OCR Text |
Show 0 unema V 0 i m Si - 'i DIYAH PERA20th Century fox Men' stands tall - LOS ANGELES The suThe Last perhero epic Stand" proved magnetic over the Memorial Day weekend, taking in $120.1 million, the biggest opening ever for the holiday weekend. Preliminary estimates also gave the latest installment of the comic book franchise the fourth best three-da- y opening ever and the best single Friday in movie history with a gross of "X-Me- $45.5 million. The film's box office was the one-dagross ever after last year's "Star Wars: Episode III." The movie exceeded expectations, including those of 20th Century Fox, which released it. "Wow," said Bruce Snyder, head of distribution at 20th Cen- tury Fox. "It blew my expecta- tions away. It's rarefied air." second-bigge- - MELISSA . Former lovers, now hostile roommates, bus tour guide Gary Grobowski (Vince Vaughn) and Aniston) share a quiet moment in the romantic comedy "The Break-Up.- " Pictures MOSELEYUniversal art dealer Brooke Meyers (Jennifer y L The Associated Press Broken down Box Office Compiled by Exhibitor Relation Co and Vesen EDI nc foi fast Halfhearted romantic mishmash kills its own comedy , Cody Clark DAILY Since the movie is called "The Looking we know what's coming up after that. The only thing we don't know is whether a) these two birds of a feather end up flocking apart because they've grown to actually detest each other, or b) the split is for wimpier reasons that won't stand in the way of a cuddly reconciliation at or about minute 101 (out of 104, maybe 105 does anyone not know this Break-Up,- HERALD down the row game Field, a pretty sitting with a dorky guy and buys her a dog. He buys one for the schmuck, too, and even passes the mus- - ' tard. What a guy. Later, as everyone streams toward the exits after the final out, Gary accosts the object of his infatuation and, in his loutish way, convinces her that the dude with the plaid shorts, tucked-igolf shirt and sun visor prob' ably isn't the love of her life. Oh, and hey, where can they go have a beer together? Since Gary is played by Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston is the woman, Brooke, on the arm of Mr. Wrong, we know what's in store for them even before the soundtrack starts chirping Queen's "You're My Best Friend." n " drill?). OK, we also don't know how many donuts Vaughn Jon Favreau have and eaten between them in the last five years, but it looks to be somewhere between "plenty" and "tons." See, fellas, when you're cashing the big checks, you can afford to buy a gym membership. Getting back to the nuts and bolts: It's never really clear, what director Peyton Reed and writers Jeremy Garelick and Jay Lavender had in mind, co-st- because there doesn't appear to have been a point at which everyone actually agreed. The script has fangs one moment, and the next is so toothless it couldn't bite through yogurt. (Thanks to some vulgar sex talk and a strip poker party, the movie ultimately pushes its PG-1- 3 rating harder than it pushes our buttons.) There are some big laughs, like a scene that builds to an a cappella rendition of "Owner of a Lonely Heart," or an exchange between Gary and his best friend, Johnny O (Favreau), in which the latter makes the former an offer that he rather literally can't refuse. And I'm tickled by any excuse for Vaughn to trash talk a in the midst of a heated video game football clash by saying. "You think it's possible your mom won't love you anymore if she sees how badly you're losing the game." Yet the bottom line is still 1. The last Stand," Fox, $122,861,157, 3,690 locations, $33,296 average, $122,861,157, one week. Review The QD Break-U- p 3. "Over the Hedge," DreamWorks Animation, Director: Peyton Reed 1 hr., 45 min. for sexual conRating: P6-1tent, some nudity and language 3 Location: Opens Friday in aters everywhere $35,322,115, 4,093 loca- tions, $8,630 average, $84,377,727, two Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Jon Favreau, Judy Davis Running time: 2. "The Da Vinci Code," Sony, $42,437,372, 3,754 locations, $11,305 average, $144,918,409, two weeks. the- that the movie never decides whether to be nasty or nice, right up to its terminally bland afterthought of a final scene. The strongest impression left by that ending is of the director and writers essentially throwing up their hands. Hey. when 50 percent of your exit strategy Is to crank up Jimmy Cliff singing "I Can See Cleaiiy Now," that's not even copping out. It's abject surrender. weeks. 4. "Mission: Impossible III," Paramount, $8,901,106, 3,053 locations, $2,916 average, $116,170,705. four weeks. 5. "Poseidon," Warner Bros., $7,087,413, 3,245 locations, $2,184 average, $46,730,1 50, three weeks. 6. "RV," Sony, $5,446,703, 2,481 $2,195 average, $57,301,243, five weeks. 7. "See No Evil," lionsgate. $3,437,537, 1.270 locations, $2,707 average, $9,400,956, two weeks. c 8. "Just M luck," FoK7$i48bT2i4i 1.604 locations, $1,546 averagf. $14,112,398, three weeks. c 3a. It 9. "United 93," Universal 1 054,56a 781 locations, $1,350 average, $29,878,975. five weeks. 10. "Ice Age: the Meltdown," fox. $985,778. 631 locations, $1,557 aver-age- , $190,694,600, nine weeks. 9 |