At the movies
A game adaptation (“Battleship”), a dark romp (“Bernie”), an outlandish satire (“The Dictator”) and a broad comedy (“What to Expect When You’re Expecting”) are among the titles arriving on this third weekend of May.
“Battleship,” with Liam Neeson and singer-turned-actress Rihanna in a $200 million action sci-fi epic about a fleet of ships being attacked by otherworldly creatures. Peter Berg (“The Kingdom”) directed the PG-13 picture, which is based on a war game.
“Bernie,” with Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey in a dark PG-13 comedy about a beloved assistant funeral director who agrees to help a rich Texas widow with a sour attitude and tight purse strings. Friends and neighbors question his level of care when someone discovers that the woman has been dead for some time and her demise appears to have been hidden by the seemingly benevolent Bernie. Richard Linklater (“Dazed and Confused”) directed.
“The Dictator,” with Sasha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris and John C. Reilly in an outrageous R-rated comedy about a military leader who believes his subjects enjoy his oppressive rule. Larry Charles (“Borat”) directed. (Opened Wednesday)
“Losing Control,” with Miranda Kent and Reid Scott in an unrated romantic comedy about a neurotic Harvard graduate student who conducts an experiment on her boyfriend to determine the strength of their relationship. Valerie Weiss (TV movie “In the Mix”) directed.
“Mansome,” with guest stars Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Zach Galifianakis, Paul Rudd and John Waters in a PG-13 documentary about male grooming habits and how they have changed over the years. Morgan Spurlock (“Supersize Me”) directed.
“Surviving Progress,” with notables such as environmental activist Jane Goodall and physicist Stephen Hawking in an unrated documentary that was inspired by the non-fiction favorite “A Short History of Progress” by Ronald Wright and determines how man’s progress has negatively impacted the planet. Mathieu Roy (“Francois Girard en trois actes”) and newcomer Harold Crooks co-directed.
“What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” with Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Rock, Dennis Quaid and Cameron Diaz in a PG-13 ensemble tale about five couples going through up-and-down emotions as they wait for their babies to arrive. The comedy drama is based on the best-selling pregnancy-guide book by Heidi Murkoff. Kirk Jones (“Nanny McPhee”) directed.
At the buc$ office
A vintage vampire from an afternoon soap proved no competition for some superheroes at the box office last weekend.
Director Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows,” starring Johnny Depp as bloodsucker Barnabas Collins, opened with a modest $28.8 million.
The PG-13 picture fell far short of “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which grossed $103.1 million in its second week of release. In just 14 days, the PG-13 adventure featuring seven Marvel superheroes, has grossed $373.1 million with no end of its dominance in sight.
According to Box Office Mojo, the top 10 films last weekend were:
1. “Marvel’s The Avengers” ($103.1 million)
2. “Dark Shadows” ($28.8 million)
3. “Think Like a Man” ($6.3 million)
4. “The Hunger Games” ($4.4 million)
5. “The Lucky One” ($4 million)
6. “The Pirates! Band of Misfits” ($3.2 million)
7. “The Five-Year Engagement” ($3.1 million)
8. “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” ($2.65 million)
9. “Chimpanzee” ($1.6 million)
10. “Girl in Progress” ($1.3 million)