By Chris Kavan - 05/15/14 at 06:47 AM CT
While Spider-Man 2 may have opened up the summer movie season, its returns are quickly diminishing. Maybe a reboot of a beloved (and large) monster icon can kick things up a notch. Neighbors enjoyed a particularly good opening - one of the best for an original R-rated comedy - but I have no doubt it is going to get smashed by a towering behemoth as we welcome another potential blockbuster to the fold - that will perhaps be enough to put 2014 back on top compared to the same weekend in 2013.
GODZILLA We've already had one attempt to bring back the monster known as Godzilla - the result was the 1998 half-baked Godzilla that did decent box office business, but, let's face it, is a terrible film. But this time we have a director in Gareth Edwards (Monsters) who has assembled what looks like an outstanding cast (Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and David Strathairn in the main roles) and, from all the trailers I have seen, things are looking very promising. Some advanced screenings (including international markets) have taken place and while the critical response hasn't been overwhelming - it has been mostly positive (most cite that while the early part with Cranston is good - Taylor-Johnson doesn't have the same chops to carry the move in the second half and Godzilla itself take a bit long to show up on the scene). But I have to say that I am looking forward to this film almost as much at the new X-Men movie (which, as of this time, is my most anticipated summer film). Widespread destruction is always a great summer movie setting and if you have the right combination of direction, effects, story and acting - it may turn out to be much more than just another guilty pleasure. There is no doubt in my mind the beast will top the box office - I want to see how good it gets.
John Hamm (best known for playing Mad Men's Don Draper) takes on a bit of a different role in Disney's Million Dollar Arm. Based on a true story a sports agent, about at the end of his game, travels to India after seeing the talent of Cricket players. There he recruits - and pins his hopes and future - on a few young men who have to not only adjust to life outside of rural India - but prove to be major league talent. This is the type of feel-good fluff I usually avoid - while a story like Cool Runnings is great and all - obviously it is going to be "Disneyfied" to make things much more family-friendly and interesting. I'm sure they're going in the same direction with Million Dollar Arm. There is none of the grit of, say, Slumdog Millionaire here - they are going after the family audience (the PG rating kind of gives that away) and are hoping to fill in a niche that is missing at the box office right now (Rio 2 has already been out for five weeks and Legends of Oz failed to spark any interest). Even if critics are lukewarm, if families show up, it could enjoy a decent weekend.
I'm sure this is going to be a monster weekend - at least for one film - but we'll see if a radioactive lizard can give 2014 the boost it needs. I'm hoping so, but I'll be back here on Sunday with the full report.
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