The best family films aren't only for the kids; they look like a kiddie package but pack enough of an adult punch to make everyone happy. It looks like Monsters vs. Aliens might be just that. It is, and I quote from the new goodie extravaganza over at USA Today, "a throwback to those B-movie glory days of the '50s when Martians invaded our backyards and rubber monsters stalked the Earth."

This even includes specific references, such as the heroine Susan Murphy. She's a regular California girl who gets hit by a meteor and becomes 49' 11" tall (Attack of the 50-Foot Woman!), gets taken by the military, and renamed Ginormica. She's also being voiced by Reese Witherspoon. But that's not the only big name attached -- Rainn Wilson will handle the evil alien Gallaxhar, and Ginormica will be joined by Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. voiced by Hugh Laurie, jelly-like B.O.B. handled by Seth Rogen, and the half-ape/half-fish Missing Link voiced by Will Arnett. Plus, there's Kiefer Sutherland as the aptly-named Gen. W.R. Monger and Stephen Colbert as the "plays it on steroids" president. (Some of them you can spot in the pic on the right, which you can see full-size at USA Today.)

But there's also a twist in this. Since the feature will be the first CG movie shot in 3-D, rather than converted to it, it has an extra $15 mil added to its budget, which will find its way out of fans' wallets. The tickets will cost more, although the price hasn't been determined. Jeffrey Katzenberg is hoping we'll all pay for "a premium experience." This sounds cool and all, but paying more for this movie sounds silly, esp. if it ends up killing at the box office. What do you think about this monetary twist?

Some say that Will Ferrell movies are just the same flick over and over again, but since I always get a giggle from them, I really can't complain. Movieweb is now hosting 10 new photos from Ferrell's latest sports-comedy, Semi-Pro. Farrell plays Jackie Moon, the owner and coach of the American Basketball Association's Flint Michigan Tropics. In hopes of getting the team status in a little organization called the NBA, he must turn his team into winners.

Semi-Pro was written by Scot Armstrong, who was also behind Road Trip, Old School, and The Heartbreak Kid. Armstrong is also hard at work on the sequel to Old School, but this time it will be without *Hank 'The Tank' by the looks of things. Even if you are not a big fan of Ferrell's particular style of comedy, you have to admit he does manage to put together some pretty great comedy casts. Joining Ferrell on Semi-Pro are Woody Harrelson, Will Arnett, Rob Corddry, and the criminally underused Andy Richter. Also joining in on the fun are Outkast's Andre Benjamin and Maura Tierney.

So while some of these pictures have already been released back in November, this latest set has a few new images plus your chance to get a look at Ferrell's 'fro in hi-res. So far, there have already been a few poster releases, a teaser, and the ever-popular "red band" trailer. But, let's be truthful here, if you are a Ferrell fan you are going to want to jump straight to the 'R' trailer for all the good jokes. Semi-Pro opens in theaters on February 29th.

*Correction: Ferrell will forever by haunted by the nickname Frank "the Tank", not Hank.

So it's no secret that Steve Carell hasn't always made the best choices when it comes to movie roles. The same could probably be said of some of Jim Carrey's choices as well, so there could be a lot riding on both their reputations for the big-screen adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss story, Horton Hears a Who!. Erik had brought us the first teaser back in July and now a full feature trailer has been released.

Horton is based on the 1954 children's story about a microscopic world that gains an elephant as their protector. Over the years the story's moral of "a person's a person no matter how small" has been interpreted as a response to the McCarthy anti-communist era and the importance of treating the "least of us" with a little care and respect -- pretty heavy for a kid's book, I know, but it does make me long for the days when children's entertainment had more going for it than tie-in deals. The film stars Carell as the feisty mayor of Whoville and Jim Carrey as their elephant advocate. The film has a solid supporting cast that includes some truly hilarious people; namely Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Amy Poehler, and Carol Burnett.

So even if you are not the biggest fan of kid's movies, after watching this trailer, you can't deny this is one snazzy looking movie with some big-name comedic talent. But I guess everyone said the same thing about Bee Movie, and we all know how that turned out. Horton Hears a Who! arrives in theaters on March 14th, 2008.

