The Tourist

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Run Time: 1 hrs. 43 min.

Rating: PG-13

The Bouw-Man.

It will be very interesting to see how “The Tourist” is received by the masses.  After viewing the preview, I thought I was seeing a rerun of this past summer’s “Knight and Day.”  The main difference being the popularity of the film’s star players involved.  I think it’s safe to say that Johnny Depp has surpassed Tom Cruise in terms of leading man popularity, and Angelina Jolie definitely has more box office clout than Cameron Diaz.  Besides this fact, “The Tourist” is coming out in December while “Knight and Day” had a June opening.  Both films look like they rely on star power and a plot of bringing “ordinary” people (Depp in “The Tourist;” Diaz in “Knight and Day”) into a serious government situation.  So, we have ourselves a good old fashion case study on our hands.  If there are any graduate students out there, this has the makings of a grand research project. 

 

It’s actually refreshing to hear Johnny Depp’s actual voice and see his actual face in the trailer of “The Tourist.”  He’s been performing with an accent, while wearing face paint for so long (“Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” etc.), that we tend to forget that he’s an American actor.  Due to this fact, it’s almost fascinating that he would take on a role like this at all.  Maybe he just really wanted to work with Angelina Jolie.  Jolie, on the other hand, is reverting back to her “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” days where she combines her comedy and action skills into one role.  In the end though, chemistry will be the key to the success of “The Tourist.”  Jolie had it obviously with Brad Pitt in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” and time will tell if she rediscovers it with Depp in “The Tourist.”

Prediction.

A tough call all around in predicting the success of “The Tourist” during opening weekend.  “Knight and Day” took home a little over $20 million during its opening weekend, so that’s a pretty good starting point.  I’m going to say that Depp and Jolie’s popularity over Cruise and Diaz is pretty substantial at this point, so a $35 million opening weekend sounds about right. 

Opening Weekend Gross: $35 Million

Noodles.

The trailer for 'The Tourist' definitely has my interest in seeing this latest spy-type drama. Angelina as usual looks 'ravenous' and I don't know you, but I would watch Johnny Depp read dramatically from an Olive Garden menu. 

The story is of course an old 70s sitcom "mystery on vacation" special episode, that would plunge our regular cast of characters in some outlandishly complex and intriguing adventure, all to the sound of some hidden studio audience. Then once past their close call with danger, they would go back home again to make their usual hijinks.  I think 'The Tourist' is going to dress up this plot, and hopefully Mr. Depp and Mrs. Pitt  will make this a fun romp.

Prediction.

This trailer really made me want go out and drop a few bucks on a ticket. That doesn't happen to often, but I feel like even though it may be good I think its going to end up at about 20 Mill.

Opening Weekend: Gross: $20 Million

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