Trailer of final Harry Potter film released

LOS ANGELES: The first trailer of the final Harry Potter film, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2, has been released online. The film is set to be released in the UK on July 15 and will bring the series to a close.

The trailer shows footage from the film, plus video of the cast and crew talking about tying up the loose ends of JK Rowling's story.

Daniel Radcliffe, who plays lead role as Harry said: "The reason they're on this journey is much bigger than any of them and it's got to come to a head at some point."

"Something’s got to give. Harry's aware that this is going to be it, that the floodgates are open, and he’s going to have to be the one that deals with Voldemort. It’s gonna be fantastic!" he added.

The seventh and final of Rowling's novels has been split into two movies to allow producers to realise the scale of the story.

Daniel Radcliffe to get Trevor Award for preventing suicides among gays

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe will be honoured with the Trevor Hero Award, for his work to prevent suicide among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth.

Radcliffe, 21, has worked closely with the Trevor Project over the past few years earning him the group’s Hero Award in a Big Apple ceremony in June.

“It’s fantastic,” the New York Daily News quoted Radcliffe as saying.

“The fact that they think of what I’ve done by promoting awareness of the Trevor Project itself and the issues that it works to promote and help is a great honour,” he stated.

Radcliffe, who has appeared in public service announcements for the group, was quick to point out that the real heroes were those involved in the organization’s day-to-day efforts to save lives.

“The people that are doing the heroic things are the people answering phones 24 hours a day in the Trevor call centres,” he said.

“I think this is absolutely one of the most important, if not the most important, thing that I’m associated with,” he added.

The Trevor Hero Award recognizes someone who serves as an inspiration to sexual minority youths.
The organization was founded in 1998 by filmmakers James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone.
Their 1994 film, ‘Trevor’, about a gay 13-year-old boy who tried to commit suicide after his friends learned of his sexuality, won the Academy Award for Film Short.

'Prisoner of Azkaban' voted film of the decade by young fans

'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' has been named the film of the decade at the First Light Awards in London.

The prize, voted for by the public in association with the Bafta Kids'' Vote, was chosen by children aged five to 15.
The film was up against other films including ‘Shrek’, ‘Whale Rider’, ‘Happy Feet’ and ‘Up’.

Producer David Heyman said it was an "honour and a privilege" to receive the award at a ceremony at Odeon Leicester Square.
"It''s especially exciting and moving to be voted Film of the Decade by children aged five to 15,” the BBC quoted Heyman as saying.

"We made the film for children of all ages from from to 105 really, but clearly a core part of our audience is young people and to be honoured is a privilege," he added.

'Harry Potter And The Deathly...' highest global grosser

"Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1" has become the highest international grosser of "Harry Potter" franchise.

It has earned over USD 657 million at the world box office, reports contactmusic.com.

"It's tremendously gratifying to reach this benchmark as we enter the final stretch of this remarkable journey. We share this achievement with Jo Rowling, whose books are the foundation of this rich and vibrant world, as well as the talented people who brought her vision to life on the screen," Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, said in a statement.

Warner Bros. representative Veronika Kwan-Rubinek said: "These numbers speak to the phenomenal and enduring strength of this property, which has captivated audiences across all borders, regardless of age or culture."

The success of the franchise has also made actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint - who play Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley respectively - among Britain's richest young celebrities.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" will be the last of the historical "Harry Potter" franchise. It may hit the screens July 15.

Emma Watson to launch 'green' fashion line

'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson is busting into the high-fashion world, by collaborating with fashion house Alberta Ferreti to create an eco-friendly collection.

Watson, 20, is working on the 'Pure Threads' collection meant for "sensitive people, who want to be supportive of these kind of issues," the New York Post quoted Ferretti as telling WWD.

The designer said she was attracted to Watson because of her "freshness...spontaneity and simplicity."

"She is intelligent, with a strong personality, a young, modern girl," she said of the actress.

This is not Watson's first foray into the world of fashion; she modelled for Burberry's Autumn/Winter campaign in 2009 and appeared in their 2010 Spring/Summer campaign alongside her brother, Alex.

