Strangely, there’s just an abundance of dudes, dudes, dudes this month, but August is also a time when sleeper hits have a way of rising out of the last vestiges of summer fare. We’re willing to put a dollar or two on Scott Pilgrim FTW, as they say.

August 6

Middle Men

Director: George Gallo
Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi

Based loosely on producer Christopher Mallick and his experiences with Paycom, Middle Men explores the rise of internet businesses and the sometimes shady goings-on that surround them. Ever since seeing footage of Middle Men last year, we’ve been waiting to see when the comedy/thriller would finally hit theaters, and while we’ll take it for granted that there’s just as much fiction as there is fact, consider this another of those rare indie efforts that captures the spirit of today’s world of web-based entrepreneurs. Let’s hope David Fincher’s Facebook movie is as interesting.

The Other Guys

Director: Adam McKay
Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg

No, that’s not Duane Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson. Those are the other other guys. These guys, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, are the pencil-pushers who end up working the big case while taking cues from buddy cop movies galore. If nothing else, we’re looking forward to the two of them having fun on the big screen with Adam McKay bringing his Anchorman brand of funny to the proceedings.

August 13

The Expendables

Director: Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke

Sorry, ladies, you may want to sit this one out. In fact, some of you lesser fellows might want to hang back as well. Sly’s The Expendables is all about testosterone, pure and simple. If it doesn’t go boom or rat-a-tat-tat or bleed when you punch it, then you won’t find it here. We’re not concerned with a plot because along for the ride is a who’s who of badasses, including Statham, Rourke, Jet Li, Eric Roberts, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Steve Austin and even a guest appearance from Bruce Willis and The Governator themselves. Frankly, with Rourke and Roberts on board, we’d be satisfied if we can just get a re-imagining of this classic scene from The Pope of Greenwich Village.

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Director: Edgar Wright
Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead

We’ve had an eye on Scott Pilgrim ever since we caught wind of it from Edgar Wright himself back in June of 2008. Seeing the first trailer puts us at ease that this thing is going to be some new kind of awesome, with a unique visual style and a signature amalgamation of its comic book/rock band/video game roots. It doesn’t hurt to have a cast of recognizable backup players like Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman and newly-crowned Captain America Chris Evans. As the tagline suggests, expect much epicness to close out August.