It's an incredibly busy new release weekend, what better time for The Weekend Blend to get off its ass, return from hiatus, and tell you what to watch.
Four new movies debut this weekend in wide release, and for a change, several of them are even getting good reviews. That's been a rarity in this miserably begun year of 2006. It'll be a dead heat at the box office too. Three of those four new releases have a pretty good shot at taking number one.
But who cares about studios making cash, here's our usual look at which openers are worth your time and which ones aren't.
Limited Releases (Opening in fewer than 500 theaters.)
Lots of new limited releases opening this weekend, but there's only one I've really had my eye on. That's Brick, a film noir set amongst high school scenery. Like some of the more overlooked films of last year (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and The Weatherman for instance), it may end up as one of those love it or hate it films. It's the kind of movie that's likely to inspire as many legions of internet sites devoted to worshipping it as it will dissatisfied and confused moviegoers. Sounds like the kind of movie you don't want to miss. If you're near one of the two theaters it'll be playing in on Friday, check it out. If you aren't, wait a bit. Its release will expand later on.
Expanding
Speaking of widening releases, Thank You For Smoking moves on up to a 300 theater release this week. It's a black comedy with a smoking twist. Reviews have been solid, and if you like Aaron Eckhart it's probably not something you should miss. If you don't know who Aaron Eckhart is, then feel free to skip.
ATL (Opens in 1,602theaters.)
Early trailers for ATL advertised it as a roller skating movie with a ghetto beat. Then someone over Warners woke up and realized that no one wants to see that movie, pulled the trailers, and reissued new ones that downplayed the film's roller skating angle. Actually, they more than downplayed it, they completely hid it. But a roller skating movie with a hip-hop angle is exactly what it is. Run or wheel yourself away from it as fast as you possibly can.
Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction (Opens in 1,453 theaters.)
When you go to see a sequel to Basic Instinct, you expect certain things. Most of those things involve freaky sex, nudity, and ice pick released blood. Basic Instinct 2 contains none of that. I know, they've been beating us over the head with trailers that indicate all that really wild stuff is in there, but in fact the really wild stuff is in the trailers, and has been edited out of the actual film to achieve an R-rating. The absence of anything seriously scintillating makes it a lot harder to fight through Sharon Stone's intense overacting and fierce determination to display her viciously bad fashion sense in a series of frighteningly unflattering poses. The only thing worse than her acting is the script, which relies on character stupidity to drive the plot and audiences stupid enough not to notice.
Ice Age 2 (Opens in 3,963 theaters.)
The cuddly, extinct critters from the first film are back to frolic in the ice and snow. One problem… the ice is melting. To escape doom and gloom, Manny and his buds must escape the rising water of the apocalypse while that damned squirrel chases nuts around in the background. But I don’t mean to sound negative. Ice Age 2 is funny, really funny. The script is better, the characters are better, and it's easy to forget the crappy animation of the first one in the face of this improvement. It's not perfect, but it's entertaining. Good enough.
Slither (Opens in 1,943 theaters.)
It's silly, geeky, gorey, and goofy, but somehow Slither is getting rave reviews. Any movie with "The Office's" Jenna Fischer is a must see for me, but throw in Serenity's Nathan Fillion and you'll find me at a midnight showing. Slither has looked great since the first trailer debuted back in 2005, and the buzz on it is that it's an absolutely good time. It's the story of some mutant slug thingys attacking a small town, and the sheriff who kicks their ass. There will be blood. Don't miss Slither this weekend. In fact, talk some friends into seeing it too. Support Nathan Fillion, before he's relegated to the B-movie career of Bruce Campbell.
Still In Theaters and Worth Your Time: Inside Man, V for Vendetta, 16 Blocks
