Box Office: ’17 Again’ takes $24M at No. 1

Weekend of April 17 – 19, 2009

Zac Efron’s latest teenage comedy “17 Again” slashed its competition at the North American box office this weekend with $24 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Directed by Burr Steers, the film follows a 37-year-old man who despises his existence and gets to relive his past as a 17-year-old. Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon and Michelle Trachtenberg co-star.

Debuting in second place with $14 million was Kevin Macdonald’s thriller “State of Play,” which stars Russell Crowe as a print journalist who launches his own investigation into the murder of a congressman’s assistant. Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams round out the lead cast.

Things didn’t turned out as well for “Crank: High Voltage,” the week’s third wide release. The action sequel starring Jason Statham opened at No. 6 with only $6.5 million, which is about half the opening weekend gross of its predecessor.

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Zac Efron's '17 Again' leads Friday box office

Zac Efron's latest teen comedy "17 Again" topped the North American box office Friday with an estimated $9.4 million in ticket sales. Directed by Burr Steers, the film follows a 37-year-old man who gets to relive his past as a 17-year-old.

Debuting at No. 2 with $4.5 million was Kevin Macdonald's latest thriller "State of Play," a thriller about a reporter who embarks on his own investigation into the murder of a congressman's assistant. Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck lead the cast.

Things didn't go as well for "Crank: High Voltage," which finished in sixth place with a daily gross of $2.6 million. Jason Statham returns as Chev Chelios, a man who's hunting down the gut who stole his heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker.

Last week's box office champion "Hannah Montana: The Movie" slipped to No. 3, collecting another $4 million for a domestic total of $47.8 million. Following in fifth place with $3.8 million was "Fast & Furious," which lifted its cumulative gross to $128.2 million.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)

Movie Review: “Crank: High Voltage”

Seen on: April 17, 2009

The players: Directors: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, Writers: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor, Cast: Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Clifton Collins Jr, Bai Ling, Dwight Yoakam

Facts of interest: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor also directed "Crank."

The plot: Jason Statham returns as Chev Chelios, who's struggling to hunt down the man who stole his heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker.

Our quick thoughts: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s “Crank” really didn’t need a sequel, but I guess the film’s success and its increasing fan base eventually prompted the filmmakers to develop a follow-up. It’s called “Crank: High Voltage,” and it’s twice as over-the-top and brainless as its amusing predecessor.

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This week's new movie releases - April 17, 2009

Here's what's on the menu this week: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor's "Crank: High Voltage" with Jason Statham, "17 Again" with Zac Efron, and Kevin Macdonald's thriller "State of Play" with Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams:

CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE

Synopsis: In this high-octane sequel, hitman Chev Chelios’ (Statham) launches himself on an electrifying chase through Los Angeles in pursuit of the Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart.

First thoughts: Yes, I admit I am quite excited to see this sequel, even though it looks a gazillion times crazier and far more brainless than its predecessor. That said, I really enjoyed "Crank" because it delivered fast-paced non-stop silly action. And sometimes, that's exactly what I need (as long as it's entertaining), no matter how over-the-top it is.

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