If one thing has been difficult over the past two months it's been getting excited each weekend for new releases. Between January and April is what is considered to be the off-season for films. Most of the releases during this time either aren't stand-out enough/too risky for the summer blockbuster run, or simply not awards contenders. Some of the releases may at one time have been considered for these popular spots, but either were plagued by re-shoots or bad focus group screenings and thus had a release date change.

January only brought one release that was a must-see for me (Liam Neeson's action-packed, Taken which had already seen release in Europe almost a year earlier) and it delivered the goods. February brought the enchanting Coraline (you can check out my review here) and surprised me with a fun slasher flick in Friday the 13th (review also posted).

But now I find myself struggling to remember what movies are coming out each weekend, because there's so much interminable dross out there to distract us (Thanks, Tyler Perry for this weekend's contribution to my list of Movies That Could Kill Me in your increasingly Ernest P. Worrell attempts at film with Madea Goes to Jail). Below are the major releases coming up in March and April that I will be seeing in theaters, and are really the only flicks to have any excitement about (even mild) until summer blockbuster season hits in May. Note: This doesn't include many of the indie or limited release movies since I'm not counting on them being released in our charmingly artistically declined Midwest state.

Watchmen - March 6
Based on the most praised graphic novel of all-time, this Zack Snyder directed picture turns the concept of a superhero team to a darker side for a social commentary on heroism. This one is also going to be released in IMAX and if the trailers are any indication then the visuals alone should make for good theater-going fare. But honestly, if you haven't heard of this film by now, then this movie just isn't for you.

I Love You, Man - March 20
Jason Segel and Paul Rudd team up in this bro-mantic comedy. We profiled the red-band trailer for this film a few weeks back, and it looks to join Forgetting Sarah Marshall as one of my favorite recent comedies. Surely more laughs will be brought in from supporting cast members Andy Samberg (Saturday Night Live), J.K. Simmons (Juno and Spider-Man) and Jon Favreau.

Adventureland - March 27
Superbad director Greg Mottola helms this film that is probably easiest described as Waiting... set in an amusement park (it even has Ryan Reynolds in a similar role as the all-knowing long-time employee). Jesse Eisenberg (Squid and the Whale) and Kristen Stewart (of Twilight pandemonium) are in the roles of romantic leads supported by other park employees including Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. Check out the trailer here.

Observe and Report - April 10
We've already highlighted the less than stellar poster, and mostly amusing red-band trailer for this upcoming comedy starring Seth Rogen. The trailer wasn't top notch, but I just have a feeling that this one is going to be along the lines of Pineapple Express in turning the action genre on its head with some great 80's nostalgic comedy and action sequences in the form of a rag tag team of mall security guards. Seth Rogen has a career that every comedian should be envious of right now.

The Soloist - April 24
This unfortunately was one of those movies that got plagued by low focus group scores and was pushed back out of awards contention. Way back. The trailer makes the film look very heartwarming and containing great performances from both Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr. I genuinely laugh everytime Foxx points to the sky and asks Downey, "Are you flying that plane?" And Downey says nonchalantly, "No, I'm right here." Check out the trailer here.

This is a short list, and while it could be made long with the aforementioned indie and limited release films, these are the ones that I'll be able to realistically catch, and therefore am already excited. If you're angry that I didn't put down Fast and Furious or Race to Witch Mountain then sound off below.

Ever since Judd Apatow made a name for himself with The 40-Year-Old Virgin his comedic stylings have helped bring back demand and popularity of raunchy R-rated comedies. Along with this newfound love for vulgar laughs, he has brought a group of fresh faces to the comedy genre, most hailing from Apatow's past television, cult classic venture Freaks and Geeks.

Now names like Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Jason Siegel are household names. Rogen's jump into the spotlight came with his first leading role in Apatow's Knocked Up (with a laundry list of upcoming projects), Segel is in his fourth season of the successful CBS comedy series How I Met Your Mother and wrote and starred in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Hill has made a name for himself playing small parts in Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and a leading role in Superbad.

Now these three names combined with other comedy stand-bys like Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Will Ferrell and other established (and surprisingly funny) actors like John C. Reilly and James Franco are making for some of the best side-splitting films to be released in the past decade.

And so it is without further adieu that another promising R-rated comedy is headed our way starring Jason Segel and Paul Rudd. I Love You, Man looks like another in a line of recently dubbed "bro-mance" films as Peter Klaven (Rudd) is recently engaged but at a loss for friendship to fill the manly role of his Best Man. And so Peter goes on a series of man-dates looking for the perfect best-friend. When the brash and spontaneous Sydney Fife (Segel) enters his life, it's bro-mance at first sight. Some of my favorite scenes from Forgetting Sarah Marshall were the ones with Jason Segel and Paul Rudd, so having them both as leading men is a great move for my money.

Somehow this movie feels like a familiar romantic comedy, but with the gender roles switched and, at least in this trailer, no evidence of struggling romance or the long hidden love between best friends. Below we've embedded the Red Band trailer for your enjoyment.