Summer movie showdowns
MAY 30
“Starship Dave” vs. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”
Is there room for two big comedies in one weekend? Probably not. In “Dave,” Eddie Murphy plays not just an alien, but an alien spaceship -- whose inhabitants are smitten with Earth girl Elizabeth Banks. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” doesn’t have the A-list cast (Kristen Bell and Jason Segel top its ensemble), but it comes from producer Judd Apatow’s (“Superbad,” “Knocked Up”) hit factory. We give the slight edge to Judd. (Vince Bucci / Getty Images)
JUNE 20
“Get Smart” vs. “The Love Guru”
It’s taken forever for the “Get Smart” movie to come together, but the wait seems worth it: Steve Carell plays Maxwell Smart, while “The Devil Wears Prada’s” Anne Hathaway is Agent 99. “Guru” marks the return of Mike Myers to a broad, live-action comedy. His last non-animated movie was 2003’s “The Cat in the Hat.” It’s been ages since “Get Smart” was on TV, but the distance is likely to work in its favor. So even if Max still drops through the phone booth floor, expect “Get Smart” to take off at the box office. (Myung J. Chun / LAT)
