Way underestimated Taken‘s take.
2/6
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Love, Not Actually
WILL IT SUCK?
If this were a TV show, I’d have more confidence. Director Ken Kwapis has helmed some solid eps of The Office and Freaks and Geeks. The one thing I didn’t like about his Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, on the other hand, was the direction. Never saw Vibes or Dunstin Checks In, though. And the writers did Never Been Kissed.
Remarkably recognizable casting, though: Jennifers Aniston and Connelly, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Ben Affleck…but I’m most psyched to see Justin Long and Ginnifer Goodwin together again for the first time since Ed.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
A little bit of competition from Dance Flick and Pink Panther 2 this week, but next week is the real bear, Confessions of a Shopaholic. $61mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
This is what you get for going to see Pink Panther 1, America.
WILL IT SUCK?
Even during the trailer I was saying “Oh, my God, is this thing still going?” They’ve added some top shelf talent (John Cleese, Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, Aishwarya Rai) but they kind of had that already (Cleese replaces Kevin Kline). Agent Cody Banks and One Night at McCool’s director Harald Zwart takes over for Night at the Museum 2-bound Shawn Levy and the writers are brand new. As with the first, Martin has a screenplay co-credit but I just refuse to believe it.
The very preliminary buzz is not so hot.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
The only thing with this high of a profile for miles around is Friday the 13th, and that’s a completely different demographic (although a Clouseau/Jason crossover flick would rock). $71mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Girl finds a parallel universe with an alternative, perfect family for her…or is it?
WILL IT SUCK?
Pop quiz: Who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas? If you said Tim Burton, you are wrong. It was this guy, who now helms this 3D stop motion animation fest, adapting it from Neil Gaiman’s book. The cherry on top? John Hodgman graduates to voice work.
Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Pink Panther 2 is going to nab most of the kid audience, although this skews slightly older. $39mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Heroes. Except…no, wait, it’s pretty much Heroes.
WILL IT SUCK?
Before you think, “Oh, there goes another comic book adaptation,” the comic was created concurrently with the movie. So there. Still, not psyched. Director Paul McGuigan’s Lucky Number Slevin was okay. Haven’t really heard of anything the writer did. I’m kind of a sucker for these special abilities stories but I’m not delusional about its chances. Nice to see Dakota Fanning not play “cute” for once.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
There is just way too much competition for this to get the Jumper cash for which it is clearly striving. $40mil.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Geeks attempt to steal a print of The Phantom Menace before its release so their sick friend can see it before he dies.
WILL IT SUCK?
Film has had plenty of time to get vetted in its long road to release, and the version showed at comic-con last year seemed to get plaudits. Not loving the trailer, but it did produce what may be my favorite line from a trailer in 2008, “I’m William Shatner. I can score anything.” Looks like there’ll be a lot of nifty cameos. But let’s cut to brass tacks; any movie about Star Wars geeks that’s even halfway decent has me at hello.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Will probably benefit from all the internet buzz surrounding its oft-delayed release. $9mil.
Next Week: There’s something coming out on Friday the 13th. What is it called? I’m sure it’ll come to me.
I only have this to say about “Fanboys” – if they didn’t at least write (let alone shoot) a scene that puts Kristen Bell in Leia’s gold slave bikini, the film doesn’t live up to its title.