This summer, it's not enough for heroes to have superpowers; they have to suffer existentially as well. The protagonists of films like The Amazing Spider-Man 3-D and The Dark Knight Rises remain outwardly indomitable as they battle millions of dollars of special effects, but inwardly they suffer, with guilt and angst plunging them deeper into flashbacks, backstories, and secret-identity crises. In short, lots of fun for those eager to indulge nagging anxieties and power fantasies, not to mention a taste for comic-book trivia.
And for those in the mood for something lighter on the special effects and explosions, there are alternatives. Such as a flaky indie outing by a French female filmmaker, Julie Delpy's 2 Days in New York. Or a ribald film in which the heroes have nothing to hide, Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike.
Related:
Review: Magic Mike, Review: Dear John, 14 comedy shows coming this summer, More 
- Review: Magic Mike
After January's Haywire , director Steven Soderbergh revives another genre, the '80s beefcake buffet, with better results than could have been expected.
- Review: Dear John
"We're sitting here . . . and we're talking, but nobody's actually saying anything."
- 14 comedy shows coming this summer
Check out thePhoenix.com/listings for more comedy happenings.
- Road Trippin’: 25 shows across New England you need to see before Labor Day
While we agree that kicking back in a shady backyard with a plate of barbecue, a cooler of cold brews, and some good tunes spinning on the iPod deck is one hell of a way to while away a lazy summer afternoon, we'd like to suggest that you get a bit more ambitious this year.
- An avalanche of summer art exhibits
While New England winters are often cause to forget certain colors even exist, summer around here is easily the best season for mind expansion.
- What are they protesting? Whaddya got?
There are at least 99 reasons to grab a bullhorn this summer.
- Six local chefs serve up quick summer recipe tips
A grill is always a grill, whether you rock a two-foot kettle charcoal number or a gas-fueled beast with more knobs than an airplane cockpit.
- A beginner’s guide to the city’s best heat-beating drinks
There are only two things that make us feel better when our legs stick to the seats on the T, or when a five-minute walk down the street leaves us drenched with sweat in the most embarrassing places.
- New England’s film festivals make great getaways
We can't complain much here in the Portland area about the films we get to see.
- Review: 10 Years
No one has had a better year than Channing Tatum.
- Review: Frozen
A storm is coming, the girl has to pee, and then things get much worse.
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Features
, Alex Pettyfer, Channing Tatum, The Dark Knight Rises, More
, Alex Pettyfer, Channing Tatum, The Dark Knight Rises, 2 days in new york, midsummer2012, Magic Mike, Less