The British actress also began working as a creative adviser for People Tree, a fair trade fashion brand, in February 2010. Part of the proceeds of her Ferretti line will benefit People Tree.

"I'm pleased that a luxury brand such as Alberta Ferretti has decided to create ecological clothes," Watson said in a statement about her latest venture.

"I believe this is a big step forward for all of the international fashion industry, but also an important step for an increased sensitivity to the problem of ecology," she added.

Harry Potter, Broadway producers battle for Daniel Radcliffe

Actor Daniel Radcliffe's commitment to appear in a Broadway show has clashed with the premiere of the final Harry Potter, leaving producers of the two shows to battle over him.

Radcliffe, 21, had committed to appear in the revival of 'How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' at the Hirschfeld Theatre, which started previews on February 26 and runs until at least November 6.

But Warner Bros. chiefs were furious that his Broadway deal meant he might not be available to promote 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2', to be launched with a lavish premiere at London's Trafalgar Square on July 7.

In tense negotiations, 'How To Succeed' producers refused to release Radcliffe for the days when Warner needed him -- forcing the studio to buy out the whole theatre for the nights he'd have to miss.

"Warner Bros. is furious that Radcliffe committed to Broadway when he should be promoting 'Harry Potter'," the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

"This is the final film, so it's a big deal. A grand world premiere is being planned as well as a US premiere and a press tour.

"They absolutely couldn't do it without their big star. But the theatre producers dug their heels in and said they wouldn't release Radcliffe unless Warner bought out the entire theatre for the nights they need him.

"Studio bosses are furious, but they have no choice but to pay up for five nights costing over 500,000 dollars," the source stated.

A Telecharge sales agent said that while tickets are being sold up to November 6, tickets for July 5 and 6 have "not been released", although they haven't yet been cancelled. Tickets for July 9 are currently on sale.

"Everything is fine, Dan is promoting the film and is happy to do so. With all productions there are scheduling issues but everything has all been worked out," Radcliffe's rep said.

"Warner Bros. is very supportive of Dan, and there is no issue," the rep added.

Kingston Harry Potter nominee flies out for Oscar ceremony

The man who helped bring Harry Potter elves Dobby and Kreacher to life is flying to Hollywood after being nominated for an Oscar.

Kingston University illustration graduate Christian Manz was shortlisted in the best visual effects category for his work on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

The 36-year-old visual effects supervisor helped redesign Dobby to appear more human in his final, darker appearance in the series.

Mr Manz's team at Framestore removed the bodies of the two actors playing the elves and replaced them with animations.

He said: “It's rare to have the chance to work for 16 months on one project. There were only about 60 of us which, believe it or not, is quite a small team.

“Dobby is a central character in part one of the Deathly Hallows, as he dies at the end. We created more than 300 different facial expressions for him.”

He and his three fellow co-nominees are competing against Alice in Wonderland, Hereafter, Inception and Iron Man 2 at the awards show on Sunday, February 27.

'Harry Potter' author JK Rowling's story to be made into a movie in Canada

'Harry Potter' author JK Rowling's rags to riches story is to be made into a movie in Canada.

The film based on Rowling's rise from struggling single mum in Edinburgh to multimillionaire author of the Harry Potter book series is set to begin shooting next month.

Scotland's The Herald newspaper reported that film producers initially toured Edinburgh in their search for shooting locations, but decided to move production to Canada to save money because they found similar buildings there that could be used as backdrops.

Rowling, 45, has not authorised the television movie, reports News.com.au.

She refused to comment on the film, which has the working title 'Strange Magic'.

Australian actor Poppy Montgomery, who stars as FBI agent Samantha Spade in the hit US television series Without a Trace, will play Rowling.

Harry Potter still king of the world

Harry Potter led the worldwide box office for a second weekend on Sunday, but the heroic boy wizard had a close shave with a hairy princess in North America.

The seventh movie in the hit franchise, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1," sold $163.5 million worth of tickets globally, led by a $50.3 million haul in the United States and Canada, distributor Warner Bros. said.

Of the 62 foreign markets, the best score came from France, where the film opened at No. 1 with $19.1 million -- the country's best start of the year. After two weekends the worldwide total stands at about $610 million.

