2009 got off to a pretty good start this past weekend with a chart that almost perfectly mirrors the lineup that closed out 2008. No new films entered wide release so there was little competition. What I find surprising is how well all of the returning films did. Across the board the films showed strongly compared to last week. Even the one film that did fall out of the top ten dipped less than 50% (I was expecting more). Will this be a sign of things to come? I am sure that the studios are hoping it is.
The top two spots are dominated by family fare, which has to be expected. Having just passed what may be the biggest family holiday of the year, what is one of the things that a family can do as a familial unit that does not require them to actually talk to each other? Go to the movies, of course! I am joking a bit there, the holidays are all about family and if you are blessed with a good one, there is always something to talk about, especially if you have not all been together for awhile.
Topping the list is, for the second straight week, the family film about the world's worst dog, Marley & Me. This is a movie that is as much a crowd pleaser as it is a relentless tearjerker. The movie is definitely an interesting one, funny, sad, poignant, all at the same time. The film is based on the book by John Grogan about his real life experiences with his dog, Marley. I just have to wonder how he did it. If the real Marley was anywhere near as destructive as the film dog, I don't think I would have been able to deal. Now, with its box office success, will they try to figure a way to finagle a sequel?
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