Due Date

Director: Todd Phillips

Run Time: 1 hrs. 35 min.

Rating: R

The Bouw-Man.

Arguably two of the greatest road trip comedies of all time are “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”  Seemingly whenever you’re randomly flipping through the channels and come across one of these two films, you are forced to stop and watch.  Obviously they are quite different (one being a family road trip, and the other being two strangers who accidentally share an experience), but both offer so much in terms of laughs.  Based on the trailer, “Due Date” potentially could one day be grouped with these two classics when we’re having this same discussion 20-25 years from now.  I’m assuming there will be far more adult material in “Due Date” than the other two, but probably no more then “Wedding Crashers” or “The Hangover.” 

 

Robert Downey Jr. has really had a career resurrection.  After all the problems he has had with drugs and alcohol that led to serving time, he is now one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors.  Headlining two blockbuster franchises (“Iron Man” and “Sherlock Holmes”) allows him to take any role he basically chooses, and this time around he’s picking a buddy comedy.  Zach Galifianakis on the other hand is making up for lost time.  His turn in “The Hangover” provided him with several other film offers, and if you’ve been following him closely you know he’s been popping up a lot in different roles this past year.  From the preview, it appears we’re getting the Zach Galifianakis from “The Hangover,” and I’m sure that’s OK with the majority of audience members. 

Prediction.

People are in the mood to laugh, now that the year’s Halloween horror films are past their prime.  That will definitely work in favor of “Due Date,” although “Megamind” opening this same weekend is definitely a negative.  It might be a bit wishful thinking, but I’m going with $42 million for “Due Date” opening weekend.

Opening Weekend Gross: $42 Million

Noodles.

Let's face it everybody loved "The Hangover" and anything that looks like it might have some of that same 'Hangover' magic is going to draw a bit of buzz. I've been seeing trailers for this movie everywhere and each time I watch I feel the same level of mild amusement mixed with indifference. 

I think Zach Galifianakis is hilarious, and Robert Downey Jr. can act better than most but I'm not thrilled with the idea of going to see a glorified remake of 'Planes Trains & Automobiles.' This  film is probably going to have more than a couple laughs in store but when weighed against the elevated cost of a movie ticket, it doesn't exactly hit my G-Spot. I'll wait for cable.

Prediction.

The luke warm reviews for 'Due Date' don't bode well for a huge opening weekend. However, when you consider the other options coming out this weekend it has a shot to take second place and make some good money. All we're doing is waiting eagerly for the next Harry Potter anyway.

Opening Weekend: Gross: $23 Million

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