We know that entertainment can impact the way we think or feel about certain things. Movies can make us happy or sad or encourage us to buy lots and lots of action figures. Sometimes they can even affect how we look at and deal with the world around us.
So with all that in mind, I fervently hope that they’re not holding special Rise of the Planet of the Apes screenings for chimpanzees. That’s the last thing we’d need.
Thankfully, 20th Century Fox doesn’t have much incentive to try to bring in the simian demo, given the fact that bananas are not accepted currency in Hollywood (yet). And given the fact that human moviegoers brought in a barrelful of cash for the film this weekend—plunking down a collective $54 million to see the thing—who needs bananas?
Rise rose to the top of the box office by virtue of some nifty previews (both of my near-adult children wanted to see it after watching the trailers) and strong buzz (81% of critics gave positive “oops” and “eeps” on rottentomatoes.com). And Plugged In reviewer Bob Hoose, while noting the film had some problematic content, thought it was pretty provocative—musing “on the question of whether or not mankind should use its scientific know-how to play God.” Doesn’t sound like your typical monkey show.
Elsewhere, those pesky Smurfs held on like cold, blue death to second place with $21 million, while last week’s champ Cowboys & Aliens tumbled to third with $15.7 million. The weekend’s only other new release, the deservedly R-rated Change-Up, only scrounged up $13.5 million—a total haul paltry enough to make execs at Universal Pictures throw up their hands in dismay. R-rated comedies started out strong this year, but as Richard Corliss over at time.com says, “The turgid returns for Friends With Benefits and Change-Up suggested that, after a busy summer, the fanciers of gross-out comedies are all grossed out.”
Well, we can hope.
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