Wednesday, October 11, 2000

De Niro Is King of Comedy at Box Office

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Robert De Niro, comedian? While the veteran actor will forever be linked to acclaimed dramas like the ``Godfather'' series and ``Raging Bull,'' it's his adult comedies that really bring in the moviegoers.

In the latest case, ``Meet the Parents,'' starring De Niro as the future father-in-law from hell opposite Ben Stiller, opened in the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office, according to studio estimates issued Sunday.

The comedy grossed $29.1 million for the Friday-to-Sunday period in 2,614 theaters across the United States and Canada. It was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of Seagram Co. Ltd. (Toronto:VO.TO - news), and directed by Jay Roach, the filmmaker behind the ``Austin Powers'' series.

The three-day bow sets a new record for 57-year-old De Niro, surpassing the $18.4 million opening of mob comedy ''Analyze This'' in March 1999. That movie ended up with $107 million domestically. It also sets new watermarks for Stiller (surpassing the $19.8 million bow of ``The Cable Guy'') and for October (surpassing 1998's ``Antz'' with $17.2 million).

Roach told Reuters that even in a gritty drama like 1976's ''Taxi Driver,'' with its ``you talkin' to me?'' scene, De Niro was able to bring great comic timing to the table.

``I think he'll become one of the big heavy-hitters in the comedy world,'' Roach joked.

He said a sequel was an ``open possibility,'' possibly introducing the parents of Stiller's character into the equation. Also starring in the film were Teri Polo as Stiller's fiancee and Blythe Danner as De Niro's wife. The action revolves around 72 hours of mayhem when Stiller's nerdy male nurse character visits his nutty future in-laws for the first time.

Other new wide releases did not bode so well, and the overall box office fell for the 11th consecutive weekend when compared with the year-ago period. However, receipts for the top 12 jumped 46 percent from last weekend to $77 million, according to tracking firm Exhibitor Relations. Helping business was the onset of the Columbus Day holiday, Canadian Thanksgiving and Yom Kippur.

Sylvester Stallone's latest comeback attempt, in the crime thriller ``Get Carter,'' was forgettable. The Warner Bros. remake of the eponymous British 1971 gangland classic opened at No. 3 with $6.7 million. It did not screen in advance for mainstream critics, a rare ploy used when a studio is concerned that bad reviews will hurt sales. One outlet that did get a sneak peak, trade paper Daily Variety, described the film as ``useless.''

The movie ``performed within its boundaries,'' said Dan Fellman, president of distribution at Warner Bros. He noted that WB was not exposed financially since it was distributing the film on behalf of producer Elie Samaha, whose Franchise Pictures banner was responsible for the recent flop ''Battlefield Earth.''

Warner Bros. is a unit of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX - news).

``Digimon: The Movie'' (Twentieth Century Fox), an animated Japanese film based on a popular ``Pokemon''-like children's cartoon TV series, opened at No. 5 with $4.1 million, playing well to its target moppet audience but to no one else. Fox is a unit of Fox Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE:FOX - news).

Last weekend's box office champ, the Denzel Washington football drama ``Remember the Titans'' (Touchstone Pictures), slipped to No. 2 with $19.6 million. It lost just six percent of its audience, the smallest erosion in the top 10, after increasing its theater count by 836 to 2,701. After 10 days in release the picture has grossed $46.2 million, and should end up in the $90 million-$100 million range, said Chuck Viane, president of theatrical distribution at Touchstone parent Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS - news).

The Warner Bros. reissue of ``The Exorcist'' fell two places to No. 4 in its third weekend with $4.6 million from 1,150 theaters, taking its total to $24.1 million. WB's Dan Fellman predicted it would end up with $40 million, thanks in part to a promo blitz next weekend when the studio will use the Friday the 13th hook to add 400 theaters.

The limited release arena was also a mixed bag. Leading the charge was ``Requiem for a Dream,'' a bleak drugs drama from Darren Aronofsky, the director of 1998 math thriller ``Pi.'' The film grossed $72,000 from two New York theaters, playing to sellout crowds in many sessions.

``Requiem'' was released unrated, but its distributor, privately owned Artisan Entertainment, decreed that no one under 17 would be admitted. Studio spokesman Paul Pflug said employees at the two New York theaters checked everyone's ID. The film opens in Los Angeles on Oct. 20 and adds 13 markets on Nov. 13.

