i love you Tagged Articles at Cinematical

All the hand-wringing over whether or not Where the Wild Things Are is "for children," or "kid-tested, mother-approved," or whatever, turned out to be mostly academic: the kids didn't go. And the movie cleaned up anyway. According to figures cited by this David Germain piece in the AP, parents with kids made up only 27% of the $32.5 million Wild Things earned this weekend. The prevalence of adults (who I gather grew up on the book, unlike the current generation of tykes) probably bodes well, or at least better, for the box office staying power of the divisive, challenging film.

Gerard Butler's Law Abiding Citizen opened to $21.3 million in second place -- the highest ever opening gross for young distributor Overture. That may have been at the expense of Screen Gems' The Stepfather, the unscreened, bloodless PG-13 horror remake that debuted in fifth place with $12.3 million. That's still not bad given the total lack of expensive name-brand talent involved.

Paranormal Activity continued its slow roll-out charge, adding 600 screens (760 total) and adding $20 million to its gross. (That's around $26,000 per screen.) How much the idiotic "we-won't-open-in-your-city-unless-you-go-online-and-DEMAND-it" shtick had to do with this is debatable. (Would the movie have made even more had Paramount just held the film back and then put it into wide release this weekend?) But the "breakout hit" label is difficult to resist at this point. Good job everybody.

Down at number 21, the omnibus New York, I Love You goes on the probably-should-have-kept-it-in-the-arthouses category. Its predecessor-of-sorts, Paris Je T'aime, expanded to around 200 screens rather than starting there, and did considerably better than New York will, foreign language handicap and all.

The full top 10 after the jump.

I Love You, Man comes out on DVD and Blu-ray today, and it's a light-hearted if quickly forgettable movie that squarely defines "bromance," which has quickly become one of the marketing industry's favorite terms. It's a word that's come to describe camaraderie between men on screen when "friends" just won't cut it. We're not talking about Brokeback Mountain levels of love between males here, but something just south of it.

Unfortunately, I Love You, Man doesn't really nail that moment until the very end of the film. By then, the only thing stuck in your head is Paul Rudd's "Slappin' de bass" line, and the bond between Rudd and Jason Siegel seems more like beer buddies than anything. But what about movies that nail between man, for better or worse? Here's seven examples of movies that are very pro-bro.


Midnight Run
Martin Brest's 1998 bounty hunter tracking down his man movie his one of the best bromances ever captured on film: Charles Grodin and Robert De Niro. Paramount, the first studio developing this project, wanted to team De Niro with Cher to provide some "sexual overtones". Thankfully, Paramount bowed out and Universal stepped in. Despite the fact that Grodin is in handcuffs for most of this movie, it's De Niro's Jack Walsh in emotionally shut-down chains who changes dynamically. The intimate ending scene between the two is worth all the hammy acting by the supporting cast.

Cinematical has just received these exclusive images from a new version of the book I Love You, Beth Cooper that author Larry Doyle (The Simpsons) is putting out (in connection with the upcoming film) that contains a whole bunch more of the hilarious art featured in the first one. If you haven't yet read I Love You, Beth Cooper then I strongly suggest picking up a copy because it's easily one of the funniest books I've read in the past couple of years (but I'm also a sucker for those teen angst tales; The Catcher in the Rye is, like, my favorite book of all time).

I Love You, Beth Cooper follows the story of a pimple-faced high school valedictorian named Denis Cooverman who professes his love for the school's hottest student (Beth Cooper) while doling out his speech to the entire class on graduation day. From that point on, it turns into one of those crazy all-nighter stories that we don't see enough of these days. (Remember License to Drive? This book reminded me of that film, only Beth Cooper definitely stays awake the entire time and there's a lot more action and pop culture references.)

The film, which was directed by Chris Columbus and stars Hayden Panettiere and Paul Rust in the lead roles, hits theaters on July 10. If it's half as good as the book, it will be so worth your dollar -- the perfect fun summer film. Check out the two pieces of art down below (mildly NSFW for language), and the latest version of the paperback (which includes 32 new pages of content and 16 new pages of art) hits shelves on June 9. Additionally, feel free to scope out the latest trailer for I Love You, Beth Cooper after the jump.

