Two And Fro

The Will Ferrell sports comedy Semi-Pro (reviews) leads off a trio of new wide releases this week:

Joining Pro is the period drama The Other Boleyn Girl (reviews) starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, and Eric Bana; And Penelope (reviews)-a cinematic retelling of The Ugly Duckling

Pamela McClintock and Dave McNary of Variety:

With Thursday's announcement that New Line will fold into Warner Bros., Will Ferrell laffer "Semi-Pro" takes on the added distinction of being the final release from Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne's standalone New Line.

Basketball spoof "Semi-Pro" should have no trouble dribbling its way to No. 1 at the weekend box office, although it faces some issues in being rated R. Previous Ferrell topliners "Talledaga Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and last year's "Blades of Glory" were both rated PG-13.

Weekend's other two new wide releases target the female crowd. Sony bows royal bodice ripper "The Other Boleyn Girl" in 1,196 runs, while Summit Entertainment debuts modern-day fairy tale "Penelope" in 1,166 runs.

On the specialty front, Miramax's "No Country for Old Men" will try to parlay its top Oscar wins into additional gains at the box office. Film goes from 1,101 to 2,037 runs in its biggest expansion to date. Film's cume was $64.3 million through Sunday, according to Rentrak.

Some had speculated that New Line parent co. Time Warner wouldn't announce New Line's fate until after "Semi-Pro" opened.

"Semi-Pro" is tracking well among men and boys under 25, although many are predicting that it will open well lower than Ferrell's most recent films. Last year's "Blades of Glory" opened to $33.9 million in March 2007, while "Talladega Nights" opened at $47 million in August 2006.

"Semi-Pro" is more likely to open only higher than Ferrell's "Kicking and Screaming" ($20.2 million) and "Bewtiched" ($20.1 million). "Old School," also rated R, opened at $17.4 million.

Studio had hoped for a PG-13 rating, but that to achieve that goal, director Kent Alterman would have had to cut too much language. Studio said it has a long tradition of supporting filmmakers.

"Semi-Pro" also stars Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin and Will Arnett.

"Boleyn Girl," based on the best-selling book of the same name, stars Scarlett Johansson as the Boleyn sisters and Eric Bana as King Henry VIII. Anne and Mary Boleyn, and their tempestuous affair with the king, also are the subject of a Showtime series that is returning soon for its second season.

The PG-rated "Penelope" is expected to do less business, but is showing awareness with younger girls. Produced by Reese Witherspoon's production company Type A, "Penelope," which toplines Christina Ricci as a young heiress cursed with a pig nose, plays in 1,166 theaters. Witherspoon and James McAvoy co-star.

Film marks the second release from Summit, which is trying to stake a claim in the distribution business...

Joshua Rich of Entertainment Weekly:

The funnyman's ''Semi-Pro'' will be No. 1, but an R rating might hinder its business

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Next Week: Travel back in time with director Roland Emmerich in the epic looking 10000 BC and then go on a G-rated College Road Trip with Martin Lawrence and former child star all grown up Raven-Symoné.