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Show Cinema | ‘Scary Movie 4’ takes Easter bunny money LOS ANGELES — The lat- . est entry in the “Scary Movie” sagastirred up strong returns over the Easter weekend,pulling in an estimated $41 million to claim the domestic box office crown. In addition to becoming the first movie from the Weinstein Companyto top the box office, the hefty haul for “Scary Movie 4” represented the largest-ever Easter weekend take (topping the $30.1 million opening for “Panic Room”) and the second biggest opening for an April release (behind the $42.2 million for “Anger Management”). Playingin 3,602 locations, the sequel averaged $11,388 per screen for the three days end- ing Sunday (April 16). “Scary Movie 4”still gave a big overall boost to the Top 12 films at the box office, which grossed $109.99 million, a 23 percentincrease over the same weekend last year. The twoleadingfilms from last weekendeach dropped by one position. “Ice Age: The Meltdown’fell 41 percentin its third frameto $20 million, as its cumulativetotal rose to $147.2 million. Sony's comedy “The Benchwarmers”wasoff by 49 percentto $10million,for GLEN WILSON/Universal Pictures Reality show “American Dreamz" host Martin Tweed (Hugh Grant) with his tp contestants: show-tune singing, would-beterrorist Omer(Sam Golzari); conniving steel magnolia Sally (Mandy Moore); and Orthodox rapper Sholem (Adam Busch). Hail to the cheese Compiled by Exhibitor Relations Co and Nelsen ED! Fray Sunday 1. “Scary Movie 4," Weinstein Co,, Seacrest, Simon Cowell and “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller. While it’s just as timely as those two previous films, Dreamz” can be exuberantly fun, bring ‘a smile to your face, evenleave you feelingslightly giddy.It’s also lighter than a feather. Writer and director Paul Weitz nails both “Ameri- can Idol” and America’s president, but forgets to chew on whathe’sbitten off. * Dennis Quaid, who starred in Weitz's-2004 corporate com- edy “In Good Company,” is a wholly inspired choice to play the good ol’ boy commander in chief, who only understands why-the country is at war in Iraq whenit’s explained to him in terms of comic book characters. And HughGrant, star of Weitz’s 2002 dramedy “About a Boy,” functions beautifully as an amalgamation of Ryan however, “American Dreamz” lacksthe brains of the former and the heart ofthe latter. It’s not that the humoris over- with Grant's Martin Tweed savoringthe typically stellar ratingsof his TV singing contest, “American Dreamz,” while breaking up with his latest adoring,blondgirlfriend. Quaid’s President Staton, ‘meanwhile, wakes up on the morning after a close election bearing — this is by no means to findhe still has a job. a grotesque, over-the-top “It was helluvafight,” he says,pointing emphatically “Saturday Night Live” sketch, stretched out to feature-film witha slice of toast. “The imth. ” portant thing is, the good guys But evenas the film expertly won.” skewersits targets,it finds Their paths will ultimately nothing illuminating to say collide when the president's while they're on the hook. chiefofstaff (Willem Dafoe) Wannabe popstarsare suggests that he could get a popularity boost by appearing ambitious andwill say or do as a guest judge duringthe fianything — eventrot out an injured war veteran — to gain nals on “American Dreamz.” Thing is, by the time the sympathy and support from a fickle public.Politicians are presidentgets to the big event, managed by an array of hanhe’s begun reading the news- _ dlers who dictate everything paperforthefirst timein his that they say and do. life ‘andis actually trying to Therefore... what, exactly? think seriously about what's — in the world. When the Weitzstarts out strong, Review $40,222,875, 3,602 locations, $11,167 © average, $40,222,875, one week. 2. “Ice Age: The Meltdown, * Fox, $20,026,625, 3,873 locations, $5,171 averat $147,226,916, je, three weeks. American Dreamz Director: Paul Weitz Cast: Dennis Quaid, Hugh Grant, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe Running time: 1 hr., 39 min. Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language and somesexual references Location: OpensFriday in theaters eevee much-anticipated “American Dreamz”finale turns into a hostagecrisis, he knows how to handleit. Sort of. It’s all joyfully cynical, if that’s possible. And certain to make you wish that Weitz, to borrow a phrase from“Idol” judge Paula Abdul, had taken the material andreally madeit his own. 3. “TheBenchwarmers,” Sony, $9,913,291, 3,282 locations, $3,021 average, $35,881,922, two weeks. 4. “The Wild,” Disney, $9,684,809, 2,854 locations, $3,393 average, $9,684,809, one week 5 “Take the Lead,”“New Li $6,783,697, 3,009 locations, $2,254 = $22,601,019, two weeks. inside Man,” Universal, i mae 2,477 locations, $2,595 average, $75,421,180, four weeks. 7. “Lucky Number Slevin,” Slevin,” MGM, $4,752,800, 1,989 locations, $2,390 average,$14,297,147, two weeks. 8. “Thank You for Smoking,” Fox Searchlight, $4,491,102, 1,015 locations, $4,425 average,$11,539,571, five weeks. 9. “Failure to Launch,” Paramount, $2,608,433, 1,950 locations, $1,338 average, $83,179,669, six weeks. 10. “V ForVendetta,” Warner Bros. $2,224,266,1,380 locations, $1,612 average, $66,037,682, five weeks & 9002 ‘02 Judy “Aepsinyy ‘Aepsinyy ‘pjeraq Ajieg d risty Lemire Zap2it.com Box Office Caustic comedy combinesthe chief exec and ‘AmericanIdol’ ‘THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. $35.98 million overall. |