80s REFERENCES!

Did anyone else find it weird that they released a big-screen version of The A-Team at the same time they released a remake of The Karate Kid in the same weekend? Usually, it’s counter-programming that’s the name of the game with this kind of thing. Michael Bay releases another brainless marathon of explosions and Nora Ephron releases another brainless marathon of relationship foibles.

But in the case of The A-Team and The Karate Kid, it’s as if the Powers That Be said, “Two franchises from the 80’s? Let’s team up and take the box office by storm!”

Of course, that’s not exactly what happened. The Karate Kid trounced The A-Team at the box office this weekend by $30 million dollars, bringing in a surprising $56 million in ticket sales. The A-Team (which reportedly cost over $100 million to make) only brought in a fraction of that with $26 million. Despite having six projects in development (according to IMDB) expect director Joe Carnahan to be put on ice for a while.

I was kind of surprised by the negative reviews The A-Team was getting. It wasn’t like the original television series was High Art or anything of the sort. What were the critics expecting?

That said, the reviews did cool me on the idea of seeing the film this weekend. Which is a shame, because I was excited to see Liam Neeson in action. Neeson as Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith is probably as close as we’ll see him get to starring in Taken 2.

It’s probably not fair to be so easily swayed by negative reviews. But for movies I’m on the fence about, I’ve come to rely on them more and more. I used to be able to see two or three movies a weekend, regardless of quality. That was before kids, people. Keep that in mind. It’ll happen to you, too, one day.

Ultimately, what concerns me most about this weekend’s box office returns is that the success of The Karate Kid somehow confirms Jaden Smith as a bona fide talent.

The success of this movie will certainly inspire sequels, which gives Smith the opportunity to leverage that exposure and land more roles. Good for him, I guess. Call me persnickety, however, when I bristle at the level of nepotism that got Jaden through the door.

I think everyone agrees he was a cute sidekick to Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness. But watching the kid now, it’s evident he’s spent time studying his father’s cocksure strut. I don’t think he’s earned it yet. Never a more clear case of “fake it ’til you make it” are you likely to see in this generation.

Am I being too harsh on the kid? Probably. I mean, he’s only 12 years-old. But then again, I don’t know a lot of 12 year-olds walking around with a chip on their shoulder like Jaden Smith does.

I don’t know, man. The kid just rubs me the wrong way.

Did anyone happen to see The Karate Kid or The A-Team this weekend? Was I wrong to let the negative reviews of The A-Team influence my decision not to see it? What about Jaden Smith? Anyone else get a creepy vibe from that kid? Leave your comments below!