I love talking animals as much as the next guy, but does Steve Buscemi always have to play some kind of toothy rodent? Actually, it's possible he only did that once, for Charlotte's Web (I'm not sure what kind of animal he is in Home on the Range). But wasn't that enough? Sure, he kinda looks rodent-like, but I'm sure he has the range when we're not looking at his mug. Anyway, according to The Hollywood Reporter, this time around it's a hamster named Bucky, who Buscemi will provide his voice for in the Disney movie G-Force. As we told you a few months back, G-Force is a Jerry Bruckheimer production that mixes live-action and computer animation and is about a group of genetically enhanced commando guinea pigs who have to stop an evil billionaire with world-domination dreams. Other voices will be provided by Nicolas Cage, as a mole named Speckles, and Tracy Morgan, as a guinea pig named Blaster.

As for the live-action roles, new to the cast are Bill Nighy, as an industrialist, and Will Arnett, as an FBI agent. And thank goodness for them, because the actors previously brought on to appear in the movie were too obscure for me to handle. They included Gabriel Casseus (Black Hawk Down) , Zach Galifianakis (Into the Wild), Kelli Garner (The Aviator) and Jack Conley (Fun With Dick and Jane). I know in a movie like this it's all about the talking animals, but with Nighy we've got ourselves a real movie. And with Arnett we have a funnier movie. Bruckheimer told THR that this will be another movie to be enjoyed by everyone "from the smallest kid to the oldest grandparent." He also pointed out that the movie's director, Oscar-winning visual effects master Hoyt Yeatman, came up with the idea with his son. From there it was apparently passed on to National Treasure screenwriters Cormac and Marianne Wibberley (aka The Wibberleys). G-Force is currently in production and expects a May 2009 release (Just a hint to Bruckheimer: it might make sense to add an extra dimension to this movie, since I think everything else animated coming out that month is going to be in 3D).

Despite the fact that I find the 'comedy styling' of Will Arnett pretty hilarious, I just think that most directors don't know quite what to do with him. I mean, it's not like he can keep doing Will Ferrell sports comedies forever. So here's hoping that Andrew Currie has figured out how to make the most of Arnett's particular style of smarm. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Arnett's latest project (and there are plenty of them), Space Invader, has just secured Currie to direct. Currie was responsible for the Zombie laffer Fido back in 2006, so he has some experience with slightly "out-there" comedy. The story was inspired by the recent astronaut scandal, the "NASA Love Triangle". At this point I'm just wondering how they are going to work in the diaper jokes.

The script was written by Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger. The first-time screenwriters have mainly worked in TV, although the bad news is they were responsible for Just Shoot Me. Arnett is producing Invaders for Fox Atomic and seems to be keeping busy by creating his own starring vehicles -- Ryan's exclusive about Matchbreaker is just the latest of a series of deals for the comedian. Arnett has also just sold a pitch to Paramount with Dax Shephard about two hot tub salesmen in Japan, called Get em' Wet. Invader stars Arnett as "Doug Huggins, the son of a NASA legend, who is terrified of flying. When Huggins learns that his girlfriend, a rising aeronautic star, has been chosen to fly to the International Space Station with Stamp, a spaceman who is God's gift to space travel, he must overcome his fears and travel to space to win her back." Probably not the strongest concept, but hey, it's better than that "two guys in a hot tub" idea, don't ya think?

Ok, raise your hand if you've never seen the video Lazy Sunday starring Saturday Night Live's Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell? If you have your hand up now, please go immediately over to YouTube and watch the hilarious video and then return here and continue reading. Why am I telling you to watch this video? Because if you do, you will get a glimpse of the comedic genius that is Andy Samberg. In that video and his other more recent work, Samberg's comedic talent is very apparent and obviuosly shows that he has the potential to be one of the next big comedy superstars.

