'Hangover' lasts through weekend, 'Land' lost

By Sarah Sluis

In this week's battle of the comedies, a low-budget, almost gonzo-shot movie won out over a CGI extravaganza. The Hangover earned $43.2 million this weekend, while Land of the Lost came in below expectations, to the tune of $19.5 million I'm hardly surprised.

Having seen (and liked) both of the comedies, I can see why The Hangover won out: it's a raunchy 'R' with shock comedy that's built up like horror. Its stars have unknown brands of humor, they're older, and the film has an inventive plot structure and premise. Funny thing is, these are all qualities that should count against the film: an 'R' should slice out younger viewers, the older stars should alienate teens and twentysomethings, women should be turned off by the bachelor party antics, and haven't we seen some Vegas films before? Land of the Lost, on the other hand, is a spin-off from a proven (if dated) television show, and stars Will Ferrell, two points that should have driven, not dampened interest. Ultimately, The Hangover came off as fresh, while Land of the Lost seemed like more of the same.

I'm curious how The Hangover will play in weeks to come. Its shock moments definitely inspire the "Dude, you've got to see this!" that makes for a word-of-mouth hit. With minimal drop-off within the weekend, it appears that the film could be on a weeks-long ride to a jackpot.

Dropping just 35%, Up edged out The Hangover to earn $44.2 million. Including weekday grosses, it's already earned $137.3 million, and I expect it will cross over to $200 million within another couple of weeks, joining Star Trek in the summer movie blockbuster club.

My Life in Ruins came in at #9 this weekend, earning $3.2 million. Its per-screen average isn't stellar by summer movie standards, just $2,700, so unless it manages to drop minimally, this will be its first and last week in the top ten. Despite so-so reviews, Away We Go brought in an astounding $35,000 per screen in its four-screen release. With plans for expansion the next couple of weeks, the film could end up doing much better than the reviews forecasted.

Next week, kid-fantasy picture Imagine That opens, along with the Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Both have comparable offerings in the top ten: Imagine That overlaps with Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Up. Pelham shares audiences with action-thrillers like Angels & Demons, Star Trek, and Terminator Salvation, a stark contrast from this weekend, in which the two comedies had a wide-open field.