FRIDAY PREVIEW: APR 20th, 2012

What a well deserved hiatus from Friday Previews. But here we are, back to the grind. Let's take a look at last friday's big ones...

First Place: The Hunger Games ($21.1 Million)
Second Place: The Three Stooges ($17 Million)
Third Place: The Cabin in the Woods ($14.7 Million)
Fourth Place: Titanic 3D ($11.9 Million)
Fifth Place: American Reunion ($10.5 Million)

No surprises in this department. The Hunger Games remains on top as it probably deserves, followed somewhat closely by The Three Stooges, which it probably doesn't deserve. The Cabin in the Woods didn't do nearly as well as it should, based on the massive majority of positive reviews it's gotten for revamping the slasher pic. Titanic 3D and American Reunion round out the bunch, both based on or actually being previous material.

What does Hollywood have in store for us this week? Hit the jump to find out!

The Lucky One

Directed by: Scott Hicks
Written by: Will Fetters (Screenplay), Nicholas Sparks (Novel)
Length: 1 hr 41 mins
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner
Trailer


Synopsis:
A Marine travels to North Carolina after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.(IMDb)


My Opinion:

Another Nicholas Sparks novel, adapted into a film. Although I haven't had much exposure to Zac Efron's acting, I don't expect to see anything extraordinary here. Taylor Schilling was pretty good in the underwhelming Atlas Shrugged: Part I, so I hope she's given a better shot here. None the less, although this movie isn't for me, I bet it won't do half bad at the box office.



Think Like a Man

Directed by: Tim Story
Written by: Steve Harvey (Book), Keith Merryman, David A. Newman (Screenplay)
Length: 2 hrs 3 mins
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Chris Brown, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Romany Malco
Trailer


Synopsis:
Four friends conspire to turn the tables on their women when they discover the ladies have been using Steve Harvey's relationship advice against them. (IMDb)


My Opinion:

Absolute crap, even without Tyler Perry attached to the project. I don't even want to put in the effort to talk about this one.





Chimpanzee

Directed by: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield
Length: 1 hr 18 mins
Rating: G
Narrated by: Tim Allen
Trailer


Synopsis:
A 3-year-old chimpanzee is separated from his troop and is then adopted by a fully-grown male.(IMDb)


My Opinion:

Thank god, a green light. I'm a sucker for anything nature related, and Chimpanzee is right up my ally. This one is sure to have some fantastic cinematography as well. Keep in mind, if you're thinking of paying $20 to see this one, it's less than 80 minutes long, so pretty much a television program. I'm sure it'll be a great story, but maybe better as a rental.





Jesus Henry Christ

Directed by: Dennis Lee
Written by: Dennis Lee
Length: 1 hr 32 mins
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Jason Spevack, Toni Collette, Michael Sheen, Samantha Weinstein
Trailer


Synopsis:
At the age of ten, Henry James Hermin, a boy who was conceived in a petri-dish and raised by his feminist mother, follows a string of Post-It notes in hopes of finding his biological father. (IMDb)


My Opinion:

I love Michael Sheen, but didn't this movie come out a year or so ago, in the form of The Kids Are All Right? Maybe this one has a little more quirk, but in terms of originality, I have a feeling it's been done before. I'll wait and see...





Marley

Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Length: 2 hrs 24 mins
Rating: PG-13
Trailer


Synopsis:
A documentary on the life, music, and legacy of Bob Marley. (IMDb)


My Opinion:

I'm sure it's no coincidence that this documentary, about the life and works of Bob Marley, comes out on 4/20. I really have no stake in this film, having only listened to Bob Marley when someone else was listening to it, or it played on the radio. Although I bet it's a very respectful look at his life, and is probably extremely well done, it's just not my kind of source material.


Conclusion:
Red Lights:
Think Like A Man

Yellow Lights:
The Lucky One
Henry Jesus Christ
Marley

Green Lights:
Chimpanzee