Welcome to another edition of Insert Caption -- the game that has 'Adventureland' written all over it. Last week we asked you to chime in with a caption for the film I Love You, Man, starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel as two dudes who spark up a hilarious (and don't forget heartwarming) bromance. Congrats go out to the three readers who reached out and touched our souls with their inspired captions.

1. "From the set of the unfinished franchise reboot: Bill and Ted's Not-Completely-Forgettable Saturday Afternoon." -- Kurt P.

2. "SLAPPIN DA BAAAASSSSSSS!!!!" -- Lauren A.

3. "Dude, we are so ready to take this Guitar Hero act on the road." -- Kathi F.
See full image and all captions


This week we're traveling back to the year 1987 for the new movie Adventureland (in theaters today), from director Greg Mottola (Superbad). While we'd love to get in the spirit of the film and hand out a giant ass panda to the reader who can successfully throw a dented ring over their computer screen from twenty feet away, something tells me that's just a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, we have Kristen Wiig holding a giant banana and these fabulous prizes: one Adventureland signed poster, one Adventureland T-Shirt and one Adventureland soundtrack. So, ladies and gentlemen, step right up and take your best shot ...



Read the official rules for this contest

Welcome back to another edition of Insert Caption -- your official source for the hottest on-screen bromances this side of the Mississippi river! Last week we asked you to throw some smackdown on a rough-and-tough photo from the movie Twilight in anticipation of the brand new DVD. Picking winners for this one was tough, but someone had to get a little dirty and confirm this deed done. Congrats to the both you!


1. "Is this part of the bromance?" -- Atiba E.

2. "Dude! I told you no 'open-mouth kisses' on the first date." -- Adam E.

See full image and all captions






This week we're taking a step back to celebrate what is perhaps 2009's greatest (and most entertaining) bromance. All you have to do is look at the photo below from the new movie I Love You, Man and spit out the most awesomest caption known to man. In return, three winners will skip away with one I Love You, Man signed poster, one I Love You, Man man-groomers (www.mangroomer.com), one I Love You, Man T-Shirts, one I Love You, Man Ping Pong ball sets, and one I Love You, Man promotional cup. Sound off below ...



Read the official rules for this contest

Nic Cage-heavy advertising propelled Knowing to the top of the box office and a decent $24 million opening weekend, though we'll see what happens once audiences get a load of what this exceedingly weird movie is actually about. The arrival of Monsters vs. Aliens won't help either. I expect at least a 50% drop-off next week.

What's interesting about the $18 million bow for I Love You, Man is that I'm pretty sure the movie got an assist from the Judd Apatow brand even though Judd Apatow didn't have a damn thing to do with it. It's Paul Rudd + Jason Segel + tone. People love these clever, raunchy male-fantasy movies, and there's no end in sight. On the other hand, Duplicity may have come off as too smart for the room, as pervasive marketing, Clive Owen and Julia Roberts didn't amount to more than $14 million for Tony Gilroy's film. That's more than Gilroy's Michael Clayton ever made in a weekend, but that movie was platformed.

Watchmen's looking like $115 million at the end of the day. Other holdovers are looking more impressive: Coraline and Madea Goes to Jail are still bumming around the top 10 after seven and five weeks, respectively; the latter is by far Tyler Perry's highest-grossing film, while the former has parlayed a $16 million opening to what will be an $80 million finish.

The full top 10 after the jump.

(We're reposting this review from SXSW to coincide with the film's theatrical release this weekend)

By: Eugene Novikov

Up until now, Paul Rudd has been content to sit in the back seat. Apart from a funny but nondescript star turn in Role Models, Rudd has mostly bided his time on the fringes of the various Team Apatow productions, churning out one memorable supporting performance after another, plus the occasional bit part in the likes of Night at the Museum. That he's developed a small but enthusiastic fanbase anyway speaks to his star potential.

