'Leap Year' and 'Youth in Revolt' add laughs to the box-office lineup

By Sarah Sluis

This weekend gives us the first wide releases of 2010. Falling into the fairly recognizable genres of romantic comedy, teen comedy, and vampire (I'm counting that as a genre now), these films should open in the middle of the top ten. Christmastime releases like Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel still have enough steam to finish ahead of the new offerings.

"As fresh as a hunk of week-old

soda bread," Leap Year (2,511 theatres) is one of those predictable romantic comedies usually released during an off time of the year. Watching the trailer pretty much gives away the whole plot, including a twist that happens at least an hour in, so it would be a good choice for those who...well...like to talk during a movie? Like knowing that all of the fighting between Amy Adams and Matthew Goode is just an hour-long procrastination before their inevitable union? The romcom is predicted to finish below Daybreakers but above Youth in Revolt.

Daybreakers (2,523 theatres) brings viewers to a futuristic world where vampires feed off an ever-diminishing group of human survivors. While our critic Maitland McDonagh praises the movie for details like "coffee bars where cups of

java come with blood instead of milk, she finds "the story under this rich surface is simplistic and derivative." The most likely candidates to buy tickets for this vampire dystopia will be young, male frequent moviegoers who have already seen Avatar and Sherlock Holmes.

A fresh installment in the teen comedy genre, Youth in Revolt (1,873 theatres) will have particular hold among teens and twentysomethings. With plenty of laughs and an unrealistically adult level of dialogue, Michael Cera does what he does best: acting like a nerdy, preternaturally aware teen. Cera has been doing extensive web and viral promos, including one with the cast of breakout hit "Jersey Shore," which may give the movie an edge at the box office. It's currently tracking to finish the lowest out these new releases, so an upset could indicate an underestimation of these viral efforts.

On Monday we'll circle back to see Avatar inching toward Titanic's all-time record, the top returnees adding even more coin to their flush pockets, and if Daybreakers, Leap Year, and Youth in Revolt finish in their expected order.