TGITDNMAR (8/17/07)

It's that time again for TGITDNMAR, which (obviously) stands for Thank God It's The Day New Movies Are Released.

It's a weird week for new releases. On the one hand, we have what is really the last anticipated movie of the summer season in Superbad. On the other hand, we have two official dumpings and one small, faux-British comedy. You could argue that Columbia is either insane for waiting so long to release it now that we've officially reached the doldrums, or could you sat that they're crazy like a fox for being essentially the only game in town this week (and next week and probably the week after). I guess we'll know on Monday how smart or dumb they are.


Superbad
It's a shame that the inevitable Judd Apatow backlash will occur. It's just the nature of the beast, so it's unavoidable, but there's really foreseeable reason for it. True, he didn't direct this, but he might as well have, as the actual director's name (Greg Mottola) gets less press than Eric Roberts. Either way, this looks like a winner all around - likable stars, "Panama" in the trailer, and Apatow and gang don't turn PG on the guys in the audience when it comes to the raunch.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 100%


The Last Legion
I happened to see a commercial for this the other day and it was the first thing that I had even heard about it. How is this possible? I see approximately two movies a week, covering all genres. I read lots of blogs and movie news sites. What's the story? Did the decision to put this out now just happen last week, am I off my game, or is this just an aberration?

Anyway, this swords-and-sandals flick stars Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley and blah blah blah. What does it matter - it'll be gone and never heard from again in two weeks.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 6%


The Invasion
Nicole then (~1988):









Nicole now:












Invasion, indeed.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 30%

Death at a Funeral
Weird that people are calling this a British comedy. Last time I checked, director Frank Oz, and stars Alan Tudyk (Dodgeball) and Peter Dinklage (Elf, The Station Agent) were American, though Tudyk fakes a Brit accent. Nonetheless, it does take place across the pond and I'm sure the humor is more like "humour." Either way, it looks like it might be a winner, and the counter programming ought to work, at least somewhat. Worth noting that this is two Dinklage movies to be released in the last few weeks (the last one being Underdog). Could he be the rare little-person actor to actually break through to consistent non-cliched roles? It seems so, and good for him.
Fletch's Chance of Viewing (in the theater): 49%