Why I live at the B.O. (box office, that is)

commentary and general lamentation
by Mr. Blunderson

Actually, my family isn't so crazy that they've driven me to a ridiculously inhospitable place for shelter... yet, but I am intrigued by one film that after six weeks is still cruising like a champ at the good old B.O. Of course I am referring to a little film I like to call Knocked Up.

Here's a film that was not a sequel, wasn't based on a TV show or a book or even a toy, severely lacking eye popping special effects or CG animation, unabashedly R-Rated, and it didn't even have a single proven big name star (unless you count cameos). Yet after six weeks it remains in the top ten at the box office having more than quadrupled it's production budget.

It warms my heart to see a small film doing so well in theaters. Crazy that a 30 million dollar film could be called "small" but compared to the barrage of "blockbuster" behemoths visiting theaters this season, Knocked Up seems like a tiny spec barely visible to the naked eye. It's also nice to see a good movie doing well, as there aren't enough of those out there any more. So many films today are big and loud and expensive but seem to come up short in the end. It's those little things like plot or character development that bring down the awesome giants that really do have so much potential. Too bad. Too, too bad.

It's also hard to believe how many huge movies have come out this year. When I was younger there were always summer movies but no way was there another huge epic something or other coming next week, and the next, and the next. It's such a rush to make money though that "quality" film gets harder and harder to find.

But it is a business. Movies are made to suck money out of my wallet and place it into the hands of people whose toilets cost more than my car. That won't be changing. There is also very little I can do to make those big-time summer spectacles be all that they can be. All I can do is remain ever vigilant for those movies that do rule and savor them that much more.

And when I find them you can bet your ass I'll tell you about them here.