Signing on to star in a G.I. Joe movie would bring the inner child out of almost any actor, but not Marlon Wayans. Having built his career on the outrageous humor of his star-filled family’s brand, the brood’s youngest male has spent most of his acting years in a career a bit below his own goals. When your most famous roles are those of a thugged-out pothead (Scary Movie) and a Paris Hilton-like Caucasian female (White Chicks), it can be hard to convince both audiences and studio executives that you’re a, you know, good actor. That’s exactly why Wayans is using his heroic turn in the action-overflowing G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra as the catalyst for a new look. “I’m trying to grow up,” says the 37-year-old. “Not that I’d ever want to totally leave comedy, but you get to this point in your life where you hit a certain stride. I’m at that point.”

- MATT BARONE

FOR THE FULL STORY, CHECK OUT GIANT’S SEPTEMBER ‘09 ISSUE ON NEWSSTANDS NOW!

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO GIANT!

Many of us spent our childhood toying around with plastic figurines given to us on birthdays, holidays, or simply as a hand-me-down. We assigned names, personalities, and background stories to these characters, and whether it was a Barbie or a superhero, we re-enacted scenes we thought only possible in our imagination, but always hoped would come to life. Thanks to director Stephen Sommers, and the people behind his much-anticipated summer film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, it’s finally happened. The movie hits the big screen August 7 and follows the elite team of G.I. Joe, or Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity (betcha didn’t know that!), from the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps. Using the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment, they fight to defeat corrupt arms dealer Destro, as well as the growing threat of the mysterious Cobra organization. Preventing the world from plunging into chaos are Marlon Wayans as “Ripcord,” Channing Tatum as “Duke,” Dennis Quaid as “General Hawk,” Sienna Miller as “Baroness,” Ray Park as “Snake Eyes,” and Rachel Nichols as “Scarlett.” Check the official trailer below:

A playlist that’s more than meets the eye.

If you’re a child of the ’80s or early ’90s like me, chances are that you spent every Saturday morning glued to the TV watching half-hour after half-hour of cheaply animated cartoons based on comic books, video games, music and sports stars while eating sugary breakfast cereals based on said cartoons. Seen in the harsh light of adulthood, it’s obvious that these cartoons were terrible wastes of time. Back then though, the were must-see TV and the theme songs were part of the soundtracks of our childhood. These days of course, Saturday morning cartoons have all but vanished from the airwaves in favor of Hannah Montana repeats.  So here’s a trip down memory lane with some of the best (and worst) theme songs from those more innocent times.

The Gummi Bears (1985-1991)

Hammerman (1991)

ProStars (1991)

Transformers (1984-1987)

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983-1985)

Teen Wolf (1986-1988)

G.I. Joe (1985-1986)

The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991)

Muppet Babies (1984-1991)

Darkwing Duck (1991-1995)