the buzz log

Can you deal with the truth? Mebbe so: The Buzz Multiplex heads into a strong spring weekend, with one film based on a true story, a drama inspired by a military policy, and a fantasy spoof that nearly got a reality check in the form of a boycott.

1. "Superhero Movie" (PG-13). Its Tom Cruise scientology spoof has already attracted searches to the parody that stars Drake Bell as a dragonfly bite-induced superhero. But, a threatened boycott nearly made this movie an unlikely political pawn in a battle to get the Weinstein producers to release an unaltered version of "Fanboys," a "Star Wars"-inspired comedy. Now that the Weinsteins have buckled, pre-teens and teens won't have to worry about crossing a picket line to see Pamela Anderson.

2. "Stop-Loss" (R). Although not based on a true story, the film takes a look at the real military policy which extends the service time of soldiers due to be discharged. The MySpace pages have already drawn comments from military rank-and-file and their families. Ryan Phillippe stars, but acting mate Channing Tatum pulls in nearly double the searches (largely fueled by female teens). The appealing cast may help the drama go against the trend of low-performing Iraqi war movies.

3. "21" (PG-13). MIT students making millions by counting cards at casino blackjack tables may have been a true story, but anytime you mix Hollywood with Las Vegas, all reality goes out the plate-glass windows. The film has drawn controversy for changing the group's racial make-up (although the main inspiration doesn't object). Still, the numbers game has drawn passing interest from ages 13-44, as have stars Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey and, most importantly, Kate Bosworth.