New Releases for May 14th

Note: I'm going through a crazy move so this week's predictions will be unusually short and to the point as my internet connection has been delayed for a week.

Just Wright

 When I saw the preview for this one I felt like I had watched the entire flick in 2 minutes. I mean they left very little to the imagination. You know basically how the story is going to play out, along with the betrayals, the "tough love", and the obvious twist that the baller would fall for the "big girl" Queen Latifah over the model thin, Paula Patton. They always play it like that in Hollywood, heaven forbid an NBA star fall for a woman of substance no matter what size she is. No, he has to be injured and vulnerable to be ready to take the Queen in all her thick sexy glory. Wake up Hollywood!

Box Office: Since black movies occupy their own continuum and so very few non-stupid romantic comedies that don't have Tyler Perry in them get made, this flick will do well. I predict a solid opening of at least $30 Million. 

The Bouw-Man  
Although the preview seems to outline all the key plot points of the film, there’s enough in the formula that indicates in may be a mild success.  For one, Queen Latifah has proven she has a decent amount of appeal for all audiences.  Her past leading woman performances may have not been critically received, but the box office receipts were respectable.  Also, centering a romantic comedy film on sports (in this case, the game of basketball) should do wonders for male attendance (just ask “Jerry Maguire”).  Not sure how a rather small Common will be perceived as a star basketball player, but hopefully he took some lessons from Allen Iverson.  With that being said, they really need to work on leaving something to the imagination with these types of trailers.  It’s not necessary to condense the whole blasted 100-minute film into 2 ½ minutes.  I know I seem to be picking on “Just Wright” when so many others do the same thing.  However, maybe by making an example of this one something will eventually change.  OK, I know I’m greatly overestimating my level of influence.
Look for a decent, if not spectacular, opening weekend take for this Queen Latifah vehicle.  Expect an opening weekend box office take of $17.5 million.       

Letters To Juliet

 When Amanda Seyfried said she was leaving "Big Love" to do movies I thought it was another David Caruso move. But after seeing her shine in a couple movies recently I think she just might make it. You how hard it is in the world for pretty blondes to make it in Hollywood.

I wasn't very excited about the concept for this one, but I know there's a huge market for these romantic films. Especially films with a quirky premise.

Box Office: $19 Million

The Bouw-Man
For years, it seems movie studios have been trying to convince hopeless romantic Americans that they need to go overseas to fall in love.  This year alone, we have already seen Amy Adams go to Ireland in “Leap Year” and Kristin Bell go to Italy in “When in Rome.”  Apparently, we’re not done yet.  Here we have the sweet up-and coming Amanda Seyfried off to Italy in “Letters to Juliet.”  Trailer plays it extremely safe by pairing her off with a workaholic boyfriend who doesn’t spend enough time with her.  Is one to believe this will work out; well I think you know the answer.  So, as we figure out by the trailer, with so much time on her hands she involves herself with an older woman’s love letter.  This in turn matches her with the woman’s grandson, and apparently they will both fall in love with each other.  We all know how it will turn out, but for a certain type of audience its; perfectly fine. The troubling thing about this “romantic comedy” is that the preview doesn’t seem to have any humor in it at all.  Without humor, it has to rely on the story that definitely appears to offer nothing original.  
Unfortunately, this one has the makings of a flop.  This is Amanda Seyfried first leading role, and it remains to be seen whether she has the drawing power to make a movie such as this work.  The trailer doesn’t do anything to help itself, and there are alternatives currently out for female demographic.  No other actor in this film has any sort of box office clout, so unless it gets incredible reviews it seems destined to fail commercially.  It will likely find it hard to attract an audience, and as a result it should expect a minimal box office take of $6 million opening weekend.

Robin Hood

I think I got all I could stand of Robin Hood when Mr. Kevin Costner monotoned his way through Sherwood Forest as the King of Thieves. When I saw that they were bringing back the "Hood" once again I have to admit to being a little less than excited. 

When I watch the trailer, I get a sense that Crowe is trying to recreate the kind of excitement he generated with Gladiator. It looks edgy, a little dark, and violent, not too unlike its star. 

Box Office: I think Iron Man 2 will still be the box office leader on Monday, so I think this one is going to be passed over a bit. $32 Million

The Bouw-Man
One has to question whether there is a need right now for yet another take on this popular story.  Obviously, Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe are hoping for some “Gladiator” magic with this new installment.  However, nothing in this 2 ½ minute trailer makes me excited to see an overdone tale about poor people standing up to the wealthy.  Granted, I am biased on the subject.  Every time I see a remake of period stories like “The Three Musketeers” or “The Knights of the Round Table,” I just sort of shake my head and shrug it off.  There’s really not a whole lot you can do with this material, yet the studios keep trying to update the story for a modern audience.  Kevin Costner’s version of “Robin Hood” was a smash hit almost 20 years ago, but it had a lot more going for it than this one.  For one, Costner was one of the most popular actors at the time “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” came out in 1991.  Crowe, one the other hand, no longer has the appeal he had during his “Gladiator” phase.  In fact, you can argue that he has been on a film “dry spell” for a number of years now. 

All in all, I think there is more going against the 2010 “Robin Hood” than for it.  With a great “action alternative” in “Iron Man 2” only a week old, filmgoers could simply look the other way this weekend when they see head to the movies.  I think this will do well overseas (especially in the UK), where the story is more prevalent.  However, domestically, look for a disappointing total in the grand scheme of things.  Opening weekend prediction domestically should come in around $15 million when the smoke has cleared.