Loser-comedy market oversaturated
Talking pictures
by
Jeff Vice
For those who don't recognize his name, Apatow was the producer of such well-reviewed but unsuccessful television programs as "The Ben Stiller Show," "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared."
His movie producing career started well enough, though. He was involved with both the Will Ferrell hits "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004) and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006).
He really tasted success with his feature-film directing debut, the raunchy but surprisingly tender 2005 comedy "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."
That film opened with $21 million, then built a strong word-of-mouth audience on its way to a $109 million final tally.
Since then he's been behind the camera for or been the producer of the similarly salty-but-sweet comedies:
• "Knocked Up" (2007)
$31 million opening, $149 million final tally.
• "Superbad" (2007)
$33 million opening, $121 million final tally.
• "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" (2007)
$4 million opening, $18 million final tally.
$10 million opening, $30 million tally so far.
Apatow and Co. did bounce back a little this past weekend. Their latest, the R-rated "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," opened with $18 million. However, a $100 million haul seems unlikely at this point.
The problem is, they're simply oversaturating the market with too much similar product. Even "Sarah Marshall" is another loser-comedy tale.
And so are this summer's upcoming Apatow productions. July's "Step Brothers" re-teams Ferrell and his "Talladega Nights" co-star John C. Reilly, while August's "Pineapple Express" features Seth Rogen and James Franco as stoners.
Might I suggest that they try something a little different. How about a PG-rated film (most of them so far have been R-rated)? Or, gasp, how about a G-rated one?
• NO MORE MONKEYING AROUND!
The 2008 summer movie season hasn't even begun, and we already have at least one movie controversy. "Speed Racer," a live-action version of the popular cartoon series, has drawn the wrath of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
What PETA objects to is the use of real chimpanzees for the part of Chim-Chim, the simian sidekick of the title character's mischievous younger brother, Spridle.
PETA officials allege that one chimp performer was beaten by animal wranglers and that another became enraged and bit a human cast member.
If that really is the case, it's pretty reprehensible and the filmmakers, the Wachowski brothers, should certainly know better.
By the way, early reports are that the PG-rated kids' film clocks in at 128 minutes, which is a bad sign. Anyone knows you barely keep kids in movie theater seats throughout an 80- or 90-minute movie.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Recent comments
The Humane Society has given Speed Racer its certificate of approval...
jed crawdord | April 27, 2008 at 1:56 a.m.
