1. The Secret Lives of Pets (Universal, 4,369 Theaters, 90 Minutes, Rated PG for action and some rude humor, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer at press time: 76% Fresh [93 Reviews]): Finding Dory has been dominating at the box office, and it seems like the only thing that can knock it off its perch is…anther animated film?
Max (Louis C.K.) had the run of the apartment before Duke (Eric Stonestreet) came along. Not one to share attention, he tries his best to get rid of his new roommate. However, when a plot to ditch Duke ends up forcing both dogs out on the street, the pair need to work together to survive.
This film is made by the same people who made Despicable Me, which has turned into a lucrative franchise for Universal. It will be interesting to see if this film has what it takes to unseat Dory.
2. Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (Fox, 2,982 Theaters, 98 Minutes, Rated R for crude sexual content, language throughout, drug use and some graphic nudity, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer at press time: 47% Fresh [57 Reviews]): Brothers Mike (Adam Devine, reasonably attractive) and Dave (Zac Efron, incredibly attractive) need dates for their sister’s wedding in Hawaii. While the real world, these guys would have no problem finding women to got to a tropical paradise with an open bar, for the purpose of the film, they need to go on Wendy Williams to find the right girls.
They seem to find them in Alice (Anna Kendrick) and Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza), two seemingly wholesome girls who will make the ideal dates. Of course, the girls are a pair of head cases, and the brothers have to struggle to keep them under control.
I love Kendrick and like Plaza. I don’t not have the same feeling for the male leads. I don’t know if either will be able to make this bawdy comedy rise above every other similar bawdy comedy that came before it.
