THE THING
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton,
Jonathan Lloyd Walker & Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen for distribution
by Universal
The Plot: A team of
scientists stranded in Antarctica must band together when they accidentally
unleash a deadly alien that can take the form of anything it touches.
The Final Word: You have to
give Universal credit here as they have really tried to make sure this thriller
was done right, especially given its pedigree. Remember this isn’t a remake,
but a prequel to the 1982 John Carpenter cult favorite horror film and as such
has to be very careful not damage the legacy of the original. It’s hard to make
a sequel that outshines the first, but some would say it’s equally as hard to
make a prequel that properly respects the material a classic’s fans know all to
well.
FOOTLOOSE
Starring: Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis
Quaid
Andie MacDowell & Miles Teller
Directed by Craig Brewster for distribution by Paramount
Pictures
The Plot: Following the
tragic death of five teens, a town bans dancing and loud music, only to see the
ruling challenged years later by a new arrival.
The Final Word: With everyone’s
love of 80’s nostalgia it really was only a matter of time until “Footloose”
got the reboot treatment. Relative newcomer Kenny Wormald steps in the role
made famous by Kevin Bacon in the 1984 original opposite “Dancing With The
Stars” favorite Julianne Hough. Through Wormald wasn’t the first choice to play
Ren McCormack, that was actually Zac Efron who eventually passed on the project,
as did “Gossip Girl’s” Chase Crawford, but with the star power of Hough and
Dennis Quaid (who plays the John Lithgow role), it could actually work out
rather well. Call it the “John Grisham effect,” as the films based on the noted
author’s books usually had a unknown or two in a major starring role; including
then rising stars Matthew McConaughey and Matt Damon.
THE BIG YEAR
Starring: Steve Martin, Jack Black, Owen Wilson,
Brian Dennehy,
Rashida Jones, Rosamund Pike & Dianne Wiest
Directed by David Frankel for distribution by 20th
Century Fox
The Plot: Three friendly
rivals, each going through a mid-life type crisis, decide to embark on a
yearlong bird-watching challenge.
The Final Word: Martin, Black
and Wilson. How’s that for a dream team of comedy? Sure each of them can be a
little out there at times and have not had the most stellar track record at the
box office as of late, but people still rightfully pay attention when they have
a new movie. Combined the trio should be able to draw in a substantial
audience, but it could get overshadowed by the two “known” films coming out
this week.
Previewed Next Week: Paranormal Activity 3, The Three Musketeers