Spike Lee's racially charged media satire ``Bamboozled'' grossed a respectable $175,000 from 17 theaters in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Time Warner-owned New Line Cinema said it will add about 200 runs on Oct. 20.

But director Joel Schumacher's acclaimed Vietnam War ensemble drama ``Tigerland'' (Fox) pulled in a modest $29,000 from five theaters, a haul deemed ``just OK'' by Fox domestic distribution president Bruce Snyder.

The distaff boxing drama ``Girlfight'' lost some of its punch as it boosted its screen count by nine times to 253 theaters. Its gross jumped just 165 percent to $525,000, giving it a 10- day haul of $807,000. The film was released by the mid-budget Screen Gems arm of Sony Corp. (6758.T).

Also in the negative column was writer/director Cameron Crowe's ``Almost Famous'' which fell three places to No. 6 with $3.8 million. Despite boosting its theater count by 28 percent, the acclaimed rock 'n' roll saga managed to lose 32 percent of its audience. After 26 days in release, it has grossed just $23.3 million. A spokesman for the film's distributor, privately held DreamWorks, was not available for comment.

The top 10 movies at the box office

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Following are the top 10 movies at the North American box office for the October 6-8 weekend, according to studio estimates collected Sunday by Reuters. Final data will be issued Monday. .

1 (+) Meet the Parents ..........$28,623,300

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $28,623,300

2 (1) Remember the Titans .......$19,209,998

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $45,864,713

3 (+) Get Carter ................ $6,637,830

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $6,637,830

4 (2) The Exorcist .............. $4,441,612

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $23,935,355

5 (+) Digimon: The Movie ........ $4,233,304

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $4,233,304

6 (3) Almost Famous ............. $3,718,598

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $23,262,437

7 (4) Urban Legends: Final Cut .. $2,607,635

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $18,243,725

8 (5) Bring It On ............... $2,262,925

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $62,502,195

9-(6) The Watcher ............... $1,145,595

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $27,840,705

10-(7) Nurse Betty ............... $1,127,921

BOX OFFICE SO FAR:  $22,769,502

NOTE: Last weekend's position in parenthesis. ``+'' - new release.

``Meet the Parents,'' ``Bring It On'' and ``The Watcher'' are released by Universal Pictures, a unit of Seagram Co. Ltd. (Toronto:VO.TO - news).

``Remember the Titans'' is released by Touchstone Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS - news)

``Get Carter'' and ``The Exorcist'' are released by Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX - news).

``Digimon: The Movie'' is released by Twentieth Century Fox, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE:FOX - news).

``Almost Famous'' and ``What Lies Beneath'' are released by DreamWorks SKG, which is privately held.

``Urban Legends: Final Cut'' is released by Columbia Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp. (6758.T).

``Nurse Betty'' is released by USA Films, a unit of USA Networks Inc. (NasdaqNM:USAI - news).

JOHN L.:  Lot's of new movies this week, but only one is worth mentioning.  Meet the Parents had a great marketing campaign and it showed in this week's box office total.  Get Carter had a crappy promotional push and opened poorly.  What the hell is a Digimon?  I saw the Stiller/DeNiro combo and have a full review.  I don't have all day to write this thing so let's get to it.

