In Theaters Tomorrow…

I didn’t realize there were 5 films coming out this week (8/17) because I’ve had my SUPERBAD blinders on. Besides the film co-penned by Seth Rogan and produced by Judd Apatow there is actually a solid crop of films. Even the documentary sounds cool – KING OF KONG: A FISTFULL OF QUARTERS. Nicole Kidman and James Bond, I mean Daniel Craig, star in a Sci-Fi drama about aliens called THE INVASION. DEATH AT A FUNERAL is the English submission this week. Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley hit the screen as the Roman Empire crumbles in THE LAST LEGION. I guess I’ll start with the ones that are going to be harder to find in theaters.

As you may have deduced from the title KING OF KONG is all about the quest to become the worldwide points leader in Donkey Kong. Apparently the director, Seth Gordon, put together one hell of a film because Columbia Pictures scooped him up and set him up with the producers from LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE for his feature debut. ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK. Rolling stone had this to say about the film-

Who would have guessed that a documentary about gamers obsessed with scoring a world record at Donkey Kong would not only be roaringly funny but serve as a metaphor for the decline of Western civilization?

When a documentary makes it to the big screen it deserves to be seen… people in Hollywood are way more willing to throw money at a shitty feature than a decent documentary. Plus Donkey Kong was the baddest gorilla I ever did meet.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL is a dark screwball comedy about a dysfunctional family gathering for a funeral. The story mainly revolves around Daniel who must deal with his famous novelist brother, doubts about his marriage, a cousin who’s normally straight laced fiancé has accidentally ingested a “designer drug” and a blackmailer who threatens to divulge a dark family secret. Guess who the director is. Seriously, guess. Ok, give up cause you’re never going to get it. Its Frank Oz… better know for his mad muppeting skillz and as the voice of Yoda. Peter Dinklage is the only member of the cast that I recognize; he is the greatest midget actor since that dude from WILLOW.

THE INVASION is a remake of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and will either be really good or really bad. Nicole Kidman plays a psychiatrist who is the only person cognizant of the fact that there are freaking aliens about (!). To top it all off, her son may be the key to mankind’s salvation. The reason that I have no clue about whether this film will be bad or good is because the director’s chair had to be re-silk screened more than once. Oliver Hirschbiegel put together the rough cut, but Joel Siegel needed more action and enlisted the help of the Wachowski Bros. And when they took off to start SPEED RACER James McTeigue (AKA mini Wach) took over. Dollar says Daniel Craig and Kidman kiss in the film.

THE LAST LEGION is the one film I have no desire to see. In fact, the only thing related to the film that I have a desire to see is Aishwarya Rai. The film is set in 476 AD. As Romulus Augustus is about to become emperor. A Barbarian general and a senator make a deal to kill the 12 year-old Romulus’ father and kidnap the boy. Some dude by the name of Aurelius (where have I heard that name before?) comes to the child’s rescue. The Byzantine empire will give sanctuary to the boy if Aurelius can get him back, so after rounding up some troops and a tagalong Byzantine warrior Mira (hottie Rai) they go after the boy. The group is double-crossed and must find the last legion- Britannia. Did you understand all of that? Me either.

SUPERBAD is going to be the super baddest film of the summer… I think it’s generated as much buzz as TRANSFORMERS. Seth Rogan wrote this thing with an old friend of his when they were 13! The film is about 2 best friends and outcasts as they attempt to purchase booze on the last day of school in an attempt to get into the cool kid’s party. Michael Cera of “Arrested Development” fame plays Evan. Second fiddle is played by Jonah Hill (ACCEPTED, GRANDMA’S BOY, as well as anything Apatow). Christopher Mintz-Plasse makes his big screen debut as McLovin- from what I gather this is the breakout performance of the year. I’d love to show you pictures of Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac and Aviva (mostly Stone) but they are damn near impossible to come across. Instead I give you interviews from JoBlo and the redband trailer (R rated)

SUPERBAD takes spots 1 through 5 in the Box office.