Monsters vs. Connecticut
Score another one for Summit. Apparently I was the only one who didn’t think Knowing would make it, but it topped the weekend, beating out I Love You, Man by almost $7 million to win the weekend, and ensuring that the sub-par performance of Next would not slow the march of mediocre Nic Cage genre vehicles.
3/27
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The monsters are the good guys in this scenario.
WILL IT SUCK?
Five screenwriters from everything from Kung Fu Panda to The Rocker. Directors have co-credits on Shark Tale and Shrek 2 between them. Cast is less of a mixed bag: Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Hugh Laurie, Keifer Sutherland, Rainn Wilson, Will Arnett and Stephen Colbert.
Early buzz is good.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Nobody’s gonna fuck with Monsters vs. Aliens. $155mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Betcha it’s a Yaley ghost.
WILL IT SUCK?
The writers have done everything from Carnosaur to Kalifornia with a little bit of Revenge of the Nerds thrown in for good measure. I can’t wait for the scene where the ghosts do an impromptu pop instrumental with an electric violin. Virginia Madsen gets back into the horror game for the first time since Candyman and Elias Koteas and that guy who played Beaver on Veronica Mars are along for the ride. Trailer looks exceedingly generic. Early buzz supports that meh vibe.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Feels like a body dump. $17mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
The rounds are challenges a cop (John Cena) has to face to win back his kidnapped girlfriend.
WILL IT SUCK?
Will probably be as good as any other Renny Harlin or WWE-produced film. Early buzz is just slightly better than all that.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Probably about as well as any other Renny Harlin or WWE-produced film. $19mil.
Limited
THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Bad boy from a kid’s past shows up again when the kid goes to college. Trouble ensues.
WILL IT SUCK?
So you remember how Fred Durst directed The Longshots last year? No? Well, he did. Anyway, he directed this first. Early buzz is good. Won a Best “Made in NY” Award at Tribeca. Jesse Eisenberg stars.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Not much competition. $2mil.
Next Week: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker were easy gets, but the word “The” wanted too much money.