Jimmy's Trailer Park

This week in the trailer park, we’re continuing to look forward to the spring. A handful of drama and action films have launched ad campaigns for early 2010 releases, but only a few look really worth the time.

The trailer of the week is the vivacious and visually dazzling second trailer for Rob Marshall’s much-hyped holiday musical, “Nine.” Adapted from a Broadway musical based on Italian director Federico Fellini’s 1963 film “8 ½,” the musical is a mental odyssey through a film director’s frustrated artistic process and how it all relates to his many relationships with women.

Daniel Day-Lewis leads a beautiful, all-singing, all-dancing cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson. The trailer is filled with the kind of stunning lighting and production detail that made Marshall’s 2002 musical, “Chicago,” a huge success. Slated for a Christmas release, “Nine” should make waves through awards season.

“Kick-Ass,” adapted from Mark Millar’s comic books, follows a group of high school students with no powers or abilities who decide to become superheroes. Directed by Matthew Vaughn (“Layer Cake”), the teaser trailer packs plenty of dry humor, with a cynical yet appreciative tone toward superhero lore.

With a cast including supporting turns from Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin of “Superbad”) and Nicolas Cage, “Kick-Ass” could be one of the spring’s major highlights.
There’s also a remake of cheesy, cult classic “Clash of the Titans” in the works. With an almost overwhelming amount of testosterone and CGI-enhanced action crammed into less than two minutes, this is easily the first serious contender for most ridiculous movie of 2010.

Hopefully this meld of multiple Greek mythological figures will have enough sense to stay campy and lightweight. Even though it features a rich cast including Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Danny Huston and Sam Worthington, there’s very little to admire and very little out of the ordinary here.

“Extraordinary Measures,” a family tearjerker set for release this January, is based on the true story of John Crowley (Brendan Fraser), a family man trying to help a medical researcher (Harrison Ford) find a cure for his children’s terminal illnesses.

Fraser and Ford are two actors who have been wallowing around in work that’s beneath their level for some time now. Their careers both need rejuvenation, but this drama doesn’t look to provide it. The trailer, loaded with sappy one-liners and even sappier music, makes it look like it plays painfully by the book, even if it carries an inspirational message.

Speaking of January releases, luminous Amy Adams heads into typical romantic comedy territory with “Leap Year,” about a woman planning to take advantage of Irish tradition and propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day.

Naturally, Adams’s plan hits a road bump, when she gets the charming Matthew Goode to drive her across Ireland to get to her boyfriend.

The trailer hints that the writers and director borrow some classic screwball comedy elements and set-pieces, but the overall trailer is lacking. Though Adams and Goode are both very talented, this trailer looks like they’ll have to use it all to make “Leap Year” work.