Exiting the laughter-filled theater after Whit Stilman's comic whatsit Damsels in Distress last night, I noticed a surprising amount of grumbling about the movie. Say, weren't you all laughing heartily just minutes ago? I know I heard you laughing. It's impossible to please those Upper West Siders!
Two men in front of me weren't impressed and one was clearly planning another movie outing soon with his brother.
Guy Who Picks The Movie: For my brother, I think... Three Stooges.
Other Guy: And it might be better movie."
The WTF comment haunted me the whole way home. What kind of a crossover audience might Damsels in Distress and The Three Stooges have. Which is to say who would be torn between them if they only had money for one ticket? LOL. It has to be a previously undiscovered demographic. To quote Suzanne in Postcards from the Edge when momma Doris suggests she could have had Joan Crawford for a mother... "These are my choices?"
Here is my best, my only, guess at the overlap...
That's all I got!
TOP TEN (Estimates)
01 THINK LIKE A MAN $33 new
02 THE LUCKY ONE $22.8 new
03 THE HUNGER GAMES $14.5 (cum $356.9) Reviewed
04 CHIMPANZEE $10.2 new
05 THE THREE STOOGES $9.2 (cum. $29.3)
06 CABIN IN THE WOODS $7.7 (cum. $26.9)
07 AMERICAN REUNION $5.2 (cum. $48.3)
08 TITANIC (3D) $5 (cum. $52.8) Centennial
09 21 JUMP STREET $4.6 (cum. $127) Reviewed
10 MIRROR MIRROR $4.1 (cum. $55.2) Reviewed
Below the Top Ten...
Damsels in Distress doubled its screen count but is still a long way from indie hit status. Darling Companion, opened on only 4 screens despite a name cast. (Yes, they're all senior citizens but couldn't they market this more widely to older viewers? I mean it's only been 9 years since Diane Keaton carried a $100 million multi-quadrant hit.) Further down the list the Weinstein Co's Oscar horses of 2011 are all about to return to the stable ending their theatrical runs as they hit DVD. The Iron Lady is dragging herself to a $30 million finish, The Artist is ending with $44, and Coriolanus and W.E. are... well, better luck on DVD.
What did you see this weekend? Do you love stunt casting? Which reality TV star would you gladly follow into the movie theater for some legit camera acting?