How many computer-animated satires of fairy tales can we possibly tolerate? Lionsgate is hoping at least one more since they have acquired Happily N'Ever After for distribution in North America. The film is a version of the Cinderella story and takes place in Fairy Tale Land, where a war is brewing between good and evil characters. Voicing these characters are Sigourney Weaver, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze, Jr., George Carlin, Patrick Warburton, Andy Dick and Wallace Shawn.

Shrek was witty enough in its poking fun of of fairy tales, and even went a bit too far with the jokes, in my opinion. Since then Shrek 2 and Hoodwinked have further driven the gags into the ground, and I can only expect this movie to be more of the same. Is it necessary to keep ripping off Shrek? Considering the box office for Hoodwinked wasn't anywhere near what the two Shrek films were, we know that kids aren't simply into the premise. This time the copy has more in common with the original, though, as Happily was produced by Shrek producer John H. Williams. We'll just have to wait until early next year to see if there's any interest in this, but my guess is the kids will just wait for Shrek the Third, which comes out in May.

AMC Theatres is continuing its lead in exhibitor promotions by giving out more free movies this summer. Perhaps you remember last summer when the cinema chain offered a money-back guarantee for Cinderella Man. Then last month it gave out free Akeelah and the Bee tickets to teachers. This time, the deal includes 12 different movies, is open to anyone and goes through the season.

In select cities (listed after the jump), G- and PG-rated films will be shown for free on Wednesday mornings. The films are not new, of course, but they are all popular family fare that are undeniably good deals. They include Shark Tale, Shrek, Shrek 2, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Racing Stripes, Because of Winn-Dixie, Ice Age, Dreamer, Madagascar, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, March of the Penguins, and, the movie I will go see free any time, Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit. In addition, The Cartoon Network is producing the pre-show entertainment, which will include bonus cartoon shorts.

It doesn't get any better than free movies, and the only catch is that the program's sponsors will likely be showing commercials during the pre-show. Like that is any different than when we pay, right? AMC's plan is brilliant, especially if they have their concession stands open at 9am. Since the movies aren't first-run, the theatres don't have to pay a lot to the studios to show them. In fact, the program's sponsors might be paying for the titles by themselves. And as packed as any of these shows is likely to be, seeing as they're free, they should be guaranteed to sell out on any rainy wednesday morning. If they sell popcorn to a good percentage of the audience, AMC will be making a ton of money (If they would sell better popcorn, they'd get some of the money from me, as well).

• Bee Season - Richard Gere as a rough-boy sailor in An Officer and a Gentleman? OK. Richard Gere as a singing and dancing attorney in Chicago? Convincing enough. Richard Gere as a Jewish husband (of Juliette Binoche) and father exploring the mysteries of God through the flawless spelling of his daughter? Oy. Many parts of this existential drama about the ways in which a brilliant 11-year-old (Flora Cross) affects her family are sketchy, as no one of the characters is well-drawn enough for us to care about them too much. Genius was captured far better in films like Little Man Tate and Searching For Bobby Fischer.
 

In 1992, horror writer/director Clive Barker published a book called the The Thief of Always, a "juvenile dark fantasy novel" about a bored 10-year-old. The boy succumbs to the invitation of "a rather repulsive and mysterious creature named Rictus" who appears in his bedroom and "invites him...[to Holiday House] where there will be endless fun," and, weirdly, all four seasons pass in each day. Not unexpectedly, the boy's initial joy in a place where all of his wishes seem to come true eventually takes a darker turn.

Now, thanks to 20th Century Fox and Shrek 2 co-director Kelly Asbury, the story will be coming to the big screen. Asbury began writing the screenplay after a casual request from Barker last year when the two were thrown together at an author's festival; he will be directing from his own script. The director, who has written several children's books of his own and has a respected background in animation, will be making his live-action debut with the film, though it will be enhanced by CGI elements.