By Chris Kavan - 04/07/16 at 06:50 AM CT
For two weeks Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has easily held on to the top spot, despite a precipitous drop in its second weekend. One would think a monster superhero blockbuster would be looking at weeks on top, but that drop was significant and could easily mean it will be toppled in just its third week out. The likely knock-out punch will come from Melissa McCarthy who had proven a very good box-office draw and with The Boss, she's once again in comedic top form. We'll also see the first-person Hardcore Henry, which I still think looks absolutely ridiculous, but I really want to see how it turns out. We'll also see an expansion for Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused follow-up, Everybody Wants Some!!, which has done well so far in limited release.
HARDCORE HENRY So what if this first-person action film isn't likely to top The Boss - I'm talking about it first because ever since witnessing the first trailer for this gonzo idea, I have been thrilled and kind of apprehensive at the same time. As a long-time fan of video games, I have played my fair share of FPS (first-person shooters for you not in the loop) games from the original Doom all the way to the updated Wolfenstein. The games work because they put you in the driver's seat (or shooter's seat) so to speak. Hardcore Henry takes this idea and turns it into a movie where the audience (you and I) are living the movie as Henry. You don't get to control him, but you get that visceral feeling of shooting, fighting and falling - through "your" eyes. I find it odd no one has ever thought of this before but I'm also not sure exactly how it will play out for a hour-and-a-half but I don't want to miss it. Who knows, if it takes off, maybe the next thrill of film-making will be strapping a Go Pro on everyone and going from there.
Ever since appearing in the ensemble comedy Bridesmaids back in 2011, Melissa McCarthy had made a name for herself an appeared in a string of comedic hits including Identity Thief. The Heat and Spy. Almost all her starring roles wind up in $100 million plus territory (Tammy fell short at $84.5 million but its budget was $20 million so it was still a win) and I see no reason why The Boss won't join that club. McCarthy plays a mogul who has make a name for herself even as she has made enemies. When she is stabbed in the back (by Peter Dinklage no less) she finds herself going to prison for insider trading. She does her time and is released and seeks to make a name for herself once again. The trailers make this one look pretty good - a mix of classic slapstick and cut-throat comedy. This is McCarthy in her element and besides Dinklage you have Kristen Bell, Ella Anderson, Tyler Labine, Kathy Bates. Kristen Schaal and Cecily Strong on board. I admit I usually give McCarthy's films a pass, but this looks a cut above the rest and I have a strong feeling it could very much give Batman v Superman a run for its money, and the top spot this weekend.
It has been way too many years in the waiting, but thanks to the success of the arthouse (and 12-year long shoot) of Boyhood, director Richard Linklater finally was able to return to his passion project of a spiritual successor to Dazed and Confused - Everybody Wants Some!!. The film takes place in the 80s during college and stars Blake Jenner (who I remember from Glee) as well as Ryan Guzman, Zoey Deutch, Juston Street, Tyler Hoechlin, Wyatt Russell, Glen Powell, Temple Baker and J. Quinton Johnson. If most of the names sound unfamiliar - that's okay, when Dazed and Confused came out names like Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, Parker Posey and Joey Lauren Adams were also mostly unknown - and look where they are now. I don't know if Everybody Wants Some will resonate as well, but the reviews have been positive and has already posted $411,808 in limited showings, so I have hope this will be a worthy followup to one of my all-time favorite films.
The weekend should be filled with drama - drama over who will come out on top as well as plenty of comedy and in-your-face action. I'll be back on Sunday when the results roll in.
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