Early estimates for the Labor Day weekend suggest that George Clooney’s assassin drama The American will be #1 for the holiday frame, followed closely by Machete. This weekend’s other new release, Going the Distance seems likely to open in a distant 5^th place.

With Labor Day upon us the summer movie season officially draws to a close this weekend.   There are three new choices hitting multiplexes for your viewing pleasure, but just like every other Labor Day weekend, the choices aren’t all that exciting. Danny Trejo stars in Machete from director Robert Rodriguez, George Clooney plays an assassin in The American and real on again, off again couple, Drew Barrymore and Justin Long star in romantic comedy, Going the Distance. Competition is light at the moment, so one of these films is all but guaranteed to open on top of the heap, but which one? Take a look. 

With the summer movie season rapidly coming to a close and the studios already having fired their big guns weeks ago, it is a relatively boring weekend at the movies. There are two new films entering the marketplace; heist thriller, Taken, starring Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Idris Elba and a host of others and this year’s scary, indie film, The Last Exorcism. The biggest box office hit of all time will also be rereleased this weekend as James Cameron invites us back for a second visit to Pandora in Avatar: Special Edition. Can Sly Stallone and his tough guy buddies hold on to the top spot for a third weekend in a row? Take a look.

Although technically there are a few more weekends until Labor Day, Sly Stallone officially closed out the summer movie season last weekend with his ensemble action flick The Expendables. There are quite a few new releases hitting theatres this weekend as studios attempt to burn off some stinkers in these last dog days of summer.  The five new films competing for your box office dollars are; family film Nanny McPhee Returns, spoof comedy Vampires Suck (opening on Wednesday), 3-D horror reboot Piranha 3D, urban comedy The Lottery Ticket and rom-com The Switch. Last weekend was the battle of testosterone vs. estrogen with The Expendables facing off against Eat Pray Love and it looks like these two films will once again be battling it out for 1^st place. Who will emerge the champ? Take a look. 

Sylvester Stallone has assembled a myriad of actions stars both past and present for his macho, testosterone laced, action flick throwback to the 80’s The Expendables and largely he has succeeded. The action is sleek and riveting and will excite just about anyone into this sort of mayhem. The problem with the film is some of the scenes that take place between the carnage. It would be easy to blame this on Stallone’s script, but the truth is, the only reason some of the scenes don’t work is due to the acting chops of some of the “actors” onscreen.   Let’s face it, master thespians, most of these guys are not (why am I sounding like Yoda?). No one ever expects Jet Li or Dolph Lundgren to be nominated for an Oscar. 

This weekend Sylvester Stallone stars with macho stars from the past and present in his ode to the action flicks of the 80’s, The Expendables. Julia Roberts stars in Eat Pray Love, based on the best-selling novel, and Michael Cera stars in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World based on the cult hit comic series. Last weekend’s champ, The Other Guys will certainly lose the top spot to one of these three new films, but which one? Take a look.

The Other Guys is a funny movie no doubt about it, it just doesn’t reach the comedic highs of Will Ferrell’s best films. As such I’m reviewing this film as a comparison to his earlier work. There are plenty of ridiculous moments and demented lines in the script written by director and frequent collaborator, Adam McKay (along with Chris Henchy), but the film never reaches the lunacy of Ferrell and McKay’s other films together.

After three weekends at #1, Inception will be bumped by Will Ferrell’s latest comedy, The Other Guys. The real question is whether Inception will place second or third in its fourth weekend and will Step Up 3D mange to outperform it. Take a look.

You have to love Steve Carell and Paul Rudd. They are two of the easiest stars to watch on the big screen, each exuding a casual charm and niceness. While Dinner for Schmucks isn’t their best and funniest collaboration, it is a genial, amusing comedy, wrapped around a gooey, moral center. There aren’t too many uproarious laughs to be had, but the film will keep you smiling and giggling the whole way through. 

Three new films will compete for your box office dollars this weekend and try to catapult current champ Inception out of the top spot. Steve Carell and Paul Rudd invite you to attend Dinner for Schmucks; household pets will battle it out in Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore and Zac Efron sees dead people as the title character in Charlie St. Cloud. Will these new films be box office smashes? Take a look.