We are in the home stretch of 2008. The final weekend of the year showed some signs of life as the top four films topped the $20 million mark. Frankly, I find myself rather surprised by the surprising potency of the weekend, although I guess I shouldn't be. There is a nice blend of art house and mainstream gracing the cineplex and there are worthwhile films on both sides of the coin.
The top film for the weekend (and for Christmas day itself) is none other than that tale of puppy love, Marley & Me. Based on the novel of the same name, it is the story of a married couple finding a connection through a very bad dog. Well, not necessarily bad, but definitely destructive. Marley is a yellow lab with a very chewy streak, causing no shortage of distress in the couple's life. The couple is played by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. The movie may be a bit emotionally manipulative, but there is no denying its effectiveness. It is funny, it is sad, and it will leave you with a strained smile on your face.
Coming in a safe distance behind in second place is the new Adam Sandler comedy. He leaves the PG-13 realm of Zohan behind in favor of the family-friendly confines of Bedtime Stories. In this movie Sandler tells his niece and nephew stories that inexplicably become reality, which he attempts to take advantage of. I have not yet seen the movie, but it looks like it could provide some moderate entertainment value.
The third and fourth slots are filled by a couple of other new releases. First up is the latest David Fincher film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This long film is a cinematic treat that features both a fascinating central character and some great special effects. It is a movie that moves at a leisurely pace (read: slow) that slowly wraps itself around the viewer. No, not the best film, but it is one to be experienced.
Rounding out the freshman four is Tom Cruise's WWII film Valkyrie. It is a movie with a storied release schedule that finally found a home on Christmas and has turned out to be surprisingly popular. Whether or not it lasts is yet to be seen. Cruise stars as a German soldier who leads a plot to assassinate Hitler at the height of his power. It is obvious that the plot did not work, but it does seem like an intriguing story. The big question is how well does Cruise pull it off? I do now know. Yet.
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