This Hollywood Reporter piece attempting to manage expectations of “Tropic Thunder’s box-office success is curious cause barely mentions “Pineapple Express.”
The premise of the piece, and the second in the ‘R-Rated comedies are bad for business‘ thesis the Reporter has been touting all week, suggestes the aforementioned rating will cap the film’s abilities to make more than $30 million in its first week. “Tropic Thunder” apparently isn’t tracking superbly well, but not terrible either, but doesn’t this thesis fail to float when you consider “Pineapple Express” an R-Rated comedy that’s apparently tracking extremely well and presumably will top the $30 million mark easily. Presumably of course (then again “Superbad,”opened to $33.1 million and it was Apatow and R-Rated too).
“Tropic Thunder” hasn’t been getting stellar reviews either despite it’s viral campaign, one that has failed to become annoying despite every attempt. As we mentioned yesterday, Variety’ Anne Thompson said ‘Tropic’ wasn’t her favorite comedy of the Comic-Con, SpoutBlog too had mixed feelings about the flick and Variety’s Todd McCarthy says, while the film does “undeniably provoke quite a few laughs,” they are mostly of the “hollow” variety. Reuters review said it’s “not a perfect comedy,” but noted that Robert Downey Jr.’s performance was a triumph. Update: David Poland is definitely disappointed in the film as well.
Stil, the Reporter is expected a dull forecast for ‘Thunder’ because “months-long attempt by marketing mavens to stimulate word-of-mouth on a film considered tough to sell via conventional means.” In January the film got pushed back one month: “Tropic” was originally slotted for July 15. Studio heads bounced it to Aug. 15 to get away from “The Dark Knight” madness they knew was coming (the movie has since been bumped up two days to August 13). The article also says the film has already spent $120 million on production and marketing. A tough figure if it can only take in $30mil in its first week. Jeffrey Wells really liked Thunder, but he’s an inside baseball guy and the Reporter suggests a lot of the jokes could go over non-Tinstletown people’s heads.
What’s up with all of the Wednesday openings in August? Up until now, only Hancock opened on a Wed. this summer. I can’t see why people are going to make an effort until Friday for either film. (Though I know I’ll run to see “Pineapple”, as opposed to get around to see “Thunder” whenever.)