MEET THE PARENTS - FULL REVIEW

Comedies have been getting a bad rap as of late.  The critics have been saying that they have been too dirty and perverted like "American Pie" and "There's Something About Mary."  This year we had "Scary Movie" and "Me Myself and Irene" crossing the boundaries of good taste.  Hollywood makes these movies because when they connect with the masses, you can make over a $100 million.  It seems that a clean comedy cannot be popular and cannot be funny.  Straight family comedy is rarely found on the average network sitcom.  However, this week, Meet the Parents introduced itself to the national public and is on track to become one of the most successful movies of the year.  The funny thing about MTP is that it is one of the most hilarious movies of the year and it stays away from the over the top gross out humor that we have been bombarded with for years since Animal House.  Oh, there are your poopy jokes and some sexual humor, but you don't see a phallus go into a guy's ear or a rape of a baked good.  This movie takes the simple plot of Ben Stiller trying to impress his girlfriends parents, especially her father, enough so that he can get their blessing when he proposes marriage to their daughter.  The plot is fairly common on most sitcoms like a Dharma and Greg or even a Will and Grace.  This movie though throws so much in the way of Stiller to get the respect of the parents that you actually get nervous every time Stiller looks at Deniro the wrong way.  It is hard to review a movie like this without giving away the good parts. I will say this.  If you are looking for a funny movie that you can actually take the kids to, then this is the one. It is crazy enough to make a kid think they are seeing something they shouldn't but for the most part it is pretty safe.  I will mention the scenes to pay attention to because the laughs during them are so good that you may miss some of the dialogue.  My favorite bits are the first dinner Stiller has with the parents, any scene with the cat Mr. Jynx, the volleyball game in the pool, the drive down the street, Stiller trying to find a place to smoke, and the airplane stuff near the end.  The litmus test I have for giving a comedy a thumbs up is does it have a scene which makes me fall out of my seat because I am laughing so hard.  This movie has a huge laugh in it that had me laughing for at least 5 minutes after it was done.  It was painful, but a good type of pain.  Stiller is excellent as the Jewish nurse trying to get respect while constantly getting goofed on.  If you liked his style in that Mary movie, then you will enjoy his work here.  He is playing a similar character that is almost Woody Allenish circa mid 1970s.  Bobby D has found his nitch in comedy.  Deniro is getting older and seems to be reflecting on his old dramatic roles by parodying them in his recent films.  Analyze This was a big hit that turned his mobster image on its ear.  Rocky and Bullwinkle may have been a poorly conceived movie, but his riff on Taxi Driver is pretty funny.  In MTP Deniro focuses on the sneer and the grimace, and just plain strange looks he gives every time Stiller opens his mouth.  Deniro gets most of his laughs just looking into the camera.  He also delivers the line of the year that is shown in the preview about taking Stiller down to Chinatown.  It did not get the biggest laugh during the movie since it was in every trailer, but of all of the lines this year's films, "I will bring you down.  I will bring you down to Chinatown" for some reason makes me laugh.  Those two carry the movie, even if the supporting cast like the mother played by Gwyneth Paltrow's mom, Blythe Danner and the girlfriend/fiancee(?) played by Teri Polo are underwritten and never given any funny lines. They are pretty much the straight men sort of speak.  Owen Wilson shows up as the ex boyfriend of Polo's, but I did not find him especially funny. Many critics who like to kiss his ass for some reason said he was very good.  He was okay, but it was nothing special.  The character idea is funny since Deniro likes him more than Stiller and uses that against the male nurse with some good laughs.  Overall, go see this movie.  I went in with doubts, but it is very good.  There is a stretch where there are not a lot of laughs because the first 35 or 40 minutes are so funny you have to catch your breath a bit and the movie slows down a bit.  It finds its groove soon enough and gets back on track.  Oh, the lie detector scene is pretty much everything you saw in the previews but in different order.  Not as funny as the trailers made you think.  Final Review:  3 1/2 stars out of 5; 7 1/2 out of 10; B+; thumbs up.  There is a rumor that if this movie is a mega hit ($130 million+) there is a good chance there will be a Meet the Parents 2 where we get to see Stiller's parents.  I think there is a good chance that will happen.