But the fearless schoolboy almost lost his North American crown to Rapunzel, the hirsute heroine in the new Walt Disney Co 3D cartoon "Tangled." The fairy tale earned $49.1 million for the three days, far exceeding industry forecasts.

Along with three other films, "Tangled" opened on Wednesday, one day ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday, giving it a five-day total of $69 million. Pundits had forecast a five-day haul of about $40 million.

Disney distribution president Chuck Viane said the film played strongly with families, and many little girls dressed up as princesses for the occasion.

Internationally, "Tangled" earned $13.8 million after opening at No. 1 in six of seven markets. Russia led the way with $7.5 million, a record for a Disney cartoon. It adds eight markets next weekend, including France and Italy. Pop singer/actress Mandy Moore voices the heroine.

The other three new releases all performed to the expectations of their respective studios.

"Burlesque," a musical starring Cher and Christina Aguilera, shared the No. 4 spot with the three-week-old action movie "Unstoppable," each reporting about $11.8 million for the three-day period.

The $55 million musical will be "a real moneymaker," said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution at Sony Corp's Sony Pictures, which released the film through its Screen Gems division.

Women accounted for 69 percent of the audience, and 54 percent of moviegoers were aged 25 or older. But Bruer said the men who went along enjoyed it.

"Love and Other Drugs," a $30 million romantic comedy starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, followed at No. 6 with $9.9 million. Even though Hathaway has a much-discussed nude scene, the film also played mostly to older women, said News Corp-owned 20th Century Fox.

Male youngsters got their fix with "Faster," an action thriller starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The film drove in at No. 7 with $8.7 million. It was distributed in North America by CBS Corp's CBS Films, which split the $24 million production tab with international rights holder Sony.

The five-day total for "Burlesque" stands at $17.2 million, for "Love and Other Drugs" at $14 million, and for "Faster" at $12.2 million. Both "Love" and "Burlesque" will begin their international rollouts just before Christmas.

The new "Harry Potter" film is off to the strongest start in the series, having earned $220.4 million in North America since opening November 19. The previous film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," had earned $201 million during the same 10-day span in July 2009. That film ended up with $302 million domestically, and Time Warner Inc-owned Warner Bros. was similarly confident the new film would break $300 million.

The foreign total stands at $389.2 million. Top markets include Britain with $53.5 million, Germany with $37 million, Japan with $35 million, and Australia with $25 million.

Harry Potter is back, hunts for Deathly Hallows

After six films spanning over a decade and almost USD 5.5 billion in gross profits in films, The Wizards are finally bidding goodbye with the seventh, a 2 part movie 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'. And if you are excited like the rest of the world, but have forgotten the plot so far, here is a crash course for you!

Harry Potter's journey began back in 2001, with The Philosopher's Stone. As a young miserable orphan, who discovers that he's a wizard, and not just any ordinary wizard. As a baby, he was responsible for the death of the evil Lord Voldemort. He heads to the magical school of Hogwart's, embarking on a journey to a much happier life and lifelong friendship with fellow students Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

In the next installment, Harry, Ron and Hermione battle a manifestation the Dark Lord, looking for the Chamber of Secrets, to save Ron's sister Ginny

The Prisoner of Azkaban is perhaps the darkest of the series where Harry meets the dreaded Dementors. It's also here that he forms a strong bond with his late father's friend, Harry's own godfather Sirius Black, accused of betraying the Potter’s to Voldemort.

The Goblet of Fire is an epic, incidentally ALSO starring the future twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson, as the two compete for the Triwizard Cup. Here's where Potter faces off against a revived Voldemort, and barely escapes with his life.

The Order of the Phoenix released just three years ago ... focusing on the secret society dedicated to fighting Voldemort and his Death-Eaters... trying to convince and unbelieving public that the Dark Lord is back.

That brings us to a more grown-up Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince where we learn more about Voldemort as a boy, and also, his young rival Draco Malfoy. The movie has it all - romance, danger, and a teenage universe where friendship counts for everything - even with a war going on.

And finally, the first part of the grand finale -- a teaser of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 releases on November 19. The second part hits theatres next year.

