I must be getting hard up from some decent movie releases, because I actually find myself drawn to this trailer for an animated children’s movie. Granted, it looks like it’s slightly edgier than your average kid’s movie, but still…

Igor tells the story of, well, Igor, the fabled hunchbacked lab assistant from the various Frankenstein movies. Turns out, there are many mad scientists out there, each with their own personal Igor who they belittle and abuse. One Igor in particular (voiced by the amiable John Cusack) is tired of being treated so poorly, and decides to break out of his mold and try his own hand at inventing something that will win him the annual evil science fair. Throw in a couple of kooky sidekicks, and you have one irreverent “triumphing against all odds” movie.

While I doubt Igor will be worth an $11 movie ticket (it ain’t Pixar, after all), I’ll probably eventually RENT IT.

Igor is not yet rated and opens September 19. (Official site)

If you’ve ever taken the time to read TrailerSpy’s “About” page, then you have way too much time on your hands. But also, you would have noticed that Grosse Point Blank is one of my favorite movies of all-time. I own the VHS (google it) and I’ve watched it more times than I care to admit publicly.

Anyways, a couple weeks ago, I was reading some guys blog, and he said that John Cusack’s new movie, War, Inc. looked like Grosse Point Blank 2. And I remember thinking, “Yeah right buddy, nice try.”

But then I saw this new trailer, and I have to say that the similarities are suddenly undeniable.

After all, John Cusack is once again playing a hit-man, and once again, his sister is playing his head-set wearing, foul-mouthed assistant. Dan Aykroyd is in this one as well (although this time they’re on the same team). And once again, he’s having morality issues and delaying the hit that he was sent to perform (this time on a foreign oil minister). Obviously there are a number of differences, but for the most part, Cusack’s character and the tone of the movie look to be exactly the same.

The truth is, this movie was bound to be a SEE IT for me, anyway. I love John Cusack, and the idea of him humorously tackling the Iraq War and the whole terrorist thing is music to my ears. But now that I see this movie for what it really is, a clever non-sequel sequel to one of my favorite movies, well, I am beyond excited.

War, Inc. is rated R and opens in limited release on May 23 (although the IMDB Page says that the DVD premiere is July 1st…are they serious?!! They’re really just going to do a pseudo straight-to-DVD for this movie?!! Maybe these guys just don’t like making money, because I guarantee this movie would gross at least $10 million on opening weekend. Hopefully they rethink that, so that my SEE IT doesn’t involuntarily become a RENT IT, because I’m just dying to pay someone, anyone, $11 to see this movie on the big screen. Alright, I’m done complaining now.)

John Cusack has certainly had a busy year: first he starred in 1408, and now he has two more films coming out before the end of the year. Not bad for a guy who once paid a dollar to see Molly Ringwald’s panties.

Out first is Grace is Gone, which has already played at most of the big film festivals, and met with mixed reviews (the consensus is that Cusack is great, but the film itself is lacking). Cusack (looking a lot older and frumpier than usual), is Stanley, whose wife, Grace, is killed in Iraq. Not knowing how to tell his two young daughters that their mother is never coming home, he takes them on an impromptu road trip, declaring it’s time they had some fun in their lives. Included in the trailer are scenes of Stanley being unable to accept that Grace is gone (so that’s where that title came from!), longing looks at his daughters who he just “doesn’t know how to talk to”, and yearning phone calls to Grace via their home answering machine, where her voice is recorded as the outgoing message. While I have no doubt that this movie is heartbreaking, and heaven knows the subject matter alone makes me misty-eyed, it seems like the tear-jerking moments may be a bit forced and heavy-handed.

And speaking of forced tear-jerking moments, Cusack’s other film is Martian Child. This time he’s a science fiction writer who adopts a little boy who lives inside a cardboard box and believes he is from Mars. See, Cusack writes about Martians, and the kid thinks he is one, so they’re a perfect fit! I was under the impression that the American adoption system was a little more complicated than that, but I’ll suspend my disbelief enough to go with it. But I’m having trouble suspending my disbelief enough to accept the overdone plot conflict where the adoption counselor pays a visit at a comedic inopportune time, and then threatens to take the child away for fear of his welfare. Cue the swelling music and a heartfelt plea from the adoptive parent that “I’m the only one who understands him!” Yawn.

For Grace is Gone, I’ll probably RENT IT, because I know I’ll cry, and I like to save those moments for my living room. But Martian Child will be a SKIP IT for me, despite the charm of John Cusack and his lovably daffy sister, Joan (who, as she often does in John’s movies, makes an appearance).

Grace is Gone is not yet rated and opens in limited release October 5. (Official site)

Martian Child is rated PG and opens October 26. (Official site)

I’m definitely a bit torn with this one. On the one hand, it’s got John Cusack, and I rarely miss a chance to see Big John up on the big screen. On the other hand, it’s a horror movie, and I rarely miss a chance to skip a horror movie.

When I heard that 1408 was actually the number of the hotel room where the entire movie takes place, I was relieved because I figured I was off the hook. But then I saw this trailer, and I have to admit, it does looks really good.

I don’t know… I think I may just have to drag my wimpy butt to the theater to SEE IT.

1408 is rated R and opens June 22. (Official Site)