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Max Braden: This looks like a film that panders to viewers of TNT's "Men of a Certain Age" except these men don't even exercise. Is it about birdwatching? Man, I hope not. I get the impression it's like The Bucket List for guys having a mid-age crisis. White men, suck it up and get over yourselves! Didn't we move past this kind of movie after the Clinton era? And if you're going to release a movie like this, at least dump it at Christmas when moviegoers actually feel charitable.

Kim Hollis: I saw commercials for it and had no idea what I was looking at. I'm always inclined to think positively of Owen Wilson films, but not even this one really made me want to see it. Obviously, the rest of America reacted the same way.

Help Wanted

Kim Hollis: How desperately does Hollywood need a big blockbuster hit right now?

Bruce Hall: As badly as the Colts need Peyton Manning. About that bad.

Matthew Huntley: Badly, and unfortunately I think they'll have to wait until Puss In Boots to even get a taste of one. But the good news is November and December seem pretty strong (Immortals, Twilight, Mission: Impossible), so by the end of the year we'll hopefully have more than we count.

Brett Beach: Considering that The Help and Rise of the Planet of the Apes unexpectedly dominated August and that September was the highest grossing September ever, I am not worrying too much about H'wood. Puss in Boots will be a hit, possibly to blockbuster level (whivh I define as $150 million and above) And in only four weeks, pillow-biting, bed-breaking, vampire-baby making marital relations will be projected out onto 4,000 screens. Some money will be made there.

And apropos of almost nothing. Here is a bold prediction for December: Adventures of TinTin will set a record for most lopsided domestic to foreign gross of any major release in the last 20 years. Eighteen to 82 split, beating the current holder The Golden Compass. I feel that even War Horse will outgross it here in the States.

Max Braden: Hollywood needs a star, too, doesn't it? I mean, come on dudes, are we really still relying on Tom Cruise to save the day? (I'm actually looking forward to M:I).

Kim Hollis: I don't know that a blockbuster is necessary, exactly. I suspect that Paranormal Activity 3 is going to pick things up significantly this week, particularly since the film has been well positioned as a very scary, quality flick. It's not going to be a "blockbuster," probably, but it's going to be good enough to improve things at the box office.

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