“Kick-Ass” may have just barely scraped by with the #1 spot last weekend, but the continued legs of runner-up (and now in it’s fifth week) “How to Train Your Dragon” makes it the one to beat this week. Comic-book action flick “The Losers” and JLo romcom “The Back-up Plan” will be vying for the 2nd and 3rd slots, with Disney’s new eco-documentary “Oceans” posting more modest grosses. A fairly weak Friday all around, but with some great options in limited release and the summer onslaught right around the corner, we don’t mind taking a breather.
In Wide Release: While it actually opened on Earth Day–yesterday, for those who take note–Disney’s “Oceans” is the most appealing new wide release this weekend. A follow-up of sorts to last year’s “Earth,” documentarians Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud explore the life under the water that covers most of our world. Hopefully they explain the reason why all underwater documentarians must be names Jacques. We reviewed the Pierce Bronson narrated picture yesterday, finding it full of lovely images but the eco-friendly message lacking in substance. Rotten Tomatoes tracks the film at 79%, with a 77 score from Metacritic.
If you’re looking for some dumb fun this weekend, look no further than “The Losers.” “Stomp the Yard” director Sylvian White directs the Vertigo comic-book adaptation which stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, Columbus Short and Oscar Jaenada as a special-ops group framed and left for dead by their handler (Jason Patric) in Bolivia. From there it is typical comic book/videogame territory–a lot of baddies killed on the trail of the biggest villain of all. We posted our review yesterday, finding it dumb as all hell, but often fun and funny. We can’t really recommend the film, but for a half-price matinee you could do a whole lot worse. RT gives the movie a 44% rating, while Metacritic stands at 44.
Jennifer Lopez attempts a box-office comeback this week with “The Back-up Plan.” The romantic comedy stars Lopez as a perpetually single woman who has lost all hope in finding Mr. Right and decides to be artificially inseminated in order to finally become a mother. Of course the same day she goes through with the procedure she actually meets the man of her dreams, who must decide whether to stick with the newly pregnant dame. Alan Poul directs the film, which costars Alex O’Loughlin. Don’t expect a review from us any time soon, but if you’re curious Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 19% rating, with a 36 score from Metacritic.
In Limited Release: Director Kim Ji-Woon (“A Bittersweet Life,” “A Tale of Two Sisters”) returns this weekend with “The Good, the Bad, and the Weird.” Like Takashi Miike’s “Sukiyaki Western Django,” the film is an Eastern/Western hybrid, taking equal cues from the work of Sergio Leone and “Battle Royale.” Unlike Miike’s film, as we note in our recent review, “Weird” actually works. Wearing its very obvious influences on its sleeve, the film packs kinetic action, goofy humor, and gorgeous cinematography into one loony package. The David Lean inspired widescreen grandeur of the picture is certainly worth catching on the big screen if you have the chance. Critics are fairly impressed as Rotten Tomatoes reports an 89% rating, with Metacritic chiming in with a 66 score.
Jeff Daniels stars as a failed novelist who, at the urging of his wife (Lisa Kudrow), relocates to a quiet Long Island beach community to reignite his creative juices in “Paper Man.” There, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with a 17 year old babysitter (Emma Stone), whom he hires even though he has no children. His situation is further complicated by the one source of inspiration he has relied on his whole life, an imaginary superhero named Captain Excellence living in his head (played by Ryan Reynolds). So far, so indie. The film has picked up some momentum since debuting at Sundance, but critical favor isn’t exactly on it’s side. RT gives it a paltry 33% rating, while Metacritic a similar 33 score.
Also out in limited release this week, the art-world comedy “Boogie Woogie.” Set against the backdrop of the contemporary London art scene, the film from first time director Duncan Ward boasts an impressive cast including Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Lee, Gillian Anderson, Heather Graham, Amanda Seyfried, and Alan Cumming. RT: 20%, Metacritic: 37. Finally, the 3D craze continues with the concert film “Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D.” The movie captures Chesney in all his awe-shucks stadium-pleasing glory entertaining crowds on his most recent tour. RT: 50%, Metacritic: 73.