"Season" Greetings

This weekend's box office battle finds actor Ashton Kutcher in the unique situation of having to compete for the number one spot with--himself. The former That 70s Show star has two films opening today. The CGI-animated Open Season (reviews) and the self proclaimed "Movie Event Of The Fall"--The Guardian (reviews). The latter of which, is directed by Andrew Davis and co-stars Kevin Costner, who hasn't done an "action/drama" in quite awhile. The Guardian looks decent enough--even as it reminds me of say Top Gun (1986) or the more recent Annapolis (2006) Young men with a huge chip on their shoulders and something to prove...

The comedy School For Scoundrels (reviews), starring the great Jon Heder and Billy Bob Thornton also debuts today. It's from the guy behind 2003's highly overrated Old School...

Ian Mohr of Variety gives us a look at how the weekend shapes up:

There's something for everyone at the box office this weekend, as three new wide rollouts compete for vastly different aud[ience]s.

Disney's "The Guardian" (3,241 playdates) will be battling Sony's "Open Season" (3,833) and MGM/Weinstein Co.'s "School for Scoundrels" (3,004).

Laffer "School for Scoundrels," starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder, will ring the bell for younger males.

All three will have to contend with the second frame of "Jackass: Number Two," which won last week's derby with $29 million.

Coast Guard drama "Guardian," starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher, has been tracking well with female auds thanks to its stars, as well as with older males.

"Season," meanwhile, has the family market to itself, though this year has seen a glut of CG product hit theaters with mixed results; most recent was Fox and IDT's "Everyone's Hero," which bowed Sept. 15 to just $6 million.

Pic features the voices of Martin Lawrence, Kutcher, Gary Sinise and Debra Messing...

The complete Variety article can be found here.

Meanwhile, over at Entertainment Weekly, Joshua Rich predicts: Cartoon "Season" will open No. 1

Lastly, the drama, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (reviews) opens in limited release as well.

A 2-time winner at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival--The film boasts a fine cast and looks like it's worth seeking out...