re: Why did the Burt Wonderstone movie bomb so badly?

Wait people are shocked that a goofy, stupid and retarded comedy is stupid, goofy and retarded? Fascinating.

Saw it last night. It had its moments, but overall pretty terrible.

My Mom and Bro saw it. They said it sucked. bad.

"Go in with no expectations and it's 'meh"

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I didn't realize Carrell was so hated on.

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Carrell's not a lead man, he just isn't. He is very good in the background and small roles but out front and on screen all the time gets old real fast. The best role he has had to me was Crazy stupid love where he wasn't trying to be funny and was just a guy. Even the office is about the cast and not Carrell out front.

As for Carrey, he is in two movies releasing with this and Kick-arse 2 so he is trying to make a comeback but Jenny McCarthy sucked the life out of him a few years ago.

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40 year old virgin was his best I think

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Like I said earlier in the thread, that movie was all about the surrounding cast. Rogen and Rudd were standouts and that movie really launched both to another level. Malco was really funny in it. The girls, Banks and Lynch, were both funny in their small parts.

That movie had a pretty deep cast that was all good, Carrell was just the main character but not really the main part of the movie.

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Carrell's not a lead man, he just isn't. He is very good in the background and small roles but out front and on screen all the time gets old real fast.

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Agree with this... His two best films are 40yr Old and Anchorman. 40yr old was only due to him being fresh on the scene.

EVERY character he plays has the same schtik about him. I don't find him funny at all.

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This. Outside of 40 Year Old Virgin, which was carried by the supporting cast, Carell has done shite in the lead role and nothing of note. He isn't a box office draw because people are starting to understand, whether they admit it or not, that his shite gets old and he isn't funny in large doses.

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I have no opinion on this particular movie, but I think this statement is patently false (and went to box office mojo to check my thoughts - I think Box Office Mojo is just US box office as wikipedia reflected higher values for these movies when checked on there)). While your conclusion that people are starting to understand that "his shite gets old and isn't funny in large doses" it's simply too soon to say there is a trend that way.

Seeking a Friend was his last starring role prior to Burt Wonderstone. It was a small picture ($10 million budget) and featured Carrell playing far from zany "Steve Carrell role." But aside from that film and Burt Wonderstone, it seems like Carrell movies definitely bring people to the box office.

Sometimes movies just look like non-starters from the promotions, and I think this was the case of one. Carrell, while not my favorite actor by any means, has shown that he can draw people in and make money. It helps if he has a solid cast around him (though let's be honest, Burt Wonderstone has a GREAT cast - Steve Buscemi, James Gandolfini, and Alan Arkin plus Olivia Wilde to look at) so I think you can just chalk this one up as a bad idea with trailers that only served to diminish interest.

Of course if his next two or three movies tank, I'll come back on here and admit you're right. But for now, it's simply false to say Carrell isn't a box office draw.

Hope Springs (non-starring, third billed) - $63,536, 011

Seeking a Friend for End of the World (top billing, independent) - $7,078, 738

Crazy, Stupid, Love (top billing, ensemble flick) - $84,351,197

Dinner for Schmucks (top billing) - $73,026,337

Despicable Me (top billing, animated) - $251,513,985

Date Night (shared top billing w/Tina Fey) - $98,711,404

Get Smart (top billing) - $130,319,208

Horton Hears a Who (shared top billing w/Jim Carrey, animated) - $154,529,439

Dan in Real Life (top billing) - $47,642,963

Evan Almighty (top billing) - $100,462,298 (underperformed mightily)

Little Miss Sunshine (ensemble, 2nd billing after Kinnear) - $59,891,098

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relatively small budget of $30M

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We must have different ideas of what a small budget is.

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Hope Springs (non-starring, third billed) - $63,536, 011

Seeking a Friend for End of the World (top billing, independent) - $7,078, 738

Crazy, Stupid, Love (top billing, ensemble flick) - $84,351,197

Dinner for Schmucks (top billing) - $73,026,337

Despicable Me (top billing, animated) - $251,513,985

Date Night (shared top billing w/Tina Fey) - $98,711,404

Get Smart (top billing) - $130,319,208

Horton Hears a Who (shared top billing w/Jim Carrey, animated) - $154,529,439

Dan in Real Life (top billing) - $47,642,963

Evan Almighty (top billing) - $100,462,298 (underperformed mightily)

Little Miss Sunshine (ensemble, 2nd billing after Kinnear) - $59,891,098

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Coming off of Rotten Tomatoes and omitting the two animated series since the voices make no difference in box office on them.

Hope Springs 74% but billed third
Hope Springs (non-starring, third billed) - $63,536, 011 74% Never saw it.

Seeking a Friend for End of the World (top billing, independent) - $7,078, 738 55% Never saw it.

Crazy, Stupid, Love (top billing, ensemble flick) - $84,351,197 78% Not a comedy and also had a hot name Emma Stone and Gosling with Julianne Moore.

Dinner for Schmucks (top billing) - $73,026,337 43% but Carrell was unlikable in the movie. He was easily the worst part of the movie plus Rudd was in it to help it out with a hot name Galifianakis

Date Night (shared top billing w/Tina Fey) - $98,711,404 67% but was an awful movie to me. Unwatchable and I only made it through the first 30 minutes on two or three different watches.

Get Smart (top billing) - $130,319,208 51%. Not as bad as the rating to me.

Dan in Real Life (top billing) - $47,642,963 64% but again, not a comedy.

Evan Almighty (top billing) - $100,462,298 (underperformed mightily) 23%. Comedy but not as bad as the rating to me.

Little Miss Sunshine (ensemble, 2nd billing after Kinnear) 91%. Very good movie but not a slapstick comedy.

Essentially my point is that all the comedies he was 1st billed were pretty bad and people see that now. Big weekends up front help him out and he usually gets another pretty big name with him.