Hey folks - welcome back. Having such a strong lineup last week casts an unusually sullen glow on this weeks releases. Aside from MONSTERS VS ALIENS - there isn't much to see here. Grab the box office quotes, the star forecasts and move along - next weekend will a FAST and GIGANTIC ADVENTURE.
MONSTERS VS ALIENS (DIR. ROB LETTERMAN & CONRAD VERNON)MONSTERS VS ALIENS is the next animated epic to rollout from DREAMWORKS - a studio that has knocked out hit after hit (KUNG FU PANDA, SHREK) but never released a big enough picture to overwhelm whatever DISNEY/PIXAR had up their sleeve. This year should be no different - although MONSTERS does come packaged in supposedly beautiful 3D. The voice lineup includes the charming REESE WITHERSPOON, an over-used SETH ROGEN, the annoyingly talented HUGH LAURIE and an always spot on WILL ARNETT. No reason to think MONSTERS cannot take $40M or above.
THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS (DIR. FRED DURST)Yes, the same FRED DURST you're thinking of. But lets not jump to conclusions. This is DURST'S second picture - his first being the moderately received THE LONGSHOTS from last year. Not having a strong writer won't help him and the tone rings awfully of over-sentimentalized west-village nonsense. A mash up cast adds to a growing list of concerns. Maybe DURST will surprise and we'll all receive an "EDUCATION" on assumptions... but let's be real. EDUCATION won't take more than $4M and may not last to see MAY.
12 ROUNDS (DIR. RENNY HARLIN)Call me crazy, but I don't think 12 ROUNDS will be half bad. RENNY HARLIN certainly isn't unfamiliar with big pictures (DIE HARD II, CLIFFHANGER) even if his last 15 years have been sprinkled with on and off hits. JOHN CENA makes his second big screen debut, the first being the mis-guided but not awful THE MARINE (in which he played, you guessed it, a marine!) and has a boyish enough face to pull off an action film. Does better than many would think (WWE has its attractions) and takes about $7M its opening weekend.
THE HAUNTING OF CONNECTICUT (DIR. CORNWELL)It's as if THE HAUNTING OF CONNECTICUT is doomed to the middle-history of horror by it's PG13 rating. I mean, what film featuring a demon erupting through a boys mouth on the poster could possibly sell it's audience on a PG13 rating? Whether or not there is any substance beneath this film, it's such a glaring box office ploy that no one will be able to take it seriously. What happened to horror? SAM RAIMI has the answer later this spring - and until then we're left to sort through what is sure to be a melting pot of leftover script notes and cut scenes from a mountain of more successful pictures. Still, takes around $10M this weekend which should please more than a few suits.
