New Movies and Box Office Predictions: Ghost Town, Igor, Lakeview Terrace, My Best Friend's Girl

Last week saw four new films enter the top ten list. This week sees four more new films look to break into the top ten, continuing the wholesale switchover in the top films. If/when they do appear on the list, you will see a top ten that only contains to films that were there two weeks ago. As for this week's offerings? Mostly light fare with a couple of comedies, a thriller, and an animated feature. I have to wonder about the animated feature, I have not seen much in the way of advertising for it, but with little else for families, I would think it would do well. Could be interesting.

Ghost Town. (2008, 103 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) Recently, co-writer/director David Koepp said that he regrets casting Ricky Gervais in the lead role. It has nothing to do with his skills or his performance, it has to do with the fact many people do not know who he is. The Brit comedian is best known for his series The Office (adapted into the Steve Carrell series) and Extras. Anyway, this film concerns Gervais as a dentist lacking in people skills. A near death experience leaves him with the ability to see dead people. He is approached by a dead Greg Kinnear who needs his help to stop his ex fiancee (Tea Leoni) from marrying a jerk. Sounds amusing.

Igor. (2008, 86 minutes, PG, animated comedy, trailer) This looks like fun, although the advertising seems to have been a little light, but with little else targeted at the family audience right now, I suspect it will do decently. The movie centers on Igor (John Cusack), who has dreams of being more than an Igor, he wants to be the scientist. When the scientist he is working with dies, he has the opportunity to step up to the plate and show what he's got. Other voices include John Cleese, Steve Buscemi, Eddie Izzard, Arsenio Hall, and Sean Hayes.

My Best Friend's Girl. (2008, 103 minutes, R, comedy, trailer) I am not a Dane Cook fan; in many of his early roles I felt he was trying to channel Ryan Reynolds. That said, I think this looks like it could be entertaining, not good, but entertaining. Jason Biggs is dating Kate Hudson, but when he comes on strong, she dumps him. Biggs turns to his friend, Cook, who is the "rebound guy" hired to take the lady on the worst date of her life, thereby sending her back to the dumped guy. Of course, things backfire here and Cook ends up attracted to Hudson. Rather typical, but could have some humor.

Lakeview Terrace. (2008, 110 minutes, PG-13, thriller, trailer) This looks like a pure vehicle for Jackson to be Jackson. He plays a cop and neighborhood watchdog who does not care for the interracial couple next door, played by Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson. The relationship turns frosty as he tries to get them out and they decide to fight back. Again, not a great looking movie, but definitely a fun one.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Appaloosa
• Battle in Seattle
• The Duchess
• Hounddog
• A Thousand Years of Good Prayers

Box Office Predictions
Man, I look at this week's slate and I have no idea where the totals are going to go. Last week I did all right, but this week is much tougher to call. None look like a clear cut winner, although I am pretty sure that the winner will come out of the new releases, I doubt that Burn After Reading will be able to repeat at the top, although I suspect it will have a good showing in its second weekend. The trick is to guess if PG-13 Samuel L. Jackson can outdraw R-rated Dane Cook. I think Cook is going to win the showdown, but I really have no clue. As for the rest? Might as well pick names out of a hat.

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

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	My Best Friend's Girl	$16 million
2	Lakeview Terrace	$14 million
3	Burn After Reading	$12 million
4	Igor	$9 million
5	Righteous Kill	$8.5 million
6	Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys	$8 million
7	Ghost Town	$7.5 million
8	The Women	$5 million
9	The Dark Knight	$4 million
10	The House Bunny	$3.5 million