Moviefone: "Summer of 2010: Can These Once Bankable Stars Make a Comeback?"

[JamesG]

1. Russell Crowe




Last Hit: American Gangster (2007)

Recent Misfires: Body of Lies (2008), State of Play (2009)


Comeback Attempt: Robin Hood, a gritty take on the Sherwood legend

Release Date: May 14



Chances for Success: Fair.

Movie re-teams him with Ridley Scott, who directed two of Crowe's biggest hits (Gladiator and American Gangster), as well as two of his bigger flops (A Good Year and Body of Lies).

Role is the sort of action-hero-with-a-chip-on-his-shoulder type that Crowe fans like, but his Robin Hood will have to battle against Robert Downey Jr.'s still-mighty Iron Man 2 for the same audience of action viewers.









2. Jake Gyllenhaal




Last Hit: Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Recent Misfires: Zodiac (2007), Rendition (2007), Brothers (2009)


Comeback Attempt: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, an action saga based on the videogame

Release Date: May 28



Chances for Success: Decent.

If anyone can turn a thin premise into a lavish action/fantasy hit, it's producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who did the same with Pirates of the Caribbean.

Too bad the demographic groups that like to see Gyllenhaal bare-chested will be going to see Sex and the City 2 that weekend.









3. Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz




Last Hit:
Cruise: Mission: Impossible III (2006)
Diaz: What Happens in Vegas (2008)


Recent Misfires:
Cruise: Lions for Lambs (2007), Valkyrie (2008)
Diaz: My Sister's Keeper (2008), The Box (2009)


Comeback Attempt: Knight & Day, an action comedy about a secret agent (Cruise) who falls for a regular gal (Diaz); think Mission: Impossible meets Jerry Maguire.

Release Date: Jun. 25



Chances for Success: Hmm.

Cruise sells the most tickets when he's a straight-up action hero, and the romance angle could work if the script and chemistry are right.

But the last time he acted opposite Diaz, the result was Vanilla Sky.









4. Angelina Jolie




Last Hit: Wanted (2008)

Recent Misfires: A Mighty Heart (2007), Changeling (2008)


Comeback Attempt: Salt, a spy thriller originally written for Tom Cruise

Release Date: Jul. 23



Chances for Success: Good.

Role returns her to the slinky, acrobatic action heroics that her fans like (Wanted, Mr. & Mrs. Smith).

Given the film's release date, she should have late summer pretty much to herself.









5. Will Ferrell




Last Hit: Step Brothers (2008)

Recent Misfires: Semi-Pro (2008), Land of the Lost (2009)


Comeback Attempt: The Other Guys, a buddy-cop spoof co-starring Mark Wahlberg

Release Date: August 6



Chances for Success: Pretty good.

If anything can cleanse the still-lingering stink of Land of the Lost off of Ferrell, it's a movie directed by Adam McKay, who's helmed some of Ferrell's best-loved work (Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers).

Wahlberg has never starred in a comedy before, but he's earned praise for his comic supporting turn in Date Night. In early August, there are no other major comedy contenders.









6. Julia Roberts




Last Hit: Ocean's 12 (2004)

Recent Misfires: Charlie Wilson's War (2007), Duplicity (2009)


Comeback Attempt: Eat Pray Love, a drama based on Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir about her worldwide quest for solace in the wake of her divorce

Release Date: August 13



Chances for Success: Very good.

The book's countless fans should make this the chick-flick event of late summer.

Plus, Roberts doesn't have to share the spotlight too much, though she reportedly generates good chemistry with Javier Bardem.









7. Sylvester Stallone




Last Hit: Rambo (2008)


Comeback Attempt: The Expendables, an action movie about a band of mercenaries, whose cast includes fellow '80s throwbacks Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, and (taking a break from his day job) Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Release Date: August 13



Chances for Success: Okay.

This is the very definition of a comeback movie, given the cast and the novelty of a scene that unites '80s action icons Stallone, Willis, and Schwarzenegger on screen for the first time.

Stallone has had modest hits in recent years reviving his signature Rocky and Rambo characters, but he's had little success playing anyone else. Still, at this late date, action fans won't have another choice.

http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/20...ars-comebacks/

[comedyfreak]

They all sound pretty good.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

They all sound pretty good.

True. The only one I really don't have interest in is that Julia Roberts' Eat Pray Love.

I'm very curious to see how Gyllenhall will pull off Prince of Persia, as we all know the outcome of most video game based movies.

[isiahthomas]

The Expendables is the only movie i wanna see outta those list of actors that are doing summer movies LOL. The rest of those movies look wack. Tom Cruise's movie may be alright. I might check it out when it comes to video.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

The Expendables is the only movie i wanna see outta those list of actors that are doing summer movies LOL. The rest of those movies look wack. Tom Cruise's movie may be alright. I might check it out when it comes to video.

lol, for me pretty much anything Angelina Jolie does I go to watch...

The only one I'm really not interested in is that Julia Roberts one. The others I probably will see at some point.

[isiahthomas]

You like Angelina Jolie's movies? Hahahahahahahahahaha. Mr And Mrs Smith is the only movie of her's i like. What was the movie she did with Winona Ryder? That movie was alright. She's a hot woman but most of her movies suck to me. Brad Pitt is a damn fool for letting her talk him into adopting a bunch of kids especially when you consider their schedule is tough because they're actors. Plus i read that she has a temper and she's controlling. If that's true, i wouldn't be surprised. I know a lot of women are trying to get with Brad Pitt LOL.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

You like Angelina Jolie's movies? Hahahahahahahahahaha. Mr And Mrs Smith is the only movie of her's i like. What was the movie she did with Winona Ryder? That movie was alright. She's a hot woman but most of her movies suck to me. Brad Pitt is a damn fool for letting her talk him into adopting a bunch of kids especially when you consider their schedule is tough because they're actors. Plus i read that she has a temper and she's controlling. If that's true, i wouldn't be surprised. I know a lot of women are trying to get with Brad Pitt LOL.

That was Girl, Interrupted that took place in the female mental hospital.

Both Jolie and Pitt are whack-jobs lol.

[isiahthomas]

Why do you think they're crazy? LOL. I think Jennifer Aniston was a better girlfriend for him because she seems more stable than Angelina LOL. Jennifer doesn't seem like a control freak.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

Why do you think they're crazy? LOL. I think Jennifer Aniston was a better girlfriend for him because she seems more stable than Angelina LOL. Jennifer doesn't seem like a control freak.

Just the vibe I get.