FRIDAY PREVIEW: JUL 1st

Last weekend consisted of a bunch of doozies, making millions of dollars none the less. Here are the top grossing films from last weekend:

First Place: Cars 2 ($66.1 Million)

Second Place: Bad Teacher ($31.6 Million)

Third Place: Green Lantern ($18 Million)

Fourth Place: Super 8 ($12 Million)

Fifth Place: Mr. Popper's Penguins ($10.1 Million)

Despite both Cars 2 and Bad Teacher having below a 50% rating on Rotten tomatoes, both nearly pulled in nearly$100 Million over a single weekend. With a Wednesday release this week, the weekend numbers will be somewhat skewed, but considering the scale of this blockbuster, the movie studios will be raking in the dough either way. Hit the jump to check out the new releases for the weekend of July 1st...


Transformers: Dark of the Moon
(Released Wednesday, June 29th)

Directed by: Michael Bay
Written by: Ehren Kruger
Length: 2 hrs 37 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, John Malkovich, Patrick Dempsey
Trailer


Synopsis:

Shia LaBeouf returns as Sam Witwicky in Transformers: Dark of the Moon. When a mysterious event from Earth's past erupts into the present day it threatens to bring a war to Earth so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save us. (© Paramount)

Directed by arguably someone who is revered as the worst director of all time, Transformers 3 is the summer blockbuster to end all other blockbusters. Well, in 2011 at least. On second thought, Harry Potter VIII will kick it's butt, but who's counting. Michael Bay (Pearl Harbor, The Island), who I was beginning to at least minorly respect as a director, has decided to shoot his film in 3D, something he once fought against (Spielberg and Bruckheimer bought him to the dark side). His decision to leave Megan Fox out of the cast and instead hire Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was applauded on my end, although I won't hold my breath as I don't expect her to be much of an actress herself (Objection, speculation!). Starring Shia LaBeouf and Josh Duhamel as well as a couple other newbies to the franchise (John Malkovich and Patrick Dempsey), I think the third (and probably not final) Transformers film will be very entertaining. Michael Bay publicly stated that Transformers 2 was total crap, so I'd hope that he's learned from his mistakes and is ready to make a movie worth watching. Set somewhat in the American midwest (including Chicago and Milwaukee), I think it'll be interesting to at least see some iconic (local) buildings get blown to hell. Although it has a two and a half hour running time (longer than Inception), I expect Transformers: Dark of the Moon to be extremely fun, with plenty of explosions and a half-assed script. But I'm not going for a Nolan-style story, I'm going to see Chicago get destroyed (again). Go Packers.


Larry Crowne

Directed by: Tom Hanks
Written by: Tom Hanks, Nia Vardalos
Length: 1 hr 39 mins
Rated: PG-13
Cast: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts
Trailer


Synopsis:

Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband.  (© Universal Pictures)

I really don't know what to write about Larry Crowne. Directed by Tom Hanks, I'd expect it to be quite a bit better than it looks, but for whatever reason, it doesn't look any good. Perhaps it's the age difference between myself and him, maybe it's something else. Any way around it, Larry Crowne is not the movie for me.


Monte Carlo

Directed by: Thomas Bezucha
Written by: Thomas Bezucha, April Blair & Maria Maggenti (Screenplay), Kelly Bowe (Screen Story), Jules Bass (Novel)
Length: 1 hr 49 mins
Rated: PG
Cast: Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Cory Monteith
Trailer


Synopsis:

Three young women vacationing in Paris find themselves whisked away to Monte Carlo after one of the girls is mistaken for a British heiress. (IMDb)

If I can barely sit through the trailer for Monte Carlo, I'm going to guess that I won't make it though nearly two hours of the tween chick flick. Selena Gomez (who is somehow 18, despite her pre-teen appearances) leads the cast in a journey around Europe that would only happen to a couple of selfish Americans who can't stand realizing that not every country in the world has the comforts that we take for granted in the United States. Looking for love and a better hotel, the girls are sure to run into trouble along the way. Looking for a movie worth my time, I'm sure to run into one eventually, right?



The Perfect Host

Directed by: Nick Tomnay
Written by: Nick Tomnay
Length: 1 hr 33 mins
Rated: R
Cast: David Hyde Pierce, Clayne Crawford
Trailer


Synopsis:

A criminal on the run cons his way into the wrong dinner party where the host is anything but ordinary. (IMDb)

David Hyde Pierce is the perfect cast for this role. Recognizable from pretty much only Fraiser, Pierce plays a psychopath in the role he was born for. The only other face I recognize is that of Clayne Crawford, which I remember from an episode or two of 24, back in the day when I watched it. Looking like a similar story to Funny People, The Perfect Host looks like an interesting movie for a night at home. The only thing I question is it's direction by the rookie Nick Tomnay; something just doesn't seem right. The film doesn't look like it takes itself seriously enough and tries to pass as a joke. One of the things I liked about Funny People was how ridiculous it was, and how serious you were forced to perceive it. I'm not sure The Perfect Host is worth a $8-10 ticket, so I'll wait for further review.




Terri

Directed by: Azazel Jacobs
Written by: Patrick Dewitt (Screenplay), Azazel Jacobs
Length: 1 hr 45 mins
Rated: R
Cast: John C. Reilly, Jacob Wysocki, Creed Bratton Olivia Crocicchia
Trailer


Synopsis:

A hit at the Sundance 2011 Film Festival, Terri is a moving and often funny film about the relationship between Terri, an oversized teen misfit, and the garrulous but well-meaning vice principal (John C. Reilly) who takes an interest in him. Terri is produced by the team behind Blue Valentine and Half Nelson, and directed by Azazel Jacobs (Momma's Man). (© ATO Pictures)

Apparently popular at the Sundance 2011 Film Festival, Terri looks like something I might like too. It looks like an honest attempt to recreate the high school experience for someone that gets bullied on a regular basis, but has no idea what to do about it. Suddenly, the bullied kid is the bad kid, because the teachers don't take notice. I really hate recycled and reused scripts, but somehow this one seems original. I'd see Terri, but with it's limited release, it's unlikely I'll see it anytime soon.


Conclusion:
If you're planning on going to Transformers 3, keep this in mind: This will not be an Oscar winning film. You will be entertained with plenty of loud noises, exciting explosions, and spectacular 3D effects. There will be humor, there will be music, and there will be high budget cameos. The story might not be great, but I'm sure you'll at the very least be entertained. Larry Crowne and Monte Carlo both look like misses to me, I'd pass them up if I was me. Which I am. The Perfect Host looks intriguing, but definitely check out the trailer before you make any moves. Finally, Terri looks like a genuine drama with plenty of heart and soul thrown in, but good luck finding it where you live. And as always...

Watch Responsibly.