This summer, funny people like Will Ferrell, Kirsten Wiig, Steve Carell and Danny McBride will appear on big screens and attempt to make you laugh and forget the miserable economy, the high gas prices and the heat. Here's our look at this season's most anticipated comedies.

'Bridesmaids'
Opening: Friday, May 13

Starring: Kirsten Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Elle Kemper

What It's About: In this raunchy ode to a ritual of matrimony, which has been called a female take on 'The Hangover,' Kristen Wiig stars as an unhappily single 30-something who has to put on a brave face and perform a lengthy list of duties as her best friend's maid of honor. This one is from the Apatow universe, as Judd produced, and 'Freaks and Geeks' creator Paul Feig directs.


'Everything Must Go'
Opening: Friday, May 13 (Limited Release)

Starring: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall. Laura Dern, CJ Wallace

What It's About: Based on a Raymond Chandler short story, Will Ferrell plays a man who, on the day he gets fired, comes home to find that his wife has left, changed the locks on their home, and tossed all of his possessions into the front yard. So he decided to rid himself of all said possessions by holding an endless, beer-soaked yard sale, a move that nets him a chubby young protegé, a fetching new love interest and the attention of the local authorities.


'The Hangover Part II'
Opening: Thursday, May 26

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha

What It's About: The boys are back in ... Thailand? No Mike Tyson, no Mel Gibson, no Liam Neeson, but there is a monkey and Ken Jeong. This time, Stu (Helms) is getting married, and his Asian bachelor party includes far-more-serious facial modifications than a lost tooth in this follow-up to the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time.


'Bad Teacher'
Opening: Friday, June 24

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch

What It's About: Elizabeth (Diaz) is a blunt, foul-mouthed high school teacher who is much more interested in landing a rich husband than shaping young minds. Lo and behold, a new substitute teacher (Timberlake) with some serious family money shows up. Elizabeth gets it in her head that the only way to win the wealthy scion over is through breast enhancement -- and that the only way to finance a brand new pair is to win the bonus her school gives out for the class with the best grade point average. Which forces this bad teacher to actually teach.


'Horrible Bosses'
Opening: Friday, July 8

Starring: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis

What It's About: Three buddies (Bateman, Day and Sudeikis) conspire to kill their overbearing bosses after concluding it's the only way they can ever find happiness. Of course, their plot goes horribly wrong, as those things tend to do. This film had been linked to everyone from Tom Cruise to Vince Vaughn to Matthew McConaughey before settling on its star-studded, if small-screen-oriented, cast.

'Friends With Benefits'
Opening: Friday, July 22

Starring: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Emma Stone, Jenna Elfman

What It's About: Not to be confused with 'No Strings Attached,' this movie about casual hook-ups starring a former cast member of 'That 70s Show' takes a more comedic look at the (decades-) old question of whether friends can be sex friends without being in a proper relationship. And the answer? Well, you'll just have to see the movie.
Click here for Part 2 of our Summer Comedy Preview -- Featuring Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and McLovin.