Five Films to Cure an Oscar Hangover

Feb. 24, 2009 — -- Sick of the Oscars?

So are we.

After months of buildup, buzz and back-and-forth about who deserves what, the Most Important Awards Show of the Year is finally over and done with. The ball gowns have been returned, the post-parties have cleared out and the stars have retreated back to their movie sets and mansions.

Now what?

Get excited about five films coming soon to theaters that have not been discussed ad nauseam since September. They may not make the critics' lists of the best films of 2009; they may not rise to the level of elite cinema. But they offer entertainment and an escape from reality (if only for about 90 minutes). After a long binge of "Oscar-worthy" fare, these flicks provide the perfect hangover cure:

'Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience': Feb. 27

What do you get when you give millions of teens and tweens the opportunity to see their favorite boy band up close, potentially in IMAX, for one week? Likely, a lot of ear-piercing squealing and tired parents waiting in ticket lines. But for fans (or those legally responsible for them) "Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience" is not an option but a necessity. The film comes courtesy of Bruce Hendricks, who directed 2008's "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour," which hauled in $31 million the first weekend it opened.

Hendricks' documentary-style feature about Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas will showcase live shows and behind the scenes footage in eye-popping 3-D and, in 55 theaters around the country, full IMAX glory. While the show is being promoted as "one week only," should ticket sales go through the roof, Disney (the parent company of ABC News) may lengthen the movie's theatrical run.

'Watchmen': March 6

Say hello to the first major superhero film of the year. After years of production delays, "Watchmen," based on the 1986 DC Comics series, finally hits theaters in March. The film is set in a gritty, alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are as acceptable in society as mail carriers and checkout clerks. After a veteran superhero is murdered, the remaining caped crusaders set out on a mission to preserve their kind. Directed by Zack Snyder, the man behind 2007's visually stunning and ultra-profitable "300," "Watchmen" is poised to repeat the success of last year's superhero hits, "The Dark Knight" and "Iron Man."

'I Love You Man': March 20

In spring, a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of ... guy-love? That's the premise of "I Love You Man," which follows a newly engaged guy (played by Paul Rudd) with the perfect bride-to-be but no buddy to fill the best man slot at his wedding. In search of the perfect dude, he goes on a series of man-dates and eventually meets "the one" (Jason Segel). But as the bromance blossoms, his romance suffers, and the groom eventually has to wrestle with who he wants more in his life -- the girl or the guy of his dreams. From John Hamburg, whose credits include "Along Came Polly," "Meet the Parents," "Meet the Fockers" and "Zoolander." "I Love You Man" guarantees at least a few good laughs, whether you see it with fellow best buds or a babe.

'Duplicity': March 20

If you're craving edge-of-your-seat suspense, indulge in "Duplicity." The film reunites Julia Roberts and Clive Owen (who previously starred in 2004's "Closer") as spies turned corporate operatives who, as luck would have it, also happen to be longtime lovers. When the ultimate opportunity to con their bosses comes up, they must decide whether bedroom chemistry translates to on-the-job trust. Think of it as a reimagined "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," without the off-screen, real life romantic saga. Directed by Tony Gilroy, who scored an Oscar nomination for "Michael Clayton," "Duplicity" could emerge as 2009's first solid thriller.

'Monsters vs. Aliens': March 27

If "Wall-E" left you craving another animated masterpiece, get excited about "Monsters vs. Aliens." The DreamWorks sci-fi flick features new 3-D technology (it's the first film to be produced in 3-D, as opposed to being converted to 3-D after production finishes) and an action-packed plot: A band of monsters are let loose from prison to defeat a gang of Martians newly landed on planet Earth. Though they don't appear in real-life form, "Monsters vs. Aliens" packs a star-studded cast. Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Jimmy Kimmel and Rainn Wilson are among the celebrities who lent their voices to the groundbreaking picture.