No 3D for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Disappointment might wrench the heart of die-hard Harry Potter fans because year’s most awaited film ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 3D release has been cancelled.

Entertainment conglomerate Warner Bros announced that the first part of the last film in the series would only be shown in 2D and not in eye-popping 3D technology.

It said it had hoped to be able to transform the film into 3D format but they trashed the idea, as they would not have completed the advanced version of the film within the release date window.

But the studio will now only release it in 2D, in both conventional and IMAX theatres.

“Despite everyone''s best efforts, we were unable to convert the film in its entirety and meet the highest standards of quality,” the Daily Star quoted from a statement released by Warner Bros.

“We do not want to disappoint fans who have long anticipated the conclusion of this extraordinary journey, and to that end, we are releasing our film day-and-date on November 19, 2010, as planned,” it added.

But Warner Bros said it was still planning to deliver ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2’, due for release in July next year in both 2D and 3D formats.

I can relate to Percy: Logan Lerman

In a candid interview 18 year-old heartthrob Logan Lerman on the experience of working on Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief and his passion for acting

How did you land this part?
When I was approached about the film and heard that Chris Columbus was directing, I said: ‘Man I have to be a part of this’. Chris was my hero growing up. The Harry Potter films just blew me away. When I read the first Percy Jackson book I liked it a lot. Chris is a fantastic, brilliant filmmaker and I am so happy to be part of this film.

Who is Percy Jackson and what is the story all about?
The movie starts off with a dilemma because Zeus has lost his powerful lightening bolt and they are all pointing fingers at Percy Jackson. But Percy himself has no idea who he is and knows nothing about his background. He is thrown into this dangerous situation and has to save the world and his mom.

Does it feel like a big responsibility playing Percy?
It does not feel like pressure. I didn’t realise what I had got myself into when I started out. The scale of the film and what it meant hit me only when we started filming. And you know it is a big responsibility. I just have to step up and try to do my part to make it good.

So you think that teenagers will be able to identify with Percy?
Yes, a lot of people will be able to relate to Percy. Kids will know what he’s going through. The story proves that when someone is thrown into a difficult situation, they can rise to the challenge.

Can you relate to Percy?
In some ways I can. But the best thing about playing a character though, you don’t need to relate to every part of the character you are going to play. You just need to find a way to understand him and get into that emotion and feeling of who he is.

What kind of teenager would you say you are? An adventurer like Percy?
I’m boring. I’m a boring person (laughs) not at all like most teenagers. My best friend Dean Collins, who is also an actor, and I are both film geeks. We do nothing but study film all day-long, film and music. That’s me as a teenager.”

Are you prepared for the changes that might happen to you once this movie comes out?
To be honest, it is interesting. People are just going to be screaming: ‘Percy Jackson’ all the time. And I’m going to be known as Grover everywhere, it’s going to be crazy. But somehow I can’t imagine people knowing who I am from any movie. So if that does happen, I will be very surprised.

Emma Watson splits from longterm beau

Emma Watson has reportedly resumed her single status after splitting from her longterm boyfriend.

The Harry Potter actress, who began dating financier Jay Barrymore in 2008, was said to have put an end to the romance just months after moving to the US to pursue a university degree.

"Emma and Jay were in trouble for months and with Emma at Brown University in America, the transatlantic gap proved too much for their relationship to survive," the Daily Star quoted a source as telling the Mail.

The 19-year-old star was named Hollywood’s highest paid female star of 2009 in a list compiled by Vanity Fair magazine.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

For those who haven't read the hit Percy Jackson books, here's a crib sheet for that humdinger of a title: Teenage Percy (Lerman) discovers he's actually a powerful demigod; the Olympians are the feisty deities of Greek mythology (including Percy's absentee dad, Poseidon); and the lightning thief is the unknown bandit who has stolen Zeus' thunderbolt, dooming the entire world — unless young Percy can find it. Punctuated by painful dialogue and high-camp celeb cameos (notably Uma Thurman as a vampy Medusa), the ensuing quest has all the CGI sorcery of a Harry Potter pic, but none of the magic.

