Ready, Set, Action!

In between summer camp, family vacations, picnics and hiking trips, why not take an afternoon to sit in the air conditioning with a bucket full of popcorn and see one of the many family movies coming out this summer. It’s a great way to spend quality time that lasts long after the credits roll. Here’s our official 2011 summer lineup of the movies you and your kids won’t want to miss.

Thor in 3D (Friday, May 6)

Rating: Not yet rated; most likely PG-13

Starring: Natalie Portman, Rene Russo, Anthony Hopkins

Plot: Thor is cast down to earth as punishment for reigniting an ancient war and must defend humankind against the darkest forces of Asgard.

Why see it: Because your kids will have time consuming battle scenes to reenact outdoors all summer long.

Pirates of the Caribbean:
On Stranger Tides - in 3D
(Friday, May 20)

Rating: Not yet rated; most likely PG-13

Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush

Plot: Captain Jack Sparrow searches for the Fountain of Youth with the formidable Blackbeard and a mysterious woman from his past.

Why see it: Because no kid wants to miss the next adventure of the crazy Captain Jack Sparrow.

Kung Fu Panda 2 - in 3D
(Thursday, May 26)

Rating: Not yet rated, probably PG

Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross

Plot: Po and the Furious Five must protect the Valley of Peace from the emperor peacock Lord Shen and a weapon so powerful it threatens the very existence of Kung Fu.

Why see it: Because Po and the gang will make your kids laugh long after the movie ends. (Warning: They may want to see this more than once.)

X-Men First Class (Friday, June 3)

Rating: Not yet rated, probably PG-13

Starring: James McAvoy, Kevin Bacon, January Jones

Plot: This prequel to the first three movies follows Professor X and Magneto as teenagers, before they became archenemies, as they fight to save the world.

Why see it: Because X-Men never fails to bring great characters to life…and everyone loves a prequel!

Green Lantern:
Emerald Knights - in 3D
(Friday, June 17)

Rating: Not yet rated; 10 and up

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Saarsgard,
Angela Basset,
Tim Robbins

Plot: Hal Jordan, the first human selected to the Green Lantern Corps., a brotherhood sworn to keep intergalactic order, must battle a new enemy that threatens to destroy the balance of power in the universe.

Why see it: A movie about a ring that’s only limit is your imagination? Even mom and dad will want to see this one.

Mr. Popper's Penguins
(Friday, June 17)

Rating: Not yet rated; all ages

Starring: Jim Carrey, Angela Lansbury

Plot: Based on the novel by Richard and Florence Atwater, the life of a businessman begins to change when he inherits six penguins.

Why see it: 2 reasons: Jim Carrey and penguins. It’s the perfect mix of funny and cute for all ages.

Cars 2 - in 3D (Friday, June 24)

Rating: Not yet rated, probably G

Starring: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer

Plot: Lightning McQueen and Mater head overseas so Lightning McQueen can compete in the first ever World Grand Prix, but Mater finds himself caught in the world of international espionage.

Why see it: Not that any Cars fan will need a special reason, but your kids will love to see what their old friends Lightning McQueen and Mater are up to.

Transformers:
Dark of the Moon - in 3D
(Friday, July 1)

Rating: Not yet rated, probably PG-13

Starring: Shia Labeouf, John Turturro, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Patrick Dempsey, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand

Plot: The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft on the Moon and must race against the Decepticons to find it and learn its secrets.

Why see it: Um because cars turn into robots and that’s just cool…at least your kids will think so.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - in 3D (Friday, July 15)

Rating: Not yet rated, probably PG-13

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Plot: The last installment of the series follows Harry, Ron and Hermione as they race to find and destroy Voldemort’s final Horcruxes and defeat the dark wizard once and for all.

Why see it: This is the big finale of an epic eight-part story—your kids will do anything (like their chores) to go!

Winnie the Pooh (Friday, July 15)

Rating: G

Starring: Jim Cummings, Tom Kenny, Craig Ferguson

Plot: Based directly off of five previously unadapted stories by author A. A. Milne.

Why see it: Because everyone loves Pooh, and this movie is made the old fashioned way (aka not 3D), like the cartoons we grew up with.

Captain America:
The First Avenger – in 3D
(Friday, July 22)

Rating: Not yet rated; 10 and up

Starring: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci

Plot: Rejected by the U.S. Army, Steve Rogers volunteers for Project: Rebirth, which transforms him into the super-soldier dubbed Captain America.

Why see it: Because this movie brings a classic Marvel character to a new generation.

The Smurfs – in 3D
(Wednesday, August 3)

Rating: Not yet rated; all ages

Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Hank Azaria, Sofia Vergara, Tim Gunn, Frank Langella

Plot: The Smurfs get transported from the Middle Ages into present-day Central Park and take shelter with a married couple as the evil wizard Gargamel tries to find them.

Why see it: It’s a Smurf movie! Enjoy the 2 hours of silence while your kids watch in rapture as their favorite cartoon comes to life.

Spy Kids
All the Time in the World – in 3D (Friday, August 19)

Rating: Not yet rated; all ages
Starring: Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Antonio Banderas,
Alexa Vega
Plot: Retired secret agent, Marissa Cortez Wilson, is called back into action when the maniacal Timekeeper threatens to take over the world. With the help of her step-kids, Rebecca and Cecil, and Spy Kids, Carmen and Juni Cortez, Marissa fights to save the world.
Why see it: Danger, action, suspense — and the kids are the heroes. (We also like that the kids and parents need to work together to save the world — good lesson.)