by Tony Rizzo
Have moviegoers tastes changed that much? The 2016 film release schedule reveals 15 documentaries and 10 superhero movies. The documentaries range from O.J Simpson, Frank Zappa, Norman Lear and Anthony Weiner to environment and climate change, stem-cell research, animal rights and cyber warfare. On the superhero side, we’ll be barraged with “Captain America”, “X-Men,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Independence Day,” “Tarzan,” “Suicide Squad,” “Doctor Strange,” “Rogue One” and “Assassin’s Creed.”
Along those lines, Chris Hemsworth has had a rocky road as a headliner when his films weren’t superhero-oriented. In 2012, he had four films: “Cabin in the Woods,” which made $36.5 million above cost; “Avengers,” which made $1.5 billion; “Snow White and the Huntsman,” which grossed $133 million and “Red Dawn,” which lost $17 million. In 2013, he had “Rush,” which made a $59 million profit, and “Thor: The Dark World,” which brought in $475 million. In 2015, “Blackhat” lost $50 million, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” made $1.5 billion, while “In the Heart of the Sea” tanked, losing $5 million. His latest, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” is off to a bad start, earning only $110 million of its $115 million cost.
Chris has won awards for his work: a 2012 Teen Choice Award (summer movie star — male) and a 2013 People’s Choice Award (favorite action-movie star) for “The Avengers” and “Snow White and the Huntsman,” and a 2013 MTV award (for best fight, in “The Avengers”). The public has spoken! They want him super-sized! Superhero films are usually in IMAX and 3D, and it would appear that moviegoers only to go to theaters to see what they can’t get on their electronic devices.
“Castle” is going for a 10-episode ninth season, but without its female star, Stana Katic. Reports say she wasn’t offered another contract, but since both she and Nathan Fillion are listed as producers, shouldn’t they have had a united front? The show monkeyed around with their relationship (to help ratings?), but it didn’t work. So expect her be killed off. And what’s with Fillion and those AAG reverse-mortgage commercials? He’s 45 years old trying to appeal to the over-60 crowd. Did they think graying his hair would accomplish that? Really!
Do we really need another production of “Hairspray,” this time live on NBC with Harvey Fierstein (in drag, as Edna Turnblad), Martin Short (Wilbur), Jennifer Hudson (Motor Mouth Maybelle) and Derek Hough (Corny Collins). I don’t know, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah and James Marsden are still fresh in my mind. Too much hairspray is bad for the ozone!
(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