Box office preview: 'Funny People' likely to top charts

Judd Apatow has become a household name thanks to his past two outings: Knocked Up and The 40-Year Old Virgin. But where both comedies went on to become $100 million+ box office successes, his latest endeavor, Funny People, is much more of a wild card. The R-rated flick still features some of Apatow’s unique brand of comedy, but hidden within is the downer story of a sad clown battling a fatal disease. The upshot: Adam Sandler is the star. The film’s sure to open at No. 1. How it holds on will be anyone’s guess.

1. Funny People: $35 million
While Virgin bowed to $21 million with an unknown Steve Carrell at the center and Knocked Up pulled in $30 million with newcomer Seth Rogen, Funny People has giant movie star Adam Sandler leading the charge. But the comedy pro is leaving his PG comfort zone and the results when he does so are never certain. Prognosticators have this film opening all over the map. I’m going with $35 million. Sandler and Apatow could prove to be a very formidable combination, even with a close to 2 1/2 hour run time.

2. G-Force: $17 million
Those covert guinea pigs proved to be a box office hit this last weekend at the movies. While Fox’s Aliens in the Attic will take away some of its power in round two, the movie’s unlikely to fall more than 50% for the frame. Pretty impressive that animated guinea pigs will cross $50 million after less than ten days of release.

3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: $15 million
Potter bows on IMAX theaters this frame, which will surely help cushion its drop in its third weekend. The movie has already grossed $221 million, more than its predecessor at the same time in its release pattern. If it maintains its momentum, Half-Blood Prince could hit $300 million by the end of its domestic run.

4. The Ugly Truth: $13.5
This Katherine Heigl-Gerard Butler update on the age-old conundrum of man/woman incompatibility surprised everyone last weekend with its opening take of $27.6 million. Turns out moviegoers like and want more romantic comedies, especially the R-rated ones. Expect a drop of around 50%, which would be quite a feat considering how critics hated the film.

5. Aliens in the Attic: $13 million
This PG-rated low-budget comedy originally titled They Came From Upstairs should open decently. From director John Schultz (The Honeymooners), the movie centers on a group of teenagers, including Ashley Tisdale, who must protect their vacation home from aliens residing in the attic. Kevin Nealon, Doris Roberts, and Tim Meadows co-star.

Emma Watson Shows her Boob

Emma Watson better be careful, she's been accidentally showing more and more skin lately and that can lead to some seriously tainted reputation in Hollywood.


The latest Emma episode took place a couple nights ago when the young actress was on her way to a popular London nightclub after attending the London premiere for the latest Harry Potter movie.

Still sitting in her limousine, Emma Watson appeared to be caressing her left boob, which caused her dress to open a little too much, giving us an Almost-Emma-Watson-Nipple-Slip. Granted, no nipple was actually visible here, but you can see Emma Watson's boob here in its entire splendor (minus the nipple)

'Harry Potter snags $100 million worldwide on opening day

The magical spell Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is casting at the box office keeps on bringing in great returns: In terms of worldwide ticket sales, the latest Potter flick -- the series' sixth film -- jumped past the $100 million in its first 24 hours, according to a report in Variety. The movie pulled in $58.2 million domestically and $45.9 million internationally to rack up a total of $104 million, which is the franchise's best start ever.

The Wednesday night opening of the movie broke records in the U.S. when it grossed $22.2 million alone for its midnight runs.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Darkness is visible from the outset of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The Death Eaters mobilized by the return of Lord Voldemort at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix are on the loose in London, streaking through an anxious metropolis on missions of urban destruction that, in a different fantasy cosmos, might challenge the talents of Batman. Thunder rattles a gray sky; the camera alights on a heavyhearted young man reading his newspaper in a sad subway café out of an old Edward Hopper painting while he ogles a pretty waitress out of modern multiracial England. Yet there's cause for audience spirits to be high: The universally recognizable fellow is Harry Potter, embodied in blossoming manhood by Daniel Radcliffe. The newspaper is The Daily Prophet, that model of innovative print journalism in which every photo not only tells a story, but morphs into a moving picture, too. And it's abundantly clear that director David Yates, returning to the magical realm after Order of the Phoenix, and indispensable Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves (he's written all but the Phoenix script) have perfected a crucial potion: They've found just the right balance of timeless spiritual profundity and contemporary teen specificity, of awe and humor, necessary to steer J.K. Rowling's 
 enthralling seven-book saga to a satisfying conclusion. Will Hermione (Emma Watson) attract Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint)? Will Ron kiss flouncy, pouncy Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave)? Will Harry connect with Ron's no-longer-such-a-kid sister, Ginny (Bonnie Wright)? And will good triumph over evil? Stick around till Yates and Kloves' final two-part Potter production, scheduled for 2010 and 2011, and find out.

