By Chris Kavan - 02/23/17 at 07:41 AM CT
While there have been some standout performances at the box office this year, it's safe to say that 2017 has been a bit off compared to last year. Granted, we haven't seen a movie like Deadpool come along just yet, but while Get Out isn't likely to make that many waves, it is wowing critics and may be another hit thriller that proves Jordan Peele can do horror as well as comedy. It' obvious what film is going to win the weekend, but let's see what else the weekend has in store for audiences.
GET OUT Ever since the first trailer for Get Out dropped, I knew that Jordan Peele was going to do something different - and in the process, probably either make a lot of people uncomfortable or simply piss them off. That's because the story concerns an interracial couple (Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams) who are taking a trip to meet the girl's parents at the family estate and while mom (Catherine Keener) and dad (Bradley Whitford) seem quite alright with their relationship, it soon becomes apparent that something is very much off about the situation. From the trailers I can surmise several African-Americans have gone missing in this predominantly white neighborhood and the only other people of black descent are the butler (Marcus Henderson) and maid (Betty Gabriel) who each have their own secrets. Obviously race and racism plays an important part in Get Out - which is why so many people are claiming this is some alt-right liberal propaganda created to once again single out the white race as "evil" or some other BS argument. If you don't like it - take your alternative facts and shove them where the sun don't shine - I, for one, think Peele has taken a risk and judging by the overwhelmingly positive reviews, it is going to pay off handsomely at the box office.
Flying pretty much under the radar is Summit Entertainment's Rock Dog. I've only really seen any previews in the past week or so, and I have a feeling this does not bode well for the film's chances. Like The Great Wall, it is also a joint venture with a Chinese film company, but on a much smaller scale. The film follows a Tibetan Mastiff who dreams of becoming a musician and when a radio falls out of the sky, he takes it as a sign to make his dream a reality. Of course the road to rock is fraught with adventure. Luke Wilson voices our main character, Bodi, with Eddie Izzard, J.K. Simmons, Lewis Black, Kenan Thompson, Mae Whitman, Jorge Garcia, Matt Dillon and Sam Elliott rounding out a decent cast. Still, this doesn't look like much of a contender to give Lego Batman much competition - as the quality looks below your average Disney/Dreamworks production. Thus while it may be good for the youngest family members, I think the majority of families with stick with Batman.
COLLIDE Sure to be yet another victim of the Relativity Media distribution disaster (see also: Jane Got a Gun, The Disappointments Room and Masterminds), Collide (originally titles Autobahn) was supposed to be released in October 2015, but after Relativity's bankruptcy, it was pushed back and back and back until Open Road Films eventually acquired it for distribution. While the film looks to have a good cast: Nicholas Hoult, Felicity Jones, Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley - I give it little chance to make any kind of impact at the box office. The generic action film has received almost no marketing and I think the film is going to be a one and done type proposition with most of the budget hopefully coming back on home viewing rather than its theatrical run. It may even find it hard to break in to the top 10.
There is little doubt in my mind as to which film is going to be the breakout hit of the weekend. The only questions is whether the racially-motivated thriller will be able to best Lego Batman. See you on Sunday with the results.
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