Well, the summer movie season has ended and, as is the case every year, the blockbusters were numerous and the amount of promotional hype generated by the movie studios tremendous. Now you may be asking yourself why I didn’t come up with a Top Ten List. The answer is simple; I am picky to an extreme. Most years, I don’t think I could even recommend that many films in a twelve-month period so the fact that I liked five this summer is nothing short of a miracle. What was especially interesting to me was the fact that the movies I was most excited about were the ones that really disappointed me. Another surprise was that the entire list consists of films for which I had little to no expectations. Truth be told, I actually expected them to suck. What can I say? I am a glass half empty kind of guy. So, without any further ado, here are my Top 5 Summer Movies of 2011…

5) HORRIBLE BOSSES

Okay, this film made my list by just a hair. It is basically a version of Hitchcock’s “Strangers On A Train”, which was later remade as “Throw Momma From The Train”. (The former came out in 1951 and the latter in 1987. Apparently a version of this plot has to be rehashed about every 25 to 35 years. It’s the law!) It is the story of three friends who work for the most obnoxious and insufferable people imaginable and made a pact to remove them from their lives. Is it the funniest movies I have ever seen? No. Does it have some of the best laughs of the summer comedies released? Yes. And there is something about Charlie Day that just makes me cackle like The Joker every time I see him. He was great in “Going The Distance” and he is even better in this.

4) X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

My name is Chris and I am an X-Men-aholic. I will gladly spend my money on any film that includes my favorite mutants. But this commitment often causes pain and suffering, as I’m sure anyone who saw “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” can attest. I am a stickler for the canon and despise it when my favorite characters are haphazardly thrown together. As much as I wanted to see Gambit on the big screen, there had to be a better way to do it than that! And what was the deal with Deadpool? I…I…am getting off track. Sorry. In “X-Men: First Class”, they did change many parts of the mythology but they did it in a way that fit what was established in the films that preceded it. Plus, there were enough cool “easter eggs” to satisfy an uber-dork like me. Matthew Vaughn did a masterful job of directing and the “1960s James Bond” feel of the film made it very unique, especially for a superhero flick. I must also give kudos to James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender for not just playing Professor X and Magneto but embodying them.

3) CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

Now this one really had me worried! I was not impressed by the trailers or the idea of Chris Evans playing Steve Rogers. Whenever I think of Captain America, the Jack Kirby version (ruggedly handsome with a square jaw and wide-set eyes) always pops into my head. And, sure, Joe Johnson gets major "geek points" for designing Yoda and Boba Fett, but I’ve never been a fan of his directing work so I had no idea what to expect. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this film! The past and present storylines were integrated quite nicely and, just like “X-Men: First Class”, the film captured the essence of the era in which it was set. In many ways, it felt to me like an Indiana Jones movie, with all of its Nazi and ancient artifact goodness. I was impressed by Chris Evans’ performance but I thought Hugo Weaving and Tommy Lee Jones (as Red Skull and Colonel Chester Phillips, respectively) actually stole the show. These two acting veterans also added some weight to the material that took it to another level.

2) RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

“Oh, no! Wasn’t that Tim Burton fiasco from 2001 enough to squelch any attempt to further ruin my childhood memories?!” That was the question I asked myself when I first saw the trailer for this film. It was clear that Hollywood had broken through the bottom of the barrel and was digging deep. Perhaps it was time to finally write that “Howard the Duck” reboot that’s been rattling around inside my skull! I swore to NEVER see this movie, not even on DVD or cable. It was the principle of the thing. A man has got to stand by his ideals! Am I right?!?!

So I’m sitting in the movie theater. The lights dim and the disaster begins…except, IT WASN’T A DISASTER! I was pulled in from the word “go” and amazed. The story was fantastic and the acting extraordinary. Well, not the humans so much. This film is all about the apes. Andy Serkis’ performance as Caesar is a truly remarkable thing to behold. Yes, it is all CGI and motion-capture but it is so well done that you forget that that is the case. There are also plenty of references to the earlier films to satisfy a "Planet of the Apes" purist like myself. I’m sure the other 17 people in the theater who caught them and laughed in unison with me would agree. I enjoyed this film so much that I almost wish there wouldn’t be any sequels. Actually, if Tim Burton promises to stay away I promise to buy a ticket to the next one.

1) BRIDESMAIDS

No. That is not a typo. This is really my favorite film of the summer. Sit back. Relax. I can explain. To be honest, I had no intention of seeing this movie but my little woman wanted to go so I did. Good relationships are all about sacrifice, which I hope she understands when we camp out for “The Avengers” next May. “Bridesmaids” is not your garden-variety romantic comedy. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Think “The Hangover” with an all female cast and just as hilarious, if not more so. There’s plenty of gross-out humor and politically incorrect moments to appease even the most ardent hater of romcoms. Kristen Wiig is a breakout star in this vehicle and I hope she is allowed to follow it up with films that use her immense talents to the fullest. Many of her funniest moments cannot be described in this article due to their adult nature but trust me, you will laugh until milk shoots out of your nose. Even if you’re not drinking milk. But the real reason to see this film is Melissa McCarthy. She is, as they say, a “scenery eater”! She dominates every scene she’s in and I’d be hard-pressed to name a funnier female character in any film in recent years. She is just hilarious! As is this film. There were moments when I laughed so hard I actually had tears streaming down my cheeks. And that rarely happens to me. Except at funerals…just kidding.

There you have it! My Top 5 Summer Movies of 2011. I hope all of you had a great time at the movies this summer. Maybe I will pick my worst films of the summer next. It will be a difficult task as there are 25 of them. At least.