Monday Morning Quarterback

By BOP Staff

June 8, 2009

Okay, I know a guy who can 'take care' of Kobe, if you know what I mean.

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Scott Lumley: I don't know how big the marketing budget for Speed Racer was, but it certainly must have paled next to the Dark Knight. I remember taking a subway in Toronto and nearly the entire platform was floor to ceiling Dark Knight Posters, standees and wallpaper. Completely insane. You're right in that it certainly didn't need it, but somebody at Warner Bros. believes in overkill.

Reagen Sulewski: I don't have a lot more to add to this - that's what happens when the answer is relatively simple. The marketing guys must dream about being handed something like this to sell. I would strongly disagree with the idea that Paul Blart had much connection with this, though - that was a PG film and made a lot of its money off the back of 12-year-olds.

David Mumpower: On a weekend where we saw a nostalgia film go up in flames, we also saw one succeed to an epic degree. Other bits of the trailer for The Hangover were hilarious (particularly the guy jumping out of the trunk), but it was the usage of Mike Tyson airdrumming In the Air Tonight that sold many. Despite everything we know about his private life, Tyson remains an enigmatic, captivating celebrity. His usage here reinforced the fantastical idea all of us have about Las Vegas: we can envision ourselves meeting a celebrity in a similarly unlikely turn of events. It's silly with just enough thought behind it to be engaging. The Hangover is in the discussion for trailer of the year and that's why it was the #1 film of the weekend.




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They'll all be "That Guys" five years from now.

Kim Hollis: Which actor - if any - from The Hangover do you think gets the biggest bump from the film's performance?

Josh Spiegel: Well, it's a big "if," but the only actor I see getting a boost, and a well-deserved one, is Zach Galifianakis. Here's a comedian who's been working the stand-up circuit for years, but has never really hit the mainstream - partly because his comedy isn't really that mainstream. Even though his character is very strange, and kind of creepy, Galifianakis is pretty much the movie's designated scene-stealer. Ed Helms is good here, but his role on The Office was probably a bigger boost to his career than this film would be. Bradley Cooper is fine here, but the memorable role goes to Galifianakis, so he may be the only lucky one.

Scott Lumley: I think the general rule of thumb for a film with this sort of cast is as follows. 'Whoever is either the funniest or most memorable character (or both) shall reap the lion's share of recognition for the role. I think that's automatically going to be Galifianakis. This film is going to be his 40 Year-Old Virgin.

The tough part will be following up. Does he leap to mind for *ANY* other major role?

Max Braden: I think it's Ed Helms. He's featured prominently so even if you didn't see the movie (like me), you know he's in it. I won't be able to recognize Galifianakis by face or by name in the future. I think he'll need another big movie to establish himself. Even though because I watch The Office it makes me think everyone else does (not the case), I think this weekend will put Helms in the mindset of bigger budget movies. Second is Bradley Cooper, whose name seems to be in the movies a lot in the last 12 months.


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