Few would accuse Hollywood Crush of being a politically minded blog, but if you ask us, there should be a law requiring all hunky gentlemen to simultaneously doff their tops the second summer makes its official return (which, coincidentally, was minutes ago at 1:16 p.m. ET).
Until that legislation passes the House and Senate, we'll console ourselves with this year's bounty of bare-chested men on screen. As we scanned 2011's roster of remaining flicks, we couldn't help but notice a dearth of ogle-worthy material. So without further ado, our summer solstice gift to you: a shirtless guide to the back-half of 2011 cinema.
Movie: "Captain America: The First Avenger"
Release date: July 22
Eye candy: Chris Evans
Shirtless anticipation index: There's no arguing Chris' post-transformation physique is jaw-dropping. But we had to deduct two points from his initial score thanks to his pre-Cap showing as that creepy, CGI-ed pipsqueak Steve Rogers. If only we could take advantage of Chris' washboard abs to cleanse that image from our minds. 6/10
Movie: "Friends With Benefits"
Release date: July 22
Eye candy: Justin Timberlake
Shirtless anticipation index: If we can't have music-making Justin Timberlake, then we'll settle for shirtless, love-making Justin Timberlake. If we must. But catch him while you can, because the triple threat joked that he doesn't have many naked roles left in his bag of tricks. "I can’t say I’m going to be butt-naked in a movie again," he told Vanity Fair recently. "I only did it because I’m young now, and everything’s where it’s supposed to be. I figured this is the time, before gravity gets the best of me." We don't need to be told twice, JT. 7/10
Movie: "Crazy, Stupid, Love"
Release date: July 29
Eye candy: Ryan Gosling
Shirtless anticipation index: However awards friendly Ryan's last few roles may have been (balding Dean in "Blue Valentine" and hirsute Lars in "Lars and the Real Girl"), they certainly weren't his most comely. We're more than ready to see Ryan return to his "The Notebook"-era splendor, and it looks like "Crazy, Stupid, Love" will deliver. In the words of Emma Stone's character Hannah, "It looks like you're Photoshopped!" 8/10
Movie: "Conan the Barbarian"
Release date: August 19
Eye candy: Jason Momoa
Shirtless anticipation index: Mr. Momoa is no stranger to shirtlessness—he got his start on "Baywatch" after all. More recently, you may have seen him rule as bare-chested Khal Drogo on HBO's "Game of Thrones." Honestly, we're trying to remember the last time we saw this guy with a shirt on. You know what they say about buying the cow when you can get the milk for free... 5/10
Movie: "Immortals"
Release date: November 11
Eye candy: Henry Cavill (among others)
Shirtless anticipation index: Pre-"Superman," Brit Henry Cavill will take on Greek god Theseus in this swords and sandals epic. Repeat: HE PLAYS A GREEK GOD. What else do you need to know? 8.5/10
Movie: "Breaking Dawn: Part 1"
Release date: November 18
Eye candy: Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, the Wolfpack
Shirtless anticipation index: Normally we're all about six-pack abs and pulsing pecs, but can we all agree that come autumn, traps and delts will be the muscles to make us melt? Rob's perfectly chiseled back flexing as he rips apart that headboard? Oof! 10/10
Which shirtless-friendly flick are you anticipating most? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!
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