To help illustrate my point, over at IGN they've dropped a trailer for his upcoming comedy Hot Rod, in which Samberg co-stars with Arrested Development's Will Arnett as a wanna-be stuntman performing an ever increasingly dangerous array of wild stunts in order to get enough money to pay for his step-father's heart operation. Over at the sight, they feature the latest trailer (in glorious HD no less) as well as the previous teaser, several stills from the film and the current poster. Among the bits shown in the new trailer are several scenes of Samberg showing off his stuntman prowess (such as it is), a training sequence featuring the great Ian McShane as his step-father and the big final stunt where Samberg's character is poised to jump a row of buses in order to get the money he needs.

After watching this brand new trailer, I'm even more convinced about Samberg and his talent. Say whatever you wish about the film after looking at the trailer, but I'm backing Samberg all the way. In fact, I'm predicting right now that he will be a huge comedy star in a very short time. He's got the chops and isn't afraid of looking stupid for the sake of being funny. Remember people, you heard it here first. Further proof will be evident when Hot Rod opens August 3rd.

Who doesn't love a good Renaissance Fair? There's jousting, jesters, minstrels and sword fighting, not to mention those boggling tasty turkey legs. Sometimes you can also check out comedic mud wrestling and members of the royal court. Granted, these things wipe away the reality of the times. It's shockingly clean, no one is really sent to the gallows and certain famous Queens get to keep their heads. If you're itching, however, to "know" what goes on behind the scenes at these recreations, and you haven't been watching some of the Gilmore Girls RennFair episodes, Jack Black will be on his way to save the day.

One of the films currently being shopped around at Cannes is Ye Olde Times. The movie will center on "two rival fairs vying for ownership of all things Middle Ages" and Black is starring as Professor Shockworthy -- the movie's narrator who tutors some "romantically entwined characters in the mysterious ways of love." Considering some of Black's lesser-loved work lately, I wouldn't be half as excited if it weren't for the great mix of comedic testosterone that's joining him -- Tim Robbins, Will Arnett, Cary Elwes and a cameo by John C. Reilly. I wonder if Arnett will be some sort of Medieval magician, and whether Elwes will channel some Wesley and do as we wish? Finally, I find it pretty telling that the plot specifically describes a "romantically entwined" set of characters, but there are no maids or maidens on the cast list. Will Black, perhaps, be tutoring Robbins and another lucky man on the ways of love? Oh, the possibilities! Codpieces and turkey legs, oh my!

If there's a silver lining to Fox's cancellation of the stunningly hilarious and consistently brilliant Arrested Development, it's that the series' superlative cast is now free to roam Hollywood and pop up in all sorts of movies. (Seriously: Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Tony Hale ... they all have new movies coming out!) But the guy who seems to be everyone's favorite joker is Will Arnett, who played the outrageously obtuse "illusionist" known as Gob Bluth. OK, so Arnett's first two post-AD movies, Let's Go to Prison and RV, were junkpiles, but the guy (along with his wife, Amy Poehler) stole a few hilarious scenes in Blades of Glory and reminded us why we love Arnett so much.

So here's some good news: The brand-new trailer for Mr. Arnett's latest venture, Bob Odenkirk's The Brothers Solomon, looks like it could be a solid vehicle for the guy's admirably warped sense of humor. It's about two grown brothers who, combined, have the social skills of a potted plant -- but that won't stop them from providing their dying father with a grandchild. That's the whole of the plot, it seems, but based on the trailer TBS looks like a pretty funny flick. Saturday Night Live's Will Forte (who also wrote the screenplay) plays the other Solomon, and the Wills' supporting cast includes folks like Kristen Wiig, Jenna Fischer, Chi McBride and David Koechner.

Given that Mr. Odenkirk, himself a seriously funny guy, last directed Let's Go to Prison (which, frankly, stinks), one hopes that The Brothers Solomon is a big step up for the filmmaker. (It sure as heck couldn't be much worse.) Bob once directed a really fine little movie called Melvin Goes to Dinner, so obviously he's got some skills behind the camera. Guess we'll find out on September 7, which is when the R-rated Solomon brothers start lookin' for love in all the wrong places.

