by Shannon Hood, Feb 8 2010 // 8:00 AM

I swear I heard my keyboard purr when I typed that headline. Those of us who cover weekly box office totals have been in a rut for seven weeks, and like it or loathe it, Dear John gives us something new to talk about.
Despite tepid reviews, Dear John shocked prognosticators by soundly beating Avatar this weekend. Dear John hauled in $32 Million to win the weekend over Avatar, which made an additional $23.6 Million.
I didn’t see Dear John, but I do find it interesting that everyone continues to underestimate the female ticket draw. The book by Nicholas Sparks was very popular, and currently boasts a 4.5 reader’s rating on Barnes and Noble’s web site. Didn’t Hollywood learn anything from New Moon? Rabid female book fans = box office gold.
Side note, I was shocked to receive an email from my very own parents, who have not seen a movie in the theater in over 5 years, sharing that they saw a matinee of Avatar in 3D and loved it. I quote, “We both wanted to live in that forest.” Um, what?
This coming from a couple who still enjoys dial-up internet. They voluntarily donned 3D glasses because they felt that this movie just had to be seen. I only mention this because this is precisely why the movie has made so much money. There are people going to see it that don’t ever go to movies, and that is quite a feat.
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Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Box Office · Movies · News
Tagged: Amanda Seyfried, Avatar, Box Office, Channing Tatum, Dear John, James Cameron, Movies, Sam Worthington, Super Bowl
by Shannon Hood, Sep 18 2009 // 4:45 PM

Jennifer’s Body is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2007′s indie film juggernaut Juno. Screenwriter Diablo Cody exploded onto the pop culture landscape, became an overnight sensation, and won an Academy Award for penning the story. Almost immediately after her catapult to fame, a backlash began against the writer. The anti-establishment proclaimed her over-rated. So the question riding on this film is this: Is she a one-hit-wonder or is she a legitimately talented screenwriter?
I don’t believe she ever had a chance of lightning striking twice and you can only star in a Cinderella story one time. However, Cody wisely chose to distance herself from her freshman debut and completely changed genres for her second movie. The result is this comedy/horror hybrid about a voracious vamp who develops an unhealthy appetite for the flesh of male classmates. Since the movie revolves around teenagers, Cody is able to drop plenty of her trademark dialogue, (or Cody-isms as we bloggers like to call them). Hot boys are “salty morsels” , boobs are “smart bombs” and Jennifer (Megan Fox) sneers “you’re so Jell-o” to someone she thinks is jealous. If you were annoyed by the snarky dialogue in Juno, you won’t be doing yourself any favors by seeing this movie. However, I enjoyed the dialogue and found that it added a deliciously campy feel to the movie.
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Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Comedy · Fantasy · Horror · Movies · Reviews
Tagged: Adam Brody, Amanda Seyfried, Diablo Cody, Jennifer's Body, Megan Fox
by Jennifer Tomooka, Aug 12 2009 // 3:45 PM
Break.com recently posted a heartfelt PSA from Megan Fox, who encouraged high school kids everywhere to stand up against peer pressure and not be afraid of being different. “What really matters,” Fox explains, “is being yourself, and if that includes slowly killing, then eating every boy in your school, then I say do it.”
Wait…what?
It turns out the PSA is actually promoting the black comedy/horror flick, Jennifer’s Body, Diablo Cody’s follow-up to Juno. Fox plays Jennifer Check, a sexy, popular cheerleader that every girl wants to befriend and every boy wants to date. Jennifer’s interest in boys changes significantly after a satanic ritual goes horribly wrong, leaving Jennifer possessed by a demon who feeds off the boys at her high school.
Jennifer’s Body also stars Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons and Adam Brody and will be devouring audiences on September 18.
Catch Fox’s special PSA after the jump. Strong language is used, so viewers beware.
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Posted in: 20th Century Fox · Comedy · Horror · Movies · News · Trailers
Tagged: Adam Brody, Amanda Seyfried, Diablo Cody, Jennifer's Body, Johnny Simmons, Megan Fox, PSA