The Summer of Former Stars

Demi Moore in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.

I have read where movie critics are calling this year's Summer movies, the Summer of the sequels. Sure, with sequels like X-men, Charlie's Angels, Legally Blonde and many others you could certainly make that statement. I however, think this is the year of the former stars. A great deal of movies currently out, or coming out this Summer, have former big name stars in supporting roles.

The most talked about one is easily Demi Moore. She starred in suchhuge films as A Few Good Men and Ghost. After an extended maternity leave, she is back in a supporting role in Charlie's Angels:Full Throttle.

Demi's ex, Bruce Willis, still gets top billing in most of his movies. However, his last two films, Hart's War and Tears From The Sun, generated little business compared to his Die Hard films. He currently is the voice of Spike in The Rugrats Go Wild.

Nick Nolte was nominated for an Academy Award for his leading man role in The Prince Of Tides. You can currently see him looking, according to Patrick, "like the Unabomber on crack", in a supporting role in The Hulk. Angelica Houston won a best supporting Oscar for Prizzi's Honor. She is currently over acting in a small role in Daddy Day Care.

The biggest oscar step down this Summer is Sally Fields. The former 60's television star and two time Oscar winning leading lady, Norma Rae and Places In The Heart, is now playing a supporting role in Legally Blonde 2: Red White & Blonde. The first Legally Blonde movie gave 60's leading lady Raquel Welch a small role. Another star from the 60's could be seen this year in Down With Love. Tony Randall has a small role in a movie that satires the very same type of films he use to appear in. The 60's isn't the only decade reviving stars. Jennifer Beals made a huge splash in the 80's with Flash Dance. She has rarely been seen since. This year you can catch her in Mission Without Permission.

The biggest possible comeback story may be that of Sylvester Stallone. The Academy Award winner and star of many block buster movies has not made a hit film in a decade. This Summer he plays The Toymaker in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. This role has Stallone playing split personalities. Comedy has never been his strong suit, but I think he is due for some success. It is kind of like Burt Reynolds who, for a while, couldn't make a good film if you paid him. Then he appears in Boogie Nights and is liked again.

A big part of going to the movies is seeing recognizable faces. This year you can see plenty. It is just that many of them are taking the back seat to other stars.