5/27 – 5/30 The story to watch this 3-day weekend isn’t which new opener will score biggest with audiences, but whether or not Revenge of the Sith can repeat at number one. Now you might think a movie that makes $108 million dollars its opening weekend, breaking just about every record in the process, would be a given to repeat at the top of the heap. Not anymore. In an era where people flock to theaters opening weekend and move on to a different blockbuster the next, big openings guarantee nothing. Modern movies rush to clean up as much cash as they can in the first week, because odds are they’ll take a hefty dip the second week on their way into obscurity.
Every year there are a couple of movies that spend more than a week at a top. Usually it’s a combination of weak competition, good word of mouth, or awards promotion that does it. Revenge of the Sith has it’s work cut out for it though, because this weekend the competition is stiff. In past years other studios shyed away from Star Wars release dates, fearing the Wookiee crushing power of Lucas. But after two poorly received prequels, other studios smelled weakness and wasted no time setting up their own blockbusters to go head to head with the Force.
It’s Memorial Day weekend, and people are going to be out in droves at the theater. The Longest Yard could be a huge opener, as could Madagascar particularly since we’re in a drought of kiddie flicks. Is good reviews and solid word of mouth enough to keep Revenge of the Sith in the number one slot in the face of ass rape jokes and techno-dancing lemurs? Check back here Sunday night to see where things stand. I’m rooting for Sith to stay on top.
Meanwhile, forget the numbers. It’s fun, but really all meaningless. Here’s my look at which new openers are most worth your movie-going time over the 3-day holiday weekend:
The Longest Yard
(Opens in 3,643 theaters.)
Adam Sandler is woefully miscast in this remake of the old Burt Reynolds movie of the same name. He’s just too soft convincingly play a hardened criminal. There’s a scene where he stops a prison guard’s baton with his hand, that’s almost laughable. The script is weak too, it doesn’t seem to have any real pizzaz or life to it, it can’t decide if it wants to be a comedy or a gritty football drama. Still, the action sequences are bone shattering fun and this movie is probably going to play like gangbusters to the assholes who call other people “fags” for liking movies about Hobbits. The stock fat jackass will be out in droves for the lowest of lowbrow this weekend. Make sure you aren’t stuck sitting with him. If you really want to see Sandler hit people, you should have caught The Waterboy Thursday night on network television.
Cinderella Man
(Sneak Sunday in 761 theaters.)
The buzz on Cinderella Man is phenomenal, and I might have even made it my weekend pick if it wasn’t showing only as a sneak preview. Opie’s depression era boxing opus doesn’t officially open until June 3rd, but it’s playing for one showing this SUnday night around the country as sort of a sneak preview. With people already championing it as this year’s best picture Oscar winner, I’ll be making it a point to slip out Sunday and see it. If animated commando penguins aren’t your thing, and you happen to be available for Cinderella Man’s single weekend showing you might want to consider doing the same.
Madagascar
(Opens in 4,131 theaters.)
I was surprised by how much I liked Madagascar. From the trailers I assumed the penguin death squad would be worth a laugh or two, but didn’t expect much beyond that. There’s a lot more laughs to be had in DreamWorks latest than you’d expect. Sasha Baron Cohen kills as the wacky lemur king and even the stunt voicing of Ben Stiller and Chris Rock works out pretty well. Rock is a lot better actor when you can’t actually see his face. There’s none of that permanently plastered on, toothy grin to contend with. I keep trying to convince people to see it by comparing it to The Emperor’s New Groove, the last truly hilarious animated feature seen in theaters. Unfortunately, a lot of people missed out on seeing New Groove and so most of you probably have no idea what I mean by that. So while you’re at it, make it a wacky animation double feature. It’s Memorial Day weekend, what else do you have to do in between beer and barbecue? Run out and rent The Emperor’s New Groove and then head over and catch a late night, kid free (unless you have kids, then go at noon) showing of Madagascar. You could use a good chuckle.