Even loyal readers who enjoy the gift of clairvoyance may appreciate a reminder or two about the plot of Half-Blood Prince. Just before Harry is set to return to Hogwarts, the star student is recruited by venerable headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) for a mission. The old wizard wants to lure the retired Potions professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent, doing a juicy inside-out version of his role 
 in Topsy-Turvy) back to Hogwarts to find out what the vain old goat remembers about a certain former star student named Tom Riddle. (Long story short for Muggles: Riddle became Voldemort.) In the meantime, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is being groomed to do some major evil. And Prof. Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) appears to have Draco's back — as well as the most delicious ability to. clip. his. words.

All the while, the teenage wizards-in-training have enough to handle just being regular teens under the spell of raging hormones. ''Excuse me, I have to go and vomit,'' Hermione announces with a bite worthy of Gossip Girl when she observes Ron getting all snoggy with Lavender, who's one of the great lovestruck steamrollers of teen literature. And anyone who has survived 12th grade has passed a pale individualist classmate like Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood in the hallway, or encountered an imperious dragon-lady teacher like Maggie Smith's Minerva McGonagall.

On the other hand, not many teens face a hero's quest as daunting as the one set for Harry, with a showdown scheduled for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Half-Blood Prince encompasses important plot developments involving both love and death. But the story is, still and all, only a pause, deferring an intensely anticipated conclusion. And it's in that exquisite place of action and waiting that this elegantly balanced production emerges as a model adaptation. By now, as played with utmost loyalty to the cause by some of Britain's most illustrious actors, the supporting characters are as familiar as the population of Homer Simpson's neighborhood (and that's a great compliment). Yet with a big assist from cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel — a Potter newbie who memorably shot Amélie and Across the Universe — the filmmakers have found a way to refresh our eyes and enhance our appreciation for this rich, amazing creation.

'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' breaks midnight record

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince grossed an eye-popping $22.2 million from its midnight showings early Wednesday morning, according to figures released by Hollywood.com. That breaks the $18.5 million midnight record previously held by last year's smash The Dark Knight, and it's well ahead of the $16 million Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen grossed in its midnight showings earlier this summer. If these magical numbers hold up, Half-Blood could have a shot at topping The Dark Knight's $203.8 million five-day opening-weekend record as well.

I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) Movie Review

The cute, virginal nerd who triumphs in the pleasantly low-key teen comedy I Love You, Beth Cooper fulfills an ambition at once more chaste and more daring than the sexual goals set by the cute, virginal nerds who ruled in Superbad: Right up there on the stage at Buffalo Grove High School's graduation, valedictorian Denis Cooverman (comedy improv regular Paul Rust, from the Adrien Brody school of proboscic grandeur) makes the title declaration to the object of his unrequited affection (Heroes' Hayden Panettiere), a tough little pistol of a cheerleader. Superbrave! Then he speaks his mind to other high school archetypes, including the school bully, the class rich bitch, Beth's bulldog of an older boyfriend, and Denis' own drama-loving best friend who hasn't declared his sexual orientation, leaving his classmates to declare it for him.

The movie, directed with modesty by Home Alone and Harry Potter helmer Chris Columbus from a swell book and screenplay by comic writer Larry Doyle (Buffalo Grove class of '76), follows the fallout from Denis' barn-burning speech — a cheery night to-remember comedy of outlandish, unlikely coincidences and lively mishaps, culminating in the shared witness of a sweet, hope-streaked sunrise. The story is timeless; this could have taken place when Doyle graduated in '76 — or any year, really, since the effects of high school linger throughout adult life and nerds are forever.