While I didn’t realize I was predicting the lowest-grossing Memorial Day weekend in 17 years at the time, the low returns for Prince of Persia and Sex and the City 2 fit the bill. I guess what I didn’t consider was Shrek 4 only coming in around $20 million higher.
6/4
Wide
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
So I Married a Contract Killer
WILL IT SUCK?
I’ll give director Robert Luketic credit for Legally Blonde, but he also made The Ugly Truth, Win a Date With Tad Hamilton, and Monster-in-Law, which is enough to counteract a co-writing credit from Ted Griffin (Ocean’s Eleven, Matchstick Men). And then there’s Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Kutcher and Heigl are middling draws on a crowded weekend. $49mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Jonah Hill tries to wrangle that crazy British rock star from Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
WILL IT SUCK?
If you’re gonna spin off a character from Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I guess it makes sense to keep the same director. He writes, too, this time, which is a good thing if you liked Yes Man and Fun With Dick and Jane. Aziz Ansari and Nick Kroll are up in here, too. Early buzz is good, with special praise reserved for P.Diddy. Seriously.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
About as good a chance as any in an overcrowded weekend. $64mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Garfield with a dog.
WILL IT SUCK?
From the director of Failure to Launch and Showtime (and Shanghai Noon, but unless Jackie Chan is going to fight the dog, I don’t think that will help – although that would make an awesome movie). From writers behind License to Wed. And there’s a Huffington Post article called “The Marmaduke Trailer May Be the Worst Thing Ever.” The Onion A.V. Club has, in fact, devoted its entire Summer Movie Preview to how each film will compare to Marmaduke. And then you see that Lee Pace, Judy Greer, and William H. Macy are all mixed up in this somehow and you get sad.
Early buzz is pretty awful.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
People like talking animals. $86mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Species, but this one is homegrown.
WILL IT SUCK?
This is from the guy who wrote and directed Cube (he co-writes here, too). Cast may seem like overkill for what looks like a simple horror tale (Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley) and early buzz (which is very good) says that helps.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
It’s a crowded weekend, but not crowded with horror. $35mil.
Limited
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Guy (Colin Farrell) catches a mermaid (or, more likely, a woman) in his fishing nets. Romance/drama/thriller ensues.
WILL IT SUCK?
Written and directed by Neil Jordan which, as often as not, is a good thing and, as a bonus, lensed by Hero‘s Chris Doyle. Early buzz is mixed.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Winter’s Bone is gonna be the bigger indie news next week. $8mil.
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Kind of like Zak and Miri Make a Porno in reverse; Leelee Sobieski makes a non-porno in the off hours of an adult entertainment studio.
WILL IT SUCK?
From the writer/director of Amy’s Orgasm. Getting mixed reviews, although Ed Gonzalez includes this choice quote in his take: “Like the most blithering chick flicks, Finding Bliss obnoxiously and misleadingly wants to have its cake and get eaten too.”
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Needs better word of mouth to find an audience. $1mil.
LIVING IN EMERGENCY: STORIES OF DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Title is pretty self-explanatory.
WILL IT SUCK?
Was on the short list for the most recent Best Doc Oscar but didn’t get a nod. By most accounts, totally deserved one.
HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
Even if it had gotten a nod, hard to make bank if you don’t win. $750,000.
Next Week: Close your eyes. The double-whammy of A-Team and Karate Kid will be over soon enough.
Comments