The Movies of 2008: Superheroes, ‘Sex,’ Silliness
By Norm Schrager at January 1, 2009 | 12:21 am | Print
Real-life 2008 could be a real downer. Shocking financial troubles. Real estate wreckage. More war. It makes sense that fantasy-life 2008 — the movies — was a world of hopeful heroes and slap-happy stupidity.
LOOK, UP IN THE SKY…
The Dark Knight, the new superhero movie standard, delivered Christopher Nolan the greatest combination of critical acclaim and box office triumph since James Cameron’s Titanic. But Nolan (and Bale and Ledger, et al) had something Cameron couldn’t have — a near-insane level of online buzz and crossed-arm fanboy defense.
The Dark Knight’s destiny as the year’s #1 film was practically etched before its release. Twenty-three weeks later, the movie is still in the weekly Top 40.
The public’s interest in a mysterious hero, that brave soul in a dangerous, unsure world, was also present with the wild success of Iron Man (#2) and even the review-proof Hancock (#4). Whether our confidence — consumer or otherwise — grows in the coming year, the superhero adaptations shall continue. The die is cast, the path is set.
“SEX” SELLS…
Ever since the Sex and The City girls were spied shooting last year on the NYC streets, women 16 to 60 anticipated the big-screen version of the HBO show. But no one could have anticipated a $153 million windfall and instant talks of a sequel. This is the rare film — a damn good one, actually — that attracts just one gender, and captures nearly every demographic within it.
Mamma Mia! nailed down much of the same audience and became one of the most successful international movies ever made ($570 million worldwide). For those of us that thought the box office was ruled by 12- to 24-year-old males, we better think again.
DUDE, I’M SO WASTED…
Combine current events worth escaping and the desire to duplicate Judd Apatow’s success, and you’ve got a spate of silly, often crude comedies.
Step Brothers
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly star as two numbskulls in the genre’s most successful movie of 2008.
Role Models
Well-reviewed tasteless stuff with Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott.
Pineapple Express
Apatow himself produced this stoner tale starring the failure-free Seth Rogen.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Another Apatow entry, starring and written by another Apatow veteran, Jason Segel.
Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
More stoner goodness, with Kal Penn making up for his participation in 2007′s Epic Movie.
Meet The Spartans, Disaster Movie
Not one, but two dolt spoofs from Scary Movie franchise writers Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (both movies will show up on some Bottom 10 lists).
Superhero Movie
Another Bottom 10 favorite, from yet another Scary Movie sequel vet, Craig Mazin.
SOME FINAL NOTES
:: Most likely to have a continuously enormous career: Josh Brolin (W., Milk)
:: Greatest diversity, after all these years: Meryl Streep (Mamma Mia!, Doubt)
:: Better than the old Brat Pack: The New Jewish Mafia — Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd
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