The brand new Fox Atomic started out last year with the Abs n' Stabs fest Turistas, their Hills Have Eyes II brings mutant rape back to the silver screen on Friday, and their highly anticipated 28 Weeks Later opens May 11th. Seems like horror's their game, no? But each new announcement shows signs that they're branching out. In August, they'll release The Comebacks, a football comedy directed by Tom Brady (Not that Tom Brady). Last month they announced Space Invader, an astronaut comedy with Will ("A trick is something a whore does for money") Arnett. And now they are in talks to pick up an untitled spec script from Duane Adler, who also wrote Save the Last Dance and Step Up.

The script for this one is said to be "a music-driven tale of a forbidden teen romance." You know, like Save The Last Dance. And Step Up. I wonder if this guy just writes his scripts like mad libs -- "Boy from wrong side of tracks meets girl at (place). They have to learn to overcome their differences and dance in order to (action)." Would it kill Mr. Adler to experiment a little bit, especially at Fox Atomic, a studio known for hardcore horror? Why not mix n' match genres?

How's this for a pitch: Nick Cannon and Hilary Duff love each other but Duff's closed-minded mother won't let her marry outside of her race. The couple decides to head to Las Vegas and elope. But their car breaks down in the desert. A hideous band of freaks kidnaps and tortures them, and in a last minute plea bargain for her life, Duff cries out "Please! I'll do anything! I'll even...teach you to dance?" The mutants are intrigued. Two hours, twenty training montages, and a lot of life lessons later, Duff and Cannon bring their Mutant Dancing Spectacular to Vegas. Tickets sell out immediately. At first, the audience is horrified by these flesh-eating flashdancers, but then they learn to overcome their prejudices. And who's that in the back, giving a standing ovation? It's Hilary's mom. She's overcome her prejudices too. Cut to marriage scene with mutant bridal party, greenlight sequel.

I've been dying to see Wristcutters: A Love Story. It doesn't help that Karina Longworth gave it a solid review during Sundance 2006, or that the film won the Acura Grand Jury Award for Best Feature at the Gen Art Film Fest last year -- or any of the other awards it has nabbed since its premiere in Utah. The Goran Dukic film stars Almost Famous cutey Patrick Fugit, DJ-turned-actress Shannyn Sossamon, Arrested Development's Will Arnett and the wonderfully gritty singer Tom Waits. It follows Zia (Fugit), a young man who kills himself over a girl, and finds himself in an afterworld full of people who have committed suicide. When he finds out that the girl he killed himself for did the same deed after him, he goes on a quest to find her.

The film itself is making its way to theaters way down the line in August, with one hell of an interesting marketing campaign by means of AfterDark Films, who have the North American rights. Along with an Internet and college campus push, the marketing for the film will feature a lot of cardboard cutouts that The Hollywood Reporter describes as "potentially controversial." I think that's just a bit of an understatement. The cut-outs will be a collection of suicides -- characters jumping off a bridge, hanging themselves and electrocuting themselves. Hmm... At least they're not handing out razor blades? Courtney Solomon of AfterDark says of the scheme: "We just hope they don't cause too many accidents." Or maybe they're hoping that the controversy helps drum up buzz for their Wristcutters. Considering the hordes that get angry with video games, I can't begin to imagine the backlash this campaign will get.

There has be another addition to the ever-expanding cast of the Will Ferrell basketball comedy Semi-Pro. Variety reports that Maura Tierney (ER) has now signed on to play a love interest for Woody Harrelson. There have been plenty of casting announcements for the film; some of which haven't met with the most enthusiastic response, but New Line has yet to confirm a release date. I would hope that the addition of Tierney is the last piece of the puzzle.

