By Carl DiOrio
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A couple of film
characters adept at martial arts and anatomy-defying leg splits
face off at movie theaters this weekend.
DreamWorks Animation's family feature "Kung Fu Panda,"
features a voice cast including Jack Black and Angelina Jolie,
while Adam Sandler stars in the Sony comedy "You Don't Mess
With the Zohan." Both are considered potential candidates to
replace "Sex and the City" atop the domestic box office.
"Panda" looks like a lock to ring up at least $40 million
domestically. "Zohan," whose star plays an Israeli
commando-turned-New York hairdresser, should bow with at least
$35 million but could spar with "Panda" for the frame's top
spot if appeal proves broader than the male-skewing fan base
for most Sandler releases.
"Men of all ages are totally up for it, (and) women have
become enlisted as we have continued the campaign," Sony
distribution president Rory Bruer said.
Indeed, executives at Paramount, which distributes
DreamWorks Animation releases, aren't ready to start polishing
the weekend gold medal just yet.
"I think they're going to be neck and neck," Paramount vice
chairman Rob Moore said of the frame's wide openers.
There are at least a couple of historical comparisons for
each of the No. 1 wannabes.
"Panda" compares with DreamWorks' May 2006 family comedy
"Over the Hedge," which bowed to $38.5 million en route to $155
million domestically, and June 2007's Pixar/Disney film
"Ratatouille," which opened with $47 million and grossed $206.4
million all told.
