Limited Releases: I'll Drink to That

August 23, 2013

There are not a lot of limited releases on this week's list, but a few of them have good reviews and / or big name casts. Drinking Buddies is one such film, but I think Short Term 12 will come out on top of the Per Theater Chart thanks in part to its reviews.

Drinking Buddies - Reviews
Kate and Luke star as two co-workers who have great chemistry and would be great together, except for the fact that they are both in long-term relationships. Kate is with Chris and Luke is with Jill, but they are unsure if they should stay with their significant others two, or if they should be together. The reviews are great and the cast is strong, but it is never a sure thing for a limited release. Drinking Buddies opens tonight in two theaters, one in New York City and the other in Chicago.

The Grandmaster - Reviews
A movie about Ip Man. There have been so many recent movies about the life of the legendary Chinese martial arts master that at times I think we should have a keyword for him. This film focuses on his life from the 1930s through to the 1950s, including his time during World War II, a.k.a. the Second Sino-Japanese War. The film's reviews are good, but not great, and with all of the other films with a similar subject, it might struggle to find an audience in limited release. The Grandmaster opens tonight in seven theaters before expanding next week.

Scenic Route - Reviews
Josh Duhamel and Dan Fogler star as two friends who have drifted apart and are trying to reconnect by taking a road trip. They decide to take the scenic route, but when their truck breaks down in the middle of the desert, they begin to turn on each other. There was some talk that this film was going to open wide, but that's not the case. The reviews are just a hair under the overall positive level, which is not good for a limited release. On the other hand, it could do well on the home market. Scenic Route opens tonight in select theaters.

Short Term 12 - Reviews
Brie Larson stars as Grace, a woman in her 20s who works in a home for troubled youth. She is working through her relationship with Mason and has to deal with a new kid, Jayden, whom she finds a connection with. The film's reviews are among the best for the week with only The World's End even close. It's a huge step up from Destin Daniel Cretton's previous movie, I Am Not A Hipster. It could be the biggest limited release hit of the week. Short Term 12 opens tonight in four theaters split evenly between New York City and the Los Angeles area.

Una Noche - Reviews
Dariel Arrechada stars as Raul, a Cuban man accused of a crime and forced to go on the run. Where? To Miami. Of course, there's a 90-mile boat ride ahead of him. Although in this case it is more of a raft ride than a boat ride. The film's reviews are good, but not great, and there are not a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Una Noche opens tonight in three theaters, split between New York City and Miami.


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Filed under: Limited Releases, The World's End, Yi dai zong shi, Drinking Buddies, Short Term 12, Scenic Route, Josh Duhamel, Dan Fogler, Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Brie Larson, Ron Livingston, Olivia Wilde, John Gallagher, Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Destin Daniel Cretton, Dariel Arrechada