DVD Releases for 7/20:

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)  PG13
Synopsis: Spoiled city brat finds out she’s actually not that important when her family moves from the city to the suburbs.
Box Office: $29.3 million
Market: Anyone above the age of 13 is likely to have their intelligence insulted by this movie, so expect it to do well.  Families including at least one girl will gravitate toward this one.
Similar Titles: Freaky Friday (2003 remake), Princess Diaries

Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004) PG13
Synopsis: Nobody puts Baby in a corner, which is beside the point because Jennifer Grey isn’t even in this sequel to the 1987 classic (did I actually just write that?).  Patrick Swayze appears briefly, but that can only be a good thing.
Box Office: $14.1 million.
Market: May lean heavily on nostalgia for the original.  Couples in their 20s or 30s may enjoy this one.
Similar Titles: Dirty Dancing (duh), Titanic

Secret Lives: Hidden Children & Their Rescuers During WWII (2002) NR
Synopsis: Documentary on European families who risked the wrath of Nazi Germany to hide Jewish children during World War II.
Box Office: —–
Market: Adults seeking more serious subject matter.  People interested in this may not be fighting the crowds on Friday or Saturday night but may come in earlier in the day.  Parents who are bringing their kids may find this interesting for themselves.
Similar Titles: Blind Spot: Hitler’s Secretary (2002), Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport (2000).

Starsky & Hutch (2004) PG13
Synopsis: A very loose and very tongue-in-cheek remake of the 70s TV series starring Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller in his 35th movie of 2004.
Box Office: $88.2 million
Market: This is the big one.  Everyone is going to be interested in this.  At PG13, this is the perfect compromise for families wanting to watch a movie together as well as teens and 20-somethings getting together with friends.
Similar Titles: Old School

The Big Bounce (2003) PG13
Synopsis: Comedy about small-time con artists all double dealing each other in this adaptation of an Elmore Leanord book.
Box Office: $6.4 million.
Market: If (or more accurately when) Starsky & Hutch is out, point customers here since it also stars Owen Wilson.  Not quite the same level of comedic hijinks, but may serve as a consolation prize.
Similar Titles: Get Shorty, Ocean’s Eleven

The Goodbye Girl (2004) PG
Synopsis: Remake of the 1977 original, which was itself originally a Neil Simon play, this version stars Jeff Daniels and Patricia Heaton (from “Everybody Loves Raymond”) as strangers forced to share an apartment.
Box Office: N/A.  This was originally a TV movie.
Market: Nice, gentle middle of the road romantic comedy will probably skew more towards 30-somthing couples looking for a date movie.
Similar Titles: Goodbye Girl (1977), Seems Like Old Times

The Human Stain (2003) R
Synopsis: Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman star in this drama about a college professor (Hopkins) and how the secrets he’s kept for years impact his life when they are revealed.
Box Office: $5.3 million.
Market: Adults looking for something that is just a few steps off the beaten path should enjoy this one.  This movie was well received by critics but never found a mainstream audience, making it perfect for someone who may not know exactly what they would like to rent.
Similar Titles: The Hours, Hearts in Atlantis.