We all know producer Judd Apatow has four movies coming up in 2008. But which ones will work at the boxoffice? By my guess, all of them. It’s just a case of how high is high.
I forecast correctly that the musical biopic parody Walk Hard would fail. It was a smart comedy satire of narrow interest to a wide audience, and asked folks to spend entirely too much screen time with John C. Reilly, who is the original definition of a great actor who has to be cast in the right (co-starring) role.
Here’s USA Today’s interview with Apatow. And my column on Apatow before Knocked Up and Superbad opened last year.
Sight unseen, based on marketing materials and ShoWest reaction, I’m predicting the following:
BOFFO HOME RUN
Step Brothers R (dumb male comedy starring Will Ferrell and Reilly; trailer (below) is hilarious)
SMASH
Drillbit Taylor PG-13 (Owen Wilson star power, may have family appeal)UPDATE: Boy was I wrong! Maybe Apatow and Wilson work best in the R-rated universe; also this was a familiar old plot. Bad reviews and poor opening.
Pineapple Express R (stoner comedy)
DOUBLE
Forgetting Sarah Marshall R (relationship comedy, may have femme appeal)
[Originally appeared on Variety.com]
