Let the summer begin.

Take a deep breath folks, because summer at the movies is finally back. You’ve waited through a mediocre spring movie season and now it’s time for the summer tent poles to deliver.

Week in and week out from now through the end of August, when you ask yourself “is there anything worth seeing this weekend?” the answer should in theory be yes. If it’s no, then you can come here where I’ll likely be ranting about it.

As usual, the summer opens with a blockbuster juggernaut. That would be “Iron Man 2” in case you’ve been deprived of your senses for the last several months. One of the most hyped films of the year, it could make or break this summer. Let’s hope for making.

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Now Playing

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Iron Man 2

Directed by Jon Favreau
Written by Justin Theroux (screenplay), Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Don Heck, Larry Lieber (comics)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Gwenyth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke

The Word: What is there to say that you don’t already know about “Iron Man 2?” The film has grossed more than $132 million so far overseas, now it lands in the U.S. with even higher hopes. RDJ returns as publicly out superhero Tony Stark aka Iron Man. A resentful Ivan Vanko (Rourke) has developed the technology to kill him, so Tony’s arms-dealing rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) swoops him up. Meanwhile, Tony’s buddy joins his fight as War Machine and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) continues to recruit Tony for his Avengers group, which all of Marvel’s upcoming films are leading toward.

Rotten Tomatoes: 68% (good)

My Thoughts: I’ll say no more and let you read my review here.

Recommendation: Worth admission.

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Box Office Predictions

Four words: shot in the arm. The box office should dominate under the iron fist of — yeah, you get it. Iron Man 2 has a shot at “The Dark Knight’s” opening weekend record of $158.4 million. The original nearly hit $100 million and that was with no reference point. I don’t want to be the bold one here and say it will do it, but I’m going to estimate $150 million this weekend. If it doesn’t get close to that number, it will say a lot about the power of mixed reviews (doubtful) or the economy.

A Nightmare on Elm Street will cruise into second, but we’re talking hundreds of millions between it and “IM2.” $15 million seems about right as horror movies don’t hold up very well, especially poorly reviewed ones. How to Train Your Dragon will be third, also with ease, earning about $7 million.

Just keep sliding ’em down. Date Night will move down a peg with $5 million or so, but the distance between itself and The Back-up Plan should widen.

1. Iron Man 2
2. A Nightmare on Elm Street
3. How to Train Your Dragon
4. Date Night
5. The Back-up Plan