Arts & Entertainment

Kangaroo Jack hops to top spot in box office

Pineda: ‘Guy Thingi flops, critics give rave reviews for ‘Hours.i

By Jose Pineda
The Daily Cougar 

All in all this past weekend was a good time to go catch a movie. Whether you were babysitting your little brother, hanging out with you buds, taking your girlfriend out or just going out alone to catch a great movie, the new releases this past weekend had something for everyone.

The four new titles that opened last Friday were all placed in the top ten in sales for the weekend. The biggest surprise however, was the order in which they were ranked amongst themselves. However, it seems that many people went into the movies happy and came out asking why they chose to go. 

A major surprise was that <I>Kangaroo Jack<P> was not only the top grossing movie among openers, but was also the top grossing movie in general. Following <I>Kangaroo Jack<P> was <I>National Security<P> in second place.

<I>Kangaroo Jack<P> directed by David McNally grossed $17,675 million this weekend. The movie stars Jerry OiConell and Anthony Anderson This family movie follows the story of two friends as they try to retrieve some money that they were supposed to deliver a Mafia boss from a laboratory Kangaroo.

Unfortunately, many people have lost their money because I have yet to read a good review on this movie. The problem seems to lie in the fact that this family oriented film is too crude for the kids which will most likely upset the parents, and too lame for their older siblings. Loren King of the Chicago Tribune said, "It's puzzling to think about which audience <I>Kangaroo Jack<P> is aiming for." So fellow Coogs my advice to you is the same advice given by E! online, "Don't let Jack steal your money, too."

<I>National Security<P> was directed by Dennis Dugan, and grossed $15,700 million. The movie stars Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn.

If you are still wondering whether or not you want to go see Zahn and Lawrence portray two loser security guards that make it big when they discover complex smuggling job, just consider that the critics say that it is absolute garbage. The average Yahoo review was a three of five stars. For any Martin Lawrence fans this is a movie to see, but for all others donit go expecting a great film.

<I>A Guy Thing<P> directed by Chris Koch starring Jason Lee, Julia Stiles and Selma Blair grossed $7,100,000. Claudia Puig of USA Today says that "<I>A Guy Thing<P> is actually is a bit of a hoot." Unfortunately, she is the only one that feels that way. Every other critic around has called this flick everything from abysmal to a nightmare. 

The story of a husband to be (Lee) covering up an affair with his wifeis (Blair) cousin (Stiles) was just enough to please some of the readers at Yahoo who gave it three out of five stars. This is another "fanatics only" film. Unless you just love romantic comedies, this movie might not be for you.

<I>The Hours<P> directed by Stephen Daldry, starring Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep grossed $4,725 million this weekend. 

It is no surprise that the critics think that this is a great film. The New York Times says that it is "deeply moving" and the Hollywood Reporter says it is

"fascinating." 

As for real movie-goers, the story of three women living in three different times, all tied together by a book, was not enough to win them over. Yahoo readers gave the film three and a half of five stars.
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