The Weekend Blend

By Josh Tyler: 2006-07-14 00:00:00

It’ll be another weekend dominated by Pirates of the Caribbean, the film sets another record every day it’s in release. But ever optimistic, Hollywood is releasing some other movies anyway. It’s a battle for second place, a battle that will probably be won by You, Me and Dupree. If there’s any justice, Little Man won’t even register in the top ten.

But who cares about how good a job Hollywood execs are doing at lining their own pockets? Here’s our usual look at what’s opening and worth your time this weekend.

7/14 – 7/16

Sneak Peeks
The great family film Monster House roles out for 700 sneak screenings across the country. If you’ve got kids, you’ll want to get a jump on seeing it. Check your local listings.

Expanding
After a 2 or 3 screen release last weekend, Richard Linklater’s gimmicky sci-fi movie A Scanner Darkly widens out to a 216 screen release. Expanding along with it is Strangers with Candy, a movie which there’s absolutely no reason to see. But it’ll be in 76 theaters anyway, perhaps hoping that someone will buy a ticket by accident.

Limited Releases(Opening in fewer than 500 theaters.)
William H. Macy’s new movie Edmond arrives in a two theater release. The story of a married man who has a mid-life crisis and ends up wandering the gritty pre-Disneyfied world of Times Square, it’s not getting rave reviews, but Macy is always killer. Also opening is the virginity indie Mini’s First Time. You may remember it from its bikini babe poster, which features the film’s lolita in a skimpy red two-piece. Look for it in one or two theaters.

Little Man (Opens in 2,533 theaters.)

The Wayans follow up White Chicks with another stolen comedy concept. Remember those old Looney Tunes where a midget criminal is mistaken for a baby? They’ve stretched that out into a movie. It’s funny, because they think he’s a baby and he isn’t! Don’t expect a laugh riot. The movie was barely screened for the press, and those it was screened for are giving it absolutely horrible reviews. Alright, credit to Sony for at least having the guts to let reviewers take a crack at it. They had to know no one was going to like it, but at least they were smart enough to realize that bad press is better than no press at all. Besides, the people rushing out to see it probably can’t read anyway.

You, Me and Dupree (Opens in 4,065 theaters.)

Owen Wilson has transitioned from crashing weddings to crashing already in progress marriages. He plays Dupree, a shaggy funboy loser who crashes on the couch of his newly married buddy and proceeds to make his friend’s life a living hell. It’s a role tailor made for Wilson, who’s always at his best when playing a well-meaning slacker. The film’s getting mediocre reviews, which, as CB Critic Lexi Feinberg points out, is about the best you can expect from a comedy not involving Steve Carell these days. Until Talladega Nights hits in a few weeks, this is probably your best bet for a theatrical laugh.

STILL IN THEATERS AND WORTH YOUR TIME: Superman Returns, Cars, Nacho Libre

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