Kate Hudson is My Best Friend's Girl (reviews); While Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington get more than they bargained for moving into Lakeview Terrace (reviews) Ricky Gervais finds himself among the living dead in Ghost Town (reviews). And then there's the CG animated Igor (reviews)
Dave McNary and Pamela McClintock of Variety:
After last weekend’s box office boom -- led by the Coen brothers’ “Burn After Reading” -- this weekend could prove a lull as several new modest players make their play before action-thriller “Eagle Eye” debuts a week from now.
Still, the sesh could spin some drama of its own if Neil LaBute’s suspenser “Lakeview Terrace,” starring Samuel L. Jackson, ends up in a closer race than expected with Kate Hudson-Dane Cook romantic comedy “My Best Friend’s Girl.”
Most have been giving “Lakeview” an edge, but “Best Friend’s Girl” has picked up strength in tracking. Lionsgate unspools the R-rated “Best Friend’s Girl” in 2,604 runs. Sony opens “Lakeview,” toplining Samuel L. Jackson and rated PG-13, in 2,464.
There are two other new wide releases -- DreamWorks/Paramount’s comedic ghost yarn “Ghost Town” and Exodus Film Group’s family toon “Igor” -- but they’ll face tough competition from holdovers. Because of its smaller screen count, “Ghost Town,” starring Greg Kinnear, Ricky Gervais and Tea Leoni, is expected to gross in the single digits. Pic, billed as a romantic comedy, is earning strong reviews, and will likely play to an older aud. “Igor,” which is being distributed by MGM, will try to play off being the only family film in the marketplace.
The specialty side heats up as Paramount Vantage opens Keira Knightley-Ralph Fiennes historical drama “The Duchess” in seven theaters and Warner Bros.’ opens Viggo Mortensen-Ed Harris-Renee Zellweger Western “Apploosa,” directed by Harris, in New York, L.A. and Toronto. Redwood Palms opens Stuart Townsend’s Charlize Theron-Ray Liotta-Woody Harrelson action-drama “Battle in Seattle” in 21 theaters.
Overall, the weekend box office will have trouble matching the same frame a year ago, even if the new openers perform better than expected. The general consensus is that “Lakeview” and “Best Friend’s Girl” will open in the mid-teen range. On the same weekend a year ago, Sony’s “Resident Evil: Extinction” opened to $23.7 million, while Lionsgate’s Dane Cook-Jessica Alba romantic comedy debuted to $17.3 million.
At the same time, no one expected last weekend to be as strong as it was, with “Burn,” “Tyler Perry’s the Family that Preys,” “Righteous Kill” and “The Women” helping to deliver the second-best September weekend on general (not including Labor Day).
“Best Friend’s Girl” is tracking well among both younger women and men, while “Lakeview” should play heavily male. Some believe that with the country reeling from the economic breakdown on Wall Street, moviegoers will go for comedy. That could boost overall ticket sales for “Best Friend’s Girl,” which also stars Alec Baldwin...
Joshua Rich of EW:
Samuel L. Jackson's thriller aims to scare off three new rivals and take the weekend box office crown
Town leads the critics choice for #1 but the race is clearly between Lakeview and Best..which may get a boost from Dane Cook's blog rant says The LA Times...
We'll never know for sure...But if Cook's post is once again making news than fans may be curious to see what all the fuss is about.
Next Up:Eagle Eye spies on Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan...Spike Lee finds a Miracle at St. Anna...
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