Why America Went Sour on Sweet Jen and Ben

NY Newsday ^ | August 5, 2003 | James P. Pinkerton

[presidio9]

Every now and then a movie comes along that's so hyped and so bad - and such a box-office bomb - that it reveals a larger truth about the dynamics of our society.

"Gigli," starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, is such a movie. It cost $54 million to make, and yet it grossed less than $4 million in its premiere weekend - a number that would have to be multiplied by five if the film were destined to make a profit. But "Gigli" is not just a financial failure. It's also providing movie critics with an opportunity to unsheathe their swords and hack not only the film, but also the stars, into small little pieces.

When I checked, the Web site rottentomatoes.com tallied 101 critics; just five gave the movie a positive review. But numerical totals don't always convey rhetorical intensity. So to get the full measure of the fangs biting into "Gigli" - rhymes with "really" - one might consider the venomous words of Newark Star-Ledger critic Stephen Whitty: "'Gigli' is such an utter wreck of a movie you expect to see it lying on its side somewhere in rural Pennsylvania, with a small gang of engineers circling and a wisp of smoke rising from the caboose."

Whenever this much vehemence is aimed at a mere movie, something deeper is going on. Three things, in fact.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Siskel and Ebert gave it two fingers up!

[BrooklynGOP]

It cost $54 million to make, and yet it grossed less than $4 million in its premiere weekend - a number that would have to be multiplied by five if the film were destined to make a profit.

Fuzzy math??

[Chad Fairbanks]

Journalist Math...

[KarlInOhio]

They figure that they would need $20M on the first weekend to be on the path to break $54M for its entire run. I don't know if that includes TV, video and foreign distributions.

[Calvin Coolidge]

Domestic Box Office is not the only source of revenue. Foreign Box Office, Cable TV, Rental - all will add to the total. If the Domestic Box Office doesn't reach $20 mil, however, there is no way to make it to $54 million even with these sources.

Given that the movie will end up with less than $10 million domestically, however, they will losr money anyway.

[JohnnyZ]

Okay, enough words, time for JLo pix! :)

[Puppage]

Why America Went Sour on Sweet Jen and Ben

Ah...because they have NO TALENT, and couldn't act their collective way out of a wet paperbag?

[PJ-Comix]

Too bad Mystery Science Theater is no longer around. This film is perfect for their parody.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Ummmmm - lemme guess - because the plot and dialogue sucks?

[presidio9]

Nice beer gut. Why do people find this talentless chubby woman so attractive?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Siskel?

[ServesURight]

These movie critics have nothing better to do but to worry about the success of a very talented and beautiful actress and singer.

Some people should seriously go get a fricking life.

[WhiteGuy]

Bout time!

Thanks!

[discostu]

No, movies tend to drop off about 1/3 of the revenue every week, so if it had made $20 mil in the first week you get $14 mil in week 2, $10 mil week 3, 7 in week 4, 5 in week 5. Which brings it to profitability with maybe 1 week to spare.

Although this summer the drop offs are much more dramatic, and earlier in the year the drop offs were lower. But the rule of thumb is a 1/3 drop per week.

[presidio9]

Some people should seriously go get a fricking life.

That's good advice. Get going.

[clamboat]

Fuzzy math??

No, fuzzy reading skills. The key word is "destined".

The reporter is speculating (based on experience, presumably) that film needed to make at least 5 times its opening weekend take, or $20 million, in order to have a hope of ever making a profit. That doesn't mean it is profitable in the first weekend.

[bmwcyle]

No talent and overexposted is the reason they failed. No even good press could create excitement. Hollywood will buy them a string of failures until the well runs dry.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

As I recall, they each were paid $12,000,000 for this.

Wish my mistakes were as financially rewarding.

[veronica]

Too bad Mystery Science Theater is no longer around. This film is perfect for their parody.

Heh heh that show was soooo funny.