthwhile than Meet the Spartans, not that there is anything wrong with beating a genre to something just past more than absolute death.

 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins



Release Date: February 8, 2008

Cast: Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps, James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Michael Clarke Duncan, Mo'Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, Cedric the Entertainer, Louis C K, Damani Roberts, Brooke Lyons and Liz Mikel.

Director:  Malcolm D Lee

Rating: PG- 13

Why you should see it:

Like some other comedic actors Martin Lawrence is fine if the movie doesn’t rely on his antics to be funny. With Mike Epps and company on board as back up odds are good that there will plenty of laughs. Actually the cast looks good overall and the movie should be fun.

Genre Relation:

I think you might have seen this movie before to be honest, but that doesn’t mean this movie won’t have its own unique charm. It’s one of those movies that if you missed it in the theaters then you’ll end up regretting it when you finally do.

The Skinny:

You should go see this if comedy or family is what you’re looking for in a movie. The age range on this movie is expanded greatly by the cast, so this is a safe bet for spur of the moment theater rushes.

The Signal



Release Date:  August 10th (February at Sundance)

Cast: Robin Acker, Jeff Adelman, J. Howard Bach, Ben Bailey, Becky Ballard, Ngozi Lamar Beane,  AJ Bowen, Claire Bronson, David Bruckner, Jenna Burke and Johnny Burke.

Directors: David Bruckner and Dan Bush.

Rating: N/A

Why you should see it:

I would rather take a look at this film than The Eye, the premise is pretty friggin’ scary, and the way the story is broken up, it sounds very promising. The rumor from the recent Sundance Film Festival is that this movie is pretty much awesome. The kind of movie that could end up critically acclaimed yet not quite a tremendous box office blockbuster.

Genre Relation:

The horror genre has put forth a great deal of effort to kill people in new and different ways, and The Signal might just be on the forefront of that action. A strange phone signal that turns regular people into killers presents a high chance for some weird ways to die, kill or be killed. The word is also that this movie is funnier than you would expect.

The Skinny:

The comedy aspect is what makes me think I will end up seeing this in theaters over the more ‘true horror’ type film that was The Eye. Despite the idea that The Signal will be more than a little bloody, the humor might end up making the movie an easier pill to swallow.

The Eye


Release Date: February 1, 2008

Cast: Jessica Alba, Alessandro Nivola, Parker Posey and Rade Serbedzija.

Directors: David Moreau and Xavier Palud.

Rating: PG-13

Why you should see it:

The last time you’ll see the lovely Ms. Alba for a while considering her recent expecting status. Early still and the trailer show a panicked yet still quite striking Jessica ala Nicole Kidman in Close Encounters.

Genre Relation:

Well if you enjoyed the last few Japanese horror flicks that made their way over, then odds are good you’ll like this one too. Not that they are overly similar, but they do have a certain feel to them and a similarity in the color quality.

The Skinny:

Unless you’re big into Jessica Alba, which is totally understandable, or love the horror genre, then this movie doesn’t stand out amongst the others on the guide this month. Nothing wrong with necessarily but if money’s tight, you get the deal.

Postal


Release Date: February

Cast: Zack Ward, Dave Foley, Chris Coppola, Michael Benyaer, Jackie Tohn, Erick Avari, Ralf Moeller, Chris Spencer, Seymour Cassel and David Huddleston.

Director: Uwe Boll

Rating: R

Why you should see it:

They let Kevin Costner waste millions of dollars every few years or so, it would figure that Uwe Boll would at least get the same courtesy to a much lesser extent. Plus, he actually wrote this one, and while it’s a bit outlandish it looks like it might be funny.

Genre Relation:

Fans of previous Dave Foley movies likely won’t be disappointed, though they may not be pleasantly surprised either, and the rest of the cast doesn’t lack for humor. Plus the movie has Verne Troyer and Chyna, that’s just plain funny already.

The Skinny:

I don’t feel like training for a fight so I’ll leave the Uwe Boll needs to quit his day job comments until after I see the movie. If you really like comedies then yes, you ought to see this film before the others on the guide, but don’t say it’s because I told you to.

Jumper
 

Release Date: February 14, 2008

Cast: Hayden Christensen, Samuel L Jackson, Rachel Bilson, Diane Lane and Jamie Bell.

Director: Doug Liman

Rating: PG-13

Why you should see it:

Because it just might surprise you. Should Hayden Christensen have picked this role? We’ll have to see, so far it looks a little Star Warsy based on the special effects and the weapons that the characters are carrying look awfully familiar. Just because Sam Jackson jumped on board doesn’t mean too much, he can survive anything at this point in his career, even a sex tape or two (apparently two girls one cup was a role that Jackson did pass on, though it was close).

Genre Relation:

Really a tough call, the premise seems pretty unique to me and that means that the possibilities go either way. Something tells me that sci-fi fans will like his movie, there’s nothing about the film on its face to suggest that it would be necessarily bad.

The Skinny:

So, if you like sci-fi, and Sam Jackson (check and check!) then you should give this movie a shot. The locals and the story itself seem interesting enough, especially in February.

Witless Protection


Release Date: February 22, 2008

Cast: Eric Roberts, Ivana Milicevic, Peter Stormare, Jenny McCarthy, Joe Mantegna, Larry The Cable Guy,  Yaphet Kotto and
Lisa Lampanelli.

Director: Charles Robert Carner

Rating: PG-13

Why you should see it:

We’ll most likely file this film under the ‘stupid but harmless’ category, which isn’t a bad thing. This film will easily be enjoyable if you go in knowing what to expect. Larry the Cable Guy is funnier than I care to admit, and worth at least some consideration.

Genre Relation:

I can’t come out and just say it plainly, but people who are in a somewhat altered state of being might benefit more than those that are not. You’ve seen this movie more than once and if you’ve hung in there for those then you should likely keep the streak alive.

The Skinny:

A bunch of people are going to tell you that this movie is hysterical and you’ll go, “Really?” But they will have a point and once you see it, you either become a believer or you’ll just be glad you did. If you’re money’s tight however, then there are safer bets out there.

Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Tour

Release Date: February 8, 2008

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Ahmed Ahmed, John Caparulo, Bret Ernst, Sebastian Maniscalco, Peter Billingsley, Jon Favreau, Dwight Yoakam, Justin Long and Keir O'Donnell.

Director: Ari Sandel

Rating: R

Why you should see it, genre relation, and the skinny:

Because you really liked the last five comedy tour/documentary films that came out. If you like the comics on the bill, you’ll probably want to see this film. That’s the skinny of it, it’s not fiction, the only thing that Justin Long and company can do wrong is tell bad jokes, and that seems unlikely. Still, I’d see Vantage Point first, and so would they.