New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Definitely, Maybe, Jumper, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Step Up 2: The Streets

Valentine's Day has just passed. Now, just because it is gone does not mean you can't take your loved one to a movie! This weekend offers up films for all different sorts of folks, singles, couples, families, whomever. So, whatever type of movie you tend towards, I think you are going to like, or at least have some interest in one of this week's new releases. Among the new flicks hitting cinemas are a romantic comedy, a dance drama, a sci-fi/actioner, and a fantasy geared towards families and the younger set. Frankly, I have some interest in all of them, not to mention a few 2007 films that are just arriving in the area. Six movies! You know what that means? A busy President's Day weekend!

Definitely, Maybe. (2008, 105 minutes, PG-13, romantic comedy, trailer) Just in time for Valentine's Day weekend comes this sweet looking romance. It is the story of a man in the midst of a divorce who is questioned by his daughter regarding his pre-married life. He proceeds to tell the tale of three romances, with altered names to make her guess. Frankly, I think this looks pretty good. Ryan Reynolds stars as the father and his daughter is Oscar nominated Abigail Breslin. Seems to be quite the change of pace for Reynolds, could this be the next step to the A list? It is written and directed by Adam Brooks, whose last work was the screnplay for Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

Jumper. (2008, 90 minutes, PG-13, sci-fi/action, trailer) The Bourne Identity director Doug Liman, teams with Batman Begins writer David S. Goyer to deliver a new action flick with science fiction trappings. It tells the story of a young man with the ability to teleport and the war that he finds himself in the middle of between "jumpers" and those sworn to stop them. It looks good, and the score is strong, but I have the feeling that it is going to be mediocre at best. I hope I'm wrong. Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, and Samuel L. Jackson star.

The Spiderwick Chronicles. (2008, 97 minutes, PG, fantasy, trailer) Freddie Highmore stars in this book adaptation. It reminds me of The NeverEnding Story crossed with Bridge to Terabithia. I can only hope it is as good as either one of those films. Highmore plays a young boy who finds a mysterious book that gives him insight to the magical creatures living on the grounds of the estate his family hasd moved into.

Step Up 2: The Streets. (2008, 98 minutes, PG-13, dance drama, trailer) Hot on the heels of How She Move comes a bigger budget sequel to a bigger budget film with a similar target audience. This looks to be a slicker production with a considerably more shallow tale centered on dancing. Not exactly my cup of tea, but could prove entertaining. Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman star for director Jon M. Chu.

Persepolis. (2007, 99 minutes, PG-13, animation, trailer) This Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature is finally making it to my area and I am looking forward to checking it out. It tells the story of a young girl coming of age in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. The black and white animation style looks intriguing and I have heard many good things about the film. Here's hoping! It is based on the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi.

The Savages. (2007, 113 minutes, R, comedy/drama, trailer) Oscar nominated for Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay, The Savages is the story of a brother and sister who have to put their father into a nursing home and the troubles it brings up as the pair reunite and have to deal with a drastic life changing event. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman star for writer/director Tamara Jenkins.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• George Romero's Diary of the Dead
• The Year My Parents Went on Vacation

Box Office Predictions
Four new films are entering the fray this weekend, and all of them have the possibility of having success over the holiday frame. Three of them are likely to arrive near the top, successfully pushing that act of boredom known as Fool's Gold down the list where it belongs. Of course, I could be completely wrong (and usually am). It is fun to try and guess where audiences loyalties and curiosities will lie on any given film. I think the biggest surprise of the past few weeks is the incredible success of the Hannah Montana concert film. Well, on with the guesses!

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

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	Jumper	$25 million
2	Definitely, Maybe	$18 million
3	The Spiderwick Chronicles	$16 million
4	Fool's Gold	$14 million
5	Step Up 2: The Streets	$12 million
6	Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins	$9 million
7	Juno	$4.5 million
8	27 Dresses	$4 million
9	Hannah Montana	$4 million
10	The Bucket List	$3.5 million