By Chip Schrader
Movie Reviewer
The big story on Box Office Mojo’s website reports the summer box office has been hot in 2011 with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” grossing over 1 billion dollars worldwide, and “Transformers 3” approaching that staggering number. We have seen comic book heroes hit the screen, low brow comedies, and plenty of sequels that are guaranteed to gross a few dollars for the studios. The industry saves Oscar potential films later in the year and into the next year, and pedals the popcorn-pushing pop culture flicks, often with a side of cheese, for the summer.
This has been the year of the comic book hero. We have seen “Green Lantern,” “Thor,” and “X-Men: First Class” released in the earlier wave of summer releases. In the latter half, we are reintroduced to “Captain America” and “Cowboys & Aliens.”
According to boxofficemojo.com, “Captain America” has only been out since July 22, yet it has already rolled in $117 million worldwide. It stars Chris Evans, Stanley Tucci and Tommy Lee Jones to ensure it has the star power to please audiences. “Pulp Fiction” fans will also see an appearance by Samuel L. Jackson. A new “Captain America” treatment has been long awaited, as the 1990 attempt has aged to the point it looks twenty years older (rightfully so).
“Cowboys & Aliens” pairs the legendary Harrison Ford with the latest James Bond Daniel Craig. John Favreau is the director, his most memorable onscreen moment of recent years being vomited upon by Paul Rudd’s character Peter Klaven in “I Love You Man.” In its first weekend alone it had already grossed a respectable 37 million, topping the box office. This looks like it may have enough cheese, humor and action to delight audiences, but between Ford and Craig, the acting talent implies that this is either a brilliant script, or the studio offered a boatload of cash.
Following up on “The Hangover Part II” and “Bridesmaids” earlier this summer, “Horrible Bosses” and “Bad Teacher” hope to cash in on unsavory characters with a belly full of laughs. Among the many “Horrible Bosses” stars are Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell. Aniston and Farrell are well disguised in these films as they play in unexpected roles as Bateman leads his two friends in a plot to kill their cruel employers. Surprisingly in this economy, it is not considered a threat to national security.
“Horrible Bosses” director, Seth Gordon’s, first film – the documentary “The King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters” – documents one man’s fight to defeat and prove his record high score in the Donkey Kong arcade game. This gem is available on streaming Netflix and is worth the watch just for the eccentric characters who frequent the arcade. Gordon has earned a place in many cult filmgoers’ hearts with that one.
Last, but not least, Cameron Diaz stars in “Bad Teacher” alongside “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” writer and star Jason Segal, and Justin Timberlake, fresh off of an acclaimed role in “The Social Network.” All three stars have proven their silver screen charm and charisma, and the movie is knocking on the door of the 100 million dollar mark.
At the end of the season, two films are poised to be billion dollar runaways in this memorable summer with the promise of “Cowboys & Aliens” and “Captain America” to bring in more revenue. It seems we now live in a day where a $100 million payoff is a given, and the thrills and laughs are a high commodity in a society wishing for wonder and escape.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster for “Cowboys & Aliens”)
Movie Reviewer
The big story on Box Office Mojo’s website reports the summer box office has been hot in 2011 with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” grossing over 1 billion dollars worldwide, and “Transformers 3” approaching that staggering number. We have seen comic book heroes hit the screen, low brow comedies, and plenty of sequels that are guaranteed to gross a few dollars for the studios. The industry saves Oscar potential films later in the year and into the next year, and pedals the popcorn-pushing pop culture flicks, often with a side of cheese, for the summer.
This has been the year of the comic book hero. We have seen “Green Lantern,” “Thor,” and “X-Men: First Class” released in the earlier wave of summer releases. In the latter half, we are reintroduced to “Captain America” and “Cowboys & Aliens.”
According to boxofficemojo.com, “Captain America” has only been out since July 22, yet it has already rolled in $117 million worldwide. It stars Chris Evans, Stanley Tucci and Tommy Lee Jones to ensure it has the star power to please audiences. “Pulp Fiction” fans will also see an appearance by Samuel L. Jackson. A new “Captain America” treatment has been long awaited, as the 1990 attempt has aged to the point it looks twenty years older (rightfully so).
“Cowboys & Aliens” pairs the legendary Harrison Ford with the latest James Bond Daniel Craig. John Favreau is the director, his most memorable onscreen moment of recent years being vomited upon by Paul Rudd’s character Peter Klaven in “I Love You Man.” In its first weekend alone it had already grossed a respectable 37 million, topping the box office. This looks like it may have enough cheese, humor and action to delight audiences, but between Ford and Craig, the acting talent implies that this is either a brilliant script, or the studio offered a boatload of cash.
Following up on “The Hangover Part II” and “Bridesmaids” earlier this summer, “Horrible Bosses” and “Bad Teacher” hope to cash in on unsavory characters with a belly full of laughs. Among the many “Horrible Bosses” stars are Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell. Aniston and Farrell are well disguised in these films as they play in unexpected roles as Bateman leads his two friends in a plot to kill their cruel employers. Surprisingly in this economy, it is not considered a threat to national security.
“Horrible Bosses” director, Seth Gordon’s, first film – the documentary “The King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters” – documents one man’s fight to defeat and prove his record high score in the Donkey Kong arcade game. This gem is available on streaming Netflix and is worth the watch just for the eccentric characters who frequent the arcade. Gordon has earned a place in many cult filmgoers’ hearts with that one.
Last, but not least, Cameron Diaz stars in “Bad Teacher” alongside “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” writer and star Jason Segal, and Justin Timberlake, fresh off of an acclaimed role in “The Social Network.” All three stars have proven their silver screen charm and charisma, and the movie is knocking on the door of the 100 million dollar mark.
At the end of the season, two films are poised to be billion dollar runaways in this memorable summer with the promise of “Cowboys & Aliens” and “Captain America” to bring in more revenue. It seems we now live in a day where a $100 million payoff is a given, and the thrills and laughs are a high commodity in a society wishing for wonder and escape.
Photo caption: (Courtesy movie poster for “Cowboys & Aliens”)