Kent Alterman is directing the Scot Armstrong script about a struggling basketball team with Ferrel as their owner/coach. Already included in the cast are André Benjamin, Jay Phillips and Daily Show alum Rob Corddry. Tierney was last seen at Sundance in the ensemble drama The Go-Getter, which judging by James' review wasn't bound for a wide release any time soon. This seems like it might be another in a line of "the girl" parts for Tierney, who has played them before with grace despite some not-so-hot scripts in the Ray Romano comedy Welcome To Mooseport and Forces of Nature. Luckily, she was a pretty good straight man on the TV comedy News Radio, so she might be a welcome relief from the guaranteed absurdity of Ferrell and Arnett's performances.

In what could perhaps be described as a case of "art" imitating life -- but is probably just a strange coincidence -- Variety is reporting today that Fox Atomic has acquired the comedy script Space Invader -- which concerns a love triangle involving three astronauts on a space station. The film will feature Arrested Development 's Will Arnett as one of the astronauts involved in the triangle. Arnett will also be producing the film along with Peter Principato and Paul Young.

Arnett is a busy man these days with lots of movies coming out soon, filming or in development. Even with the less-than-stellar performance of his recent Let's Go to Prison, Arnett will next be seen in the upcoming Blades of Glory and next year's Semi-Pro, both opposite Will Ferrell. In addition, he will be appearing in Hot Rod, Spring Breakdown and Brothers Solomon opposite Will Forte -- which is set to be released later this year. Apparently, Arnett prefers to work with other people named Will, but that's not a deal breaker.

Space Invader, written by Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger and developed with Arnett, was, according to the article, started months before the recent real-life tragedy of astronaut Lisa Nowak. I'm sure that's true because how could they know? Although, I'm sure the news had some effect on Fox Atomic and the timing of the sale. Besides, Space Invader is a comedy and there's nothing remotely funny about allegedly plotting to kill someone while driving across country in a diaper.

As sad as it is to say (because I absolutely loved him in Arrested Development), it's beginning to look like Will Arnett's appearance in a film spells -- how shall I say this -- um, disaster. Here's hoping his newest role, as a "hard-drinking sports commentator" in Semi-Pro, helps turn the bad luck streak around ... because this dude desperately needs it. Arnett has signed up to join Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson and Outast's Andre Benjamin in the basketball comedy penned by Old School's Scot Armstrong (who's finally separating himself from Todd Phillips in an attempt to prove he's actually the funnier one). Essentially this is Arnett's second film with Ferrell (the upcoming Blades of Glory being the first) after recently riding the Bob Odenkirk (Let's Go to Prison, The Brothers Solomon) wave straight into the gutter. (I should note that The Brothers Solomon still has not arrived in theaters yet, but I think it's pretty safe to say the film doesn't look all that grand.)

So, is there a Will Arnett curse? Before you jump all over me here, let's take a look at some of his previous efforts: We all know what happened to Arrested Development, even though it was a fantastic show. Apart from that, there's Monster-in-Law, Ice Age: The Meltdown, R.V. and the grandaddy of them all, Let's Go to Prison ... not to mention a host of other roles that, well, aren't worth mentioning. Is it just me, or did Arnett piss off the Hollywood Gods at some point? And, in doing so, all of his future films are instantaneously turned into crap?

I still pine for Arrested Development -- it was one of the best shows on TV and Fox slowly choked the life out of it through poor marketing and unfortunate time-slots. Okay, so this is hardly news and it's probably time I let it go. Will Arnett, who played the hilarious eldest brother Gob on the show, is keeping busy with the upcoming Let's Go To Prison and has just finished shooting The Brothers Solomon, both directed by Bob Odenkirk.

MTV news has a profile on the Odenkirk film; it also stars Will Forte of Saturday Night Live -- who also wrote the screenplay. Bob Odenkirk and David Cross (another Arrested Development alum) were the creators of the Mr. Show sketch comedy series which aired on HBO from 1995 to 1998. The movie centers on two brothers who are inept in romance, but as a gesture to their comatose dad, they decide to provide him with grandchildren.

It's a bizarre premise, but considering the cast's skill with a more bizarre brand of humor, they might actually manage to make it funny. Since Odenkirk, Arnett, and Forte, have all worked in improv; I'm sure there will be plenty of footage to choose from for the final edit.

[via VH1 News]