Iron Made of Honor
So, I underestimated Baby Mama but I was pretty much on target for Harold & Kumar. This bodes well for Tina Fey.
5/2
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
My Best Female Friend’s Wedding
WILL IT SUCK?
Hey, I’m as big a Michelle Monaghan fan as the next guy, but even I have my limits. From the director of such classic sequels as City Slickers II and Leonard Part 6. Two of the writers did Surviving Christmas and The Flinstones in Viva Rock Vegas but, to be fair, they also did Can’t Hardly Wait and the underrated Josie and the Pussycats. Early buzz not good.
By the way, is this not the goofiest film promotion of late? I mean, who wouldn’t want to get married at a movie premiere?
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Counterprogramming only works if your movie doesn’t suck balls. Just ask License to Wed. $44mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
He is Iron Man. Duh-de-duh-de-duh-duh. Vote for him.
WILL IT SUCK?
You had me at Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark. Seriously, this could be the first onscreen superhero to be more entertaining not in costume. Jon Favreau has twice proven his ability to take material that could have been horrible (Elf, Zathura) and turn it into silver if not gold. Two of the four writers did Children of Men. So, damn.
Early buzz loves the cast more than the movie.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It’s easy to underestimate just how many people are looking forward to this, since he’s not a Spider or Super Man. But they’re out there. $173mil.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
British Home Movies
WILL IT SUCK?
Certainly not. One of the best movies I saw at the Philly Film Fest. More here.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Sundance buzz will help. $9mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy tries to deal with his tortured past.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is good. Rade Serbedzija (Boris the Blade in Snatch), who plays a man who takes in the lead as a boy, won a Best Actor award at the Rome Film Fest.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not a high enough profile to compete. $1mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
A Michael Jackson look-alike (Diego Luna) goes to live with a Marylin Monroe look-alike (Samantha Morton) in a whole community of look-alikes. Kind of like an Island of Misfit Toys for those people who hang around Hollywood Boulevard.
WILL IT SUCK?
Early buzz is not so good, though this isn’t getting slammed much worse than any other Harmony Korine films. I will say this is probably the only movie this year to star David Blaine and Werner Herzog.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Harmony Korine films make discomfort, not money. $500,000.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
David Mamet’s Lionheart
WILL IT SUCK?
As we all know, it was only a matter of time before Mamet wrote and directed a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu flick. Though this is supposedly more focused on the talky-talky than the kicky-punchy. Chiwetel Ejiofor in the lead doesn’t exactly hurt. Early buzz is mixed.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
With rare exceptions, Mamet-directed b.o. is usually middling. $6mil.
Next week: First name Chim. Last name Chim.