Movie TalkWeekend Picks: ‘American Reunion,’ ‘Titanic’ (in 3D), ‘Comic-Con Episode IV,’ & ‘Damsels in Distress’
The question this week is whether "The Hunger Games" will achieve a hat trick in the No. 1 spot at the box office. Last weekend the adapted fantasy film stamped out new releases "Wrath of the Titans" and "Mirror Mirror." The latter un-magically achieved a lackluster opening at just $19 million—a fraction of the fairy tale flick's $85 million budget.
"Hunger" may very well get sunk by the return of two '90s favorites: "Titanic" (from 1997, now being released in 3D) and "American Reunion" (a sequel to "American Pie" from 1999), which should easily bake itself into the weekend's top three. Along with those two, new releases include "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" as well as "Damsels In Distress." Here is this weekend's breakdown:
[Related: Find showtimes and tickets for movies near you]
Rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, nudity, language, brief drug use and teen drinking.
What's the Story?
In case you didn't know from the sequel's poster, this movie has something to do with an apple pie. Yes, the follow up to "American Pie" is back more than a decade later—and the franchise's signature gross-out humor promises to be just as prolific: Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) are now married and the only couple from the high school group that stayed together. Now established in the real world, the clique comes home to recall and relive old times.
Who Will Dig It?
Those who enjoyed it the first time around are bound to come back for second helpings. Teen boys who were too young to see it in theaters in the late nineties may also be getting tickets this weekend.
[Tickets: See when 'American Reunion' is playing]
Rated PG-13 for disaster related peril and violence, nudity, sensuality and brief language.
What's the Story?
It's the same story you adored voraciously in 1997 but with the addition of 3D: Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) sneaks onto the ship where he rescues an upper class-yet-troubled Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet). Cue Celine Dion, panicked faces, a steamy back-seat love scene, and water—lots and lots of water. SPOILER ALERT: Almost everyone dies.
Who Will Dig It?
(See above "American Reunion" entry, but swap "teen boys" for "teen girls".)
[Tickets: See when 'Titanic' is playing]
Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope
Rated PG-13 for some sex and drug references, language and brief horror images.
What's the Story?
This documentary is about Comic-Con aka "heaven" for comic book nerds, as Kevin Smith describes. Smith, Seth Rogen, "Spider-Man" creator Stan Lee, and a slew of others comment on their experience of the now-140,000-strong conference which takes place in San Diego every summer. HINT: You will see a lot of grown adults dressed up as comic book characters.
Who Will Dig It?
Self-described comic book nerds will surely go to see this as well as documentary buffs—but don't let that stop you.
[Tickets: See when 'Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope' is playing]
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content including some sexual material.
What's the Story?
Set on an American college campus, Violet (Greta Gerwig) leads a group of misguided-yet-beautiful girls to help those less fortunate—severely depressed students. Their prescribed cure: tap dance and good hygiene! The quirky comedy also delves into the ladies' dating lives and their unique strategies for getting the right guys.
Who Will Dig It?
Young women who enjoy a healthy dose of warped humor and dating advice will watch "Damsels" as well as aspiring hipsters. Young men who seek to learn more about women may also watch (as did the few straight men who used to watch Sex And The City—you know, to study).
[Tickets: See when 'Damsels in Distress' is playing]
