By Chris Kavan - 02/12/15 at 06:34 AM CT
While February may have gotten off to a slow start, thing are about to heat up at the box office. A worldwide best seller about getting a little frisky (and kinky) is sure to give Valentine's audiences just the shot in the arm they need. If that isn't up your alley, don't worry, there is also some action in store - one way or the other, both these films look to turn things around, and, along with SpongeBob, there should be plenty of sparks in store this weekend.
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY So much has been said about the novel by E.L. James - it was inevitable there was going to be movie made at some point. Although the cast has shifted, Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are set to portray everyone's favorite couple, who explore some very close time together. You would think bondage would be a harder sell, but, man, did this ever find its audience. Woman nationwide swooned in delight and, even if the film can't match the fervor of the book, I still expect this to open huge. The marketing has been ridiculous on this one - adult-oriented tie-ins are rampant and excessive - but you can't overdo something like this. Now, this isn't the kind of movie I would ever pay to watch, but I expect the target audience is going to give this plenty of attention. Expect this one to come out on top in a big way - possibly setting some records in the process.
KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE When I first saw the trailer for Kingsman, I was a bit underwhelmed. It seemed like a poor substitution for James Bond, trying to court a younger audience. Yet, a funny thing has happened, as I see more and more of what the movie offers, I find myself getting more and more interested in the final product. I man, c'mon, you have Samuel L. Jackson playing a villain with a lisp, Colin Firth dropping his King's Speech persona to kick some butt and newcomer Taron Egerton joining an elite group of agents who protect queen and country. The supporting cast looks amazing - Michael Caine, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill and Jack Davenport help the cause. The movie just looks like a lot of fun - a scrappy underdog looking to prove himself, a bunch of action scenes and some kind of weapon that makes everyone fight each other - even if the film doesn't take itself seriously, I still want to watch it. It also offers great counter-programming to Fifty Shades of Grey - this is a guy's film all-around. I have a feeling it's not going to be able to match that film, but I also think it's going to do plenty better than most of the new films have done so far this year. I expect it to do pretty well on its own right.
With Fifty Shades and Kingsman leading a new charge, this should be an impressive weekend and continue the roll 2015 has been on (mainly due to American Sniper - but we'll take what we can get). I'll be back on Sunday with all the sordid details.
Comments
smeagol - wrote on 02/15/15 at 06:22 AM CT
i dont see the fuss over that film 12 year olds can watch it in france. so it just sounds like a tame cash in. the way everyone goes on about the book i would of thought they'd go for something more hardcore. seems like a hollywood watered down version.
kingsman might be fun.
