Wow, already we enter the last weekend of the winter period for movies. Don’t worry, I’m fully aware winter weather isn’t going anywhere, sadly enough, but with March around the corner some slightly more interesting films are just weeks away. For now, however, we get a buddy cop comedy starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan and a horror remake.

At first glance I wasn’t sure what to make of Cop Out. I wasn’t thrilled that Warner Bros. didn’t stick with the original title “A Couple of Dicks,” for one thing. Plus, we certainly don’t need a buddy cop comedy. On the other hand, Kevin Smith directing a film that’s not his own baby sounds intriguing and I think we could all use a little more Tracy Morgan. I really don’t think we’ve seen what he can do.

The Crazies is the other newcomer this weekend. Traditional horror fans not jiving with The Wolfman or Shutter Island might be interested in this disease/zombie/insanity film based on George A. Romero’s film of the same title.

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Now Playing

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Cop Out

Directed by: Kevin Smith
Written by: Robb and Mark Cullen (not related to Edward)
Starring: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Sean William Scott

The Word: Kevin Smith ventures out into “not directing his own work” territory with this buddy cop comedy that Warner Bros. is pitching as a genre spoof on the cop thriller. Looks like Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan will be trading insults while dicking around.

Rotten Tomatoes: 13% (very bad)

My Thoughts: It could be good — as long as it’s funny, because not much else appears to be going for it. Certainly not originality. I do like the casting of “Weeds” actor Guillermo Diaz though Po Boy is a terrible moniker for him. Willis has put out a lot of average work lately and Tracy Morgan can only do so much before he gets annoying.

Recommendation: Worth dismissin’. There’s a chance it wouldn’t be a bad rental come summer.

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The Crazies

Directed by: Breck Eisner
Written by: Scott Kosar, Ray Wright, George A. Romero (1973 film)
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell

The Word: Horror remakes have a lot of trouble, but George A. Romero film remakes tend to get a lot of attention, such as Zak Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake. This film is Zombie-ish in that everyone in a small town catches a disease that turns people crazy and only partially zombie-like. Radha Mitchell is a bonafide horror star (Pitch Black, Silent Hill) and Olyphant is also a genre vet. Breck Eisner (Sahara) directs.

Rotten Tomatoes: 73% (very good)

My Thoughts: I’m working on the number of George A. Romero films I’ve seen, but one thing’s for certain: the foundation for great horror is there in all his work. Reviews have given a lot of credit to Eisner and this film for being the rare gem to get the remake done right and not many horror films in general earn props with the critics.

Recommendation: Worth admission. Certainly rentable, but genre fans apparently shouldn’t miss this according to critics.

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Box Office Predictions

I’ve been a bit shaky on my predictions of late, not having enough faith in Shutter Island to take last weekend’s box office because part of me didn’t quite see how Valentine’s Weekend was a fluke. I hope to avenge myself this weekend, but it’s tough. I suspect Scorsese’s thriller will have another good weekend, but I have a feeling Cop Out will too.

Bruce Willis has really had trouble with big openings where he’s the film’s main draw. With Tracy Morgan at his side, however, that opens up a bigger audience. At the same time, a the last buddy movie was From Paris With Love, which tanked. I’m going to cross my fingers and predict a second weekend on top for Shutter Island with $27 million, which would be just around a 40 percent decrease. Cop Out will just lose out with $25 million.

Behind that I think The Crazies will have an impressive showing around or just below $20 million. If word spreads fast, however, it could be a dark horse hit with all those great reviews. With the swift decline of the Valentine’s films, Avatar should come in fourth with $12 million or so.I like Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief to hold up enough to move ahead of Valentine’s Day as the only offering appropriate for young audiences.

1. Shutter Island
2. Cop Out
3. The Crazies
4. Avatar
5. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief