2012 Summer Movies for the Ladies

By Stacie Hougland

When you think summer season at the movies, the first thing that comes to mind is, naturally, action-laden, fanboy-stroking dude flicks like The Dark Knight Rises or Expendables 2. What's in it for us gals? Well, plenty, actually. Here, we round up some alternative programming, and suggest who's best to take to the show.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (May 4, ltd.)

A group of elderly Brits including Judy Dench travel to India for a stay at the supposedly renovated Marigold Hotel, that turns out to be a little more…exotic…than they bargained for

Go with: Grandma.
Girl in Progress (May 11, ltd.)

Eva Mendes is a mother struggling to balance her work, the bills and an--oh my!--affair at the same time her young teen daughter is going off the rails.

Go with: It’s Mother’s Day, so this makes a perfect mom- teen girl afternoon at the movies.
What to Expect When You're Expecting (May 18)

Based on the self-help book, here five couples learn what it is and isn’t really like to have kids. We’re betting Hollywood still makes it look more glamorous than it is.

Go with: Your galpal who’s pregnant, or working on it.
Moonrise Kingdom (May 25, ltd.)

Wes Anderson’s quirky period dramedy romance explores what happens to a small town when a boy and girl run off together, setting off a mass search of their New England coast island.

Go with: Your quirky friend who reminds you of Zooey Deschanel.
Snow White and the Huntsman (June 1)

Kristen Stewart plays Snow in this darker take on the fairy tale, that has Charlize Theron as the evil queen who orders a Huntsman to find Snow and kill her—only it turns out he becomes her hero instead.

Go with: Your goth-chick BFF.
Pink Ribbons, Inc. (June 1, ltd.)

Do those pink ribbons you see everywhere really make a difference, or are they just a slick marketing ploy that raises money for corporations that don’t actually do anything for the breast cancer cause? This doc looks at where your donations really go, and who’s benefiting from them.

Go with: Any woman you care about.
Bel Ami (June 8, ltd.)

Robert Pattinson is--what else?--a Parisian Lothario making his way up the chain by sleeping with the wives of wealthy and influential men.

Go with: Fans of Twilight, or for those of us old enough to remember it, Dangerous Liaisons (seriously, Uma Thurman’s even in the cast).
Your Sister's Sister (June 15, ltd.)

A guy mourning his brother (Mark Duplass) joins two women at a secluded cabin—one is his best friend, her sister is the one he hooks up with. Drama and laughs ensue!

Go with: Your sister. Or her sister.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (June 22)

When faced with imminent death care of an asteroid bearing down on planet Earth, what else is there to do but set out on a road trip to find your high school sweetheart? This is exactly what Steve Carell does in this romantic dramedy.

Go with: Your former crush.
To Rome with Love (June 22, ltd.)

Woody Allen directs and for the first time in six years stars in this ensemble comedy that explores love and romance in Italy.

Go with: Anyone who loves Woody Allen movies, or Italy. Duh.
Magic Mike (June 29)

Want to see Channing Tatum re-enact his onetime career as a male stripper? What’s that phrase about a bear in the woods?

Go with: All the single ladies.
People Like Us (June 29)

When his father passes away, a young man (Chris Pine) discovers he has a sister (Elizabeth Banks) he never knew. His quest to fulfill his father's last wishes forces him to examine his is perceptions about family and his own choices he's made in life. Go with: A sibling who appreciates a family drama.
Trishna (July 13, ltd.)

This modern-day take on the classic novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles stars Freida Pinto as a woman torn between tradition and family and her desire for a more modern life involving her relationship with a a spoiled playboy.

Go with: Your friend who likes classic lit by Thomas Hardy, and/or Michael Winterbottom movies.
Ruby Sparks (July 25)

Ruby Sparks Paul Dano plays a successful novelist who is having troubles with his latest work and his love life. So he does what any smart guy would do—will the perfect girl into existence.

Go with: Your nerdy pal whose favorite movie is Weird Science.

Hope Springs (Aug. 10)

Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones are a married couple who enter counseling after 30 years of wedding non-bliss.

Go with: Your divorced aunt.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green (Aug. 15)

Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton star as a happily married couple who wish for a child, and soon, a boy appears on their doorstep, bringing magic and enchantment into their lives. Go with:Anyone who adores children.

Sparkle (Aug. 17)

Whitney Houston’s last movie before she died (about three sisters who start a Motown girl group) has been bouncing around since 2000, when Aaliyah was mentioned to star before she died.

Go with: A non-superstitious music lover.

Now comment and tell us which of these movies will you see this summer? And be sure to check out our Summer Movie Guide!