I Love You, Man is a sweet, amusing, and perfectly acceptable comedy all around, but it's exciting because it marks the point where Rudd finally begins to stake out his territory as a comedian and a leading man. As Peter Klaven, the happy and level-headed real estate agent who discovers, upon proposing to his girlfriend of eight months, that his total lack of guy friends will result in an all-female wedding party if he doesn't act fast, Rudd combines a nice-guy earnestness with a simmering nervous energy – he's like a less sarcastic Albert Brooks or a more self-conscious Steve Martin.

Despite having the biggest opening weekend of the year, Watchmen took a sharp dive in its second weekend, falling about 66%, but still holding on to second place. Dwayne Johnson's new Disney outing Race to Witch Mountain took top honors, with the horror remake The Last House on the Left scaring up a respectable third. Miss March took in only $2.4 million, which is only enough to buy tenth place. Here's the top five:

1. Race to Witch Mountain: $25 million
2. Watchmen: $18 million
3. The Last House on the Left: $14.6 million
4. Taken: $6.6 million
5. Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail: $5.1 million


Three new ones this week providing a combination of laughs, thrills and romance.

Duplicity
What's It All About: Julia Roberts and Clive Owen are former intelligence operatives (CIA and MI6 respectively) who have traded in their cloaks and daggers for the world of corporate espionage. The two join forces to swindle their respective companies out of a product that will mean a fortune for whoever patents it first.
Why It Might Do Well: The two leads are the big attraction here.
Why It Might Not Do Well: The 60% rating at Rottentomatoes.com is still considered "fresh" but underwhelming.
Number of Theaters: 2,400
Prediction: $19 million

I Love You, Man
What's It All About: Paul Rudd plays a man about to marry the woman of his dreams, but with no guy friends to serve as best man, he sets up a series of man dates to court a new best friend. Jason Segel plays a personable yet possibly psychotic man who quickly becomes Rudd's BFF.
Why It Might Do Well: Both of these guys have made me laugh a lot in recent years, and the Tomatometer is up to 77%.
Why It Might Not Do Well: I think this one is pretty safe actually.
Number of Theaters: 2,500
Prediction: $22 million

SXSW jumped their own gun last night by announcing their line-up of film titles for this year's festival in Austin, TX.

Right around the ides of March, we'll be treated to the world premieres of:

• Best Worst Movie (all about the cult surrounding Troll 2 and supposedly containing an appearance by none other than our own Scott Weinberg),
• South By staple Joe Swanberg's latest, Alexander the Last,
• Gerald Perry's For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism (Scott's in this too? WTF?!),
• John Hamburg's bromantic comedy I Love You, Man,
• Gary Hustwit's new doc, Objectified (go queue up Helvetica already!),
• Jody Hill's Observe and Report (because we can't all love Paul Blart: Mall Cop),

...and much, much more! Personally, I'm also psyched to catch up with Sundance hits like Grace, Moon, We Live in Public, Humpday, and a couple of others -- not to mention the U.S. premiere of The Hurt Locker and a special anniversary screening of Office Space (yes, Austinites, another one). All I'd otherwise beg for is 500 Days of Summer, but who am I to look a gift fest in the mouth?

SXSW '09 runs from March 13-21, and you can expect plenty of coverage around these parts.

Our cohorts over at Moviefone have just unveiled a pretty hilarious R-rated trailer for the upcoming comedy I Love You, Man, starring Jason Segel and Paul Rudd. The film, which will premiere at the South By Southwest Film Festival before arriving in theaters on March 20th, follows this dude (Rudd) who, prior to getting hitched, realizes he doesn't have any male friends and thus sets out on a quest to find a best buddy. Once over on the site, you'll have to enter in your name, birthday and all that jazz -- but it's well worth it for this comedy that takes 'bromance' to the next level. And speaking of 'bromance', I think we've just discovered our first hot topic of 2009. Check out the brand spanking new R-rated trailer right over here.