New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Hairspray, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

From last week's blockbuster opening weekend, we get a pair of films with prospects that a bit more dubious. One is likely to take the top spot, outduelling the boy wizard in a close race to the finish. The other is a little more spotty. It has the potential to do well, but I cannot say that I know many that are interested in it. I know, anecdotal evidence doesn't really doesn't mean much in the big picture, but sometimes that is all I have to go on. Anyway, I hope that this week's offereings at least offer up some worthy entertainment.

Hairspray. (2007, 107 minutes, PG, musical, trailer) In 1988, John Waters brought the story of Tracy Turnblad to the big screen, a heavyset teen with a love for dancing, and a desire to get on a dancing show. If you couldn't tell, I've never seen that film, nor have I seen the broadway musical that it spawned. Now, the musical has been translated back to the big screen, in a similar life cycle that The Producers followed. It will be interesting to see if it does any better. Director Adam Shankman (The Pacifier) has a pretty star studded cast to make a run for it, including John Travolta in the role made famous by Divine, along with Nikki Blonsky as Tracy, not to mention Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, Amanda Bynes, and Allison Janney.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. (2007, 110 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) Are you ready for this one? Honestly, when I first heard about it last year I thought it was a joke. I also think that different names were being tossed around, I believe that Will Smith was attached at one point. In any case, the movie is nearly upon us and the stars are Adam Sandler and Kevin James. This is James first big shot at big screen fame, following his good notices for his supporting role in Hitch. This actually looks like it could be funny, no classic, but still funny. It is the story of a man (James) who needs to be in a relationship to get his kids on his pension, so he fakes a gay relationship with Sandler, who in turn falls for the woman (Jessica Biel) testing their validity. It was directed by Dennis Dugan (The Benchwarmers) from a script by Barry Fanaro, Alexander Payne (Sideways) & Jim Taylor.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Cashback
• Goya's Ghosts
• Sunshine

Box Office Predictions
This week will be a tough battle between an upstart comedy and a second attempt at the top by a boy wizard. Adam Sandler usually does well in his opening weekends, and is likely to make a strong attempt to usurp the throne. On the other hand Harry Potter may falter a bit as the Potter-heads will be home reading the new (and potentially final) novel which is released on Saturday. Still, it will likely end up a close, hard fought battle. Hairspray is a little harder to track, musicals haven't had a strong presence over the past year or so, with the last being the disappointing The Producers. Transformers will probably continue to do well, and hopefully Ratatouille will continue doing well.

Here is how I think the top ten field will play out:

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	I Know Pronounce You Chuck and Larry	$40 million
2	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix	$38 million
3	Transformers	$19 million
4	Hairspray	$17 million
5	Ratatouille	$11 million
6	Live Free or Die Hard	$7.5 million
7	1408	$3.5 million
8	Knocked Up	$3 million
9	Sicko	$3 million
10	License to Wed	$2.5 million

What are you seeing this weekend?