I like many Sylvester Stallone movies.  The first 3 Rocky flicks rule the movie universe.  Rocky 4 was okay and part 5 was bit weak.  First Blood is one of the best action movies ever made and has my second favorite scene of all time where Rambo gives his "nothing is over, nothing, you just don't turn it off" rant.  One day I might make my list of the greatest movie scenes of all time.  I think I will have that for next week's report.  Anyway, Sly was da man in the 1970s and 1980s.  However, the last 10 years have not been good for the ex Mr. Brigitte Neilsen. His last hit movie was Cliffhanger which has my 20th favorite scene of all time.  Since then, no one goes to his films.  Well, if you made junk like Judge Dredd, people would avoid you too.  Copland was pretty good, but was stressed too much as an "acting" role for Stallone and got some good reviews for his acting and that turned off his classic fan base.  Stallone is famous for his man of few words gimmick and in Copland he had to play a partly deaf cop trying to stop police corruption.  He was good in the role and the public should have given him more respect.  That movie's failure to re-ignight his career has put Stallone in a funk.  He was not getting any movie offers anymore and became the punchline of the late night talk show hosts.  He did the movie Antz as the voice of Weaver and was good in that.  Stallone was given the script to Get Carter a remake of an old Michael Caine movie. Stallone plays a mob "financial adjuster" who will break you in half if you don't pay your bills.  His brother ends up dead in mysterious ways and Carter decides to investigate to find the truth. Okay, that sounds okay, but for some reason it just did not excite the masses.  Stallone has made one too many Judge Dredds, Oscars, and Stop or My Mom Will Shoot movies.  He got good responses for Antz and that movie was a hit.  Stallone needs to build up his name again if he wants to continue to get paid in this business.  He should start taking more supporting roles in movies that don't depend on him to carry.   Instead of having his name above the title, he needs to do about 3 movies where he is credited as "and Sylvestor Stallone as..." His name does not open a film anymore, and in fact it can actually hurt the movie like it did Get Carter.  Also, no one remembers the original so the marketers could not really stress that connection other than Michael Caine being in the new one now when he played the Carter character in 1971.  It is sort of sad that Get Carter 2000 may make less money than what the producers paid Sly to act in it.  If you don't want to see Get Carter, then here are my 3 favorite Stallone movies that you should see:  1.  Nighthawks; 2.  First Blood; 3.  Rocky 3.  There are others, but I can't in good faith tell you Cobra was actually pretty cool and have you still read this website.

What the heck is a digimon?  I still have trouble with the friggin Pokemon and now we have their evil spawn.  The craze of the pocket pet monsters you can catch is still as popular as ever in the video game and television world.  However, the movie part of this fad peaked last year with Pokemon the first movie.  Makers of entertainment love to copy what has worked in the past so we get Digimon the movie.  This movie did not open well at all and that is because it looks exactly like Pokemon.  The poster is almost shot for shot like Pokemon with just a different name.  I have never seen a digimon cartoon so I cannot criticize it, but unless you take the effort to look at an episode, you will ignore it as just a Pokemon ripoff.  I think the Digi guys are more robotic than the creature type Pokes.  This was also not the right time to release a cartoon like this just as school is getting going and kids are focusing on real insect bugs for their science class and do not have time watching fake creatures act crazy.  This should have come out in the Summer or the late holiday season like last year's Pokemon movie did.  I think that if the makers of these movies and series want to expand the audience they will have to make the animation a whole lot better.  Japanese Anime is very popular and cool most of the time.  But there are two types.  There is the Akira type anime that has the realistic animation, and then there is the Speed Racer type stilted animated style that gets annoying to watch.  Only little kids like the simplicity of the Digimon and Pokemon cartoons, but older kids and adults see it as weird and stupid.  If they made a PG-13 hardcore Anime Pokemon or Digimon cartoon with realistic animation I bet it would do well.   It would be different and could expand the series.  As it is now, Digimon and Pokemon will be sent to that great Power Ranger station in the sky.

REST OF THE TOP 10 IN 10:

1.    The movie going audience certainly remembered the Titans this week.

2.    Denzel Washington looks to finally be in  a movie that makes over a $100 million.

3.    Remember the Titans is also getting the feel good movie of the year treatment which seems to be helping it make the big bucks.

4.    The Exorcist re-issue continues to turn a lot of heads.

5.    I gave Almost Famous a strange review in a previous box office report and was criticized for it.

6.    However, it looks like most people agree with me that AF is okay, but since there is no real big dramatic payoff scene, it is not getting the buzz it needed to break out as a big success.

7.    The Urban Legends sequel is soon to become movie folklore as another sequel to an average slasher movie that fails miserably.

8.    Kirsten Dunst is a bigger draw than Sylvestor Stallone.

9.    It looks like most people found The Watcher hard to watch.

10.    Nurse Betty was another movie I said was weak that I was criticized for, but it seems that the movie really was not strong enough to grab a large audience.

Meet the Parents has a good chance to repeat its top spot placing next week when its main competition will be a Saturday Night Live sketch and a Winona Ryder movie that has been on the shelf for over a year.  There is a chance I might see that SNL movie because I like the sketch and the actor.  If I do see it, then of course there will be a full review.  Bye for now.