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American Morning

All Signs Point to 'XXX' Weekend at Movies

Aired August 09, 2002 - 09:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All signs point to a "XXX" weekend at the movies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VIN DIESEL, ACTOR: I wish I had a video camera.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's he talking about?

DIESEL: Because this is going to be one hell of a trip.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HEMMER: There he is, he is coming to a theater near you, the new extreme sports spy flick starring Vin Diesel arrives full speed in theaters today. Will it run "Crop Circles" around Mel Gibson, though? That's the movie out last week in "Signs."

For a close look at the weekend movies, Lori Majewski from "Us Weekly" is with us this morning.

Good morning to you.

LORI MAJEWKSI, "US WEEKLY": Hi.

HEMMER: Quickly on "Signs," is that a one-week wonder?

MAJEWKSI: I think the reviews and word of mouth has kind of been mixed on "Signs." So I'd like to see what's going to happen, but I think that "XXX" will walk all over it.

HEMMER: I saw a review for "XXX" that gave it a "D," as in don't waste your money. What do you think?

MAJEWKSI: I would give it a "D" as in Diesel, because I saw it, and I thought it was absolutely amazing. I think that the stunts are not to be believed, and I think that it's time that we had a new action star like Vin; he's gorgeous, and his voice is so sexy.

HEMMER: Is that what it is? The voice?

MAJEWKSI: It's all about the voice.

HEMMER: He is getting a lot of attention right now. Do you think, as you mentioned, that people are looking for the next star? Are they past the other guys at this point? MAJEWKSI: I think that -- I'm not sure if we're past the other guys, I just think it's time for new breed of superagent, as the ads say. Vin was in "Fast and the Furious" last summer, which was a big hit with the younger generation. And I think they're not really into the martini-sipping 007 type of thing. This kind of guy, he gets out there, he snowboards, he looks great, he has totally covered with tattoos, and I think -- I don't know, this is the kind of guy that he can relate to.

HEMMER: Listen, if he's boarding in this movie, I think it's worth checking out.

Clinton Eastwood in "Blood Work," he produced it, directed it, and how'd he do?

MAJEWKSI: I think that if you're not into seeing "XXX" this weekend and you're a longtime Clint Eastwood fan, this is the movie for you. Every summer he seems to comes out with something, whether it's "Space Cowboys," or "In the Line of Fire," that their fans really want to come out and see.

HEMMER: Good recommendation there. "The Good Girl," with Jennifer Aniston. This is really the trek that she's taking right now. If you listen to her talk, she's all but finished with "Friends" at some point very soon. This film, in terms of launching her and putting her back on track on the big screen, how'd she do?

MAJEWKSI: It's really important for her to get back into the movies. She wants to be like her husband Brad, she wants to be a movie star, and it is the last season of "Friends." So it's important for her to get out there and really good reviews. And while the movie is getting mixed reviews, really people are talking about Jen Aniston, and that she does a really good job.

HEMMER: How much range does she have as an actress?

MAJEWKSI: That's what they're saying, people are saying that in this film, she he has a lot of range. She's pretty unglamorous, which I think -- I'm not sure if people really are going to go for that, but I think in terms of how she does acting wise, she's great.

HEMMER: She plays -- she's not a glamorous actress in this movie.

MAJEWKSI: She's like a Wal-Mart kind of clerk girl, and she looks miserable throughout the whole thing.

HEMMER: Does she pull it off, though?

MAJEWKSI: Yes, she does.

HEMMER: "Spy Kids II" is out, "The Island of Lost Dreams" is the sequel. Compared to original, what did you think?

MAJEWKSI: I think it was great. And I think Antonio Banderas is really good in it. And I think that if you're a parent and you have to go drag your kids to see this, I think you're going to enjoy it because of Antonio.

HEMMER: If you have to go.

MAJEWKSI: But I think that this is going to give "Signs" a run for number two actually. I think that it was a big film last year, and it's going to be even bigger this year.

HEMMER: You're too optimistic, here, because your five for five right now; you like everything.

MAJEWKSI: I would give Clint, no -- I'd probably go for Clint being a little lower, like four out of five on the list.

HEMMER: Got it. "Goldmember" has already grossed over $100 million. I don't think it's fair this summer to talk about any movie segment unless we bring up "Austin Powers." This thing right now is really taking off. I'm curious to know from your estimation, if you get $70 million in the first week, you come back $30 million the week after that -- the word of mouth appears to be pretty strong for this film.

MAJEWKSI: I'm not sure about that. I think everybody keeps saying well, it's good, but the first two were better, and I think that's what they're saying about "Men in Black" also, and that's how I feel strongly about "XXX," because it's a new franchise. There's going to be a "XXX" II coming in the future, and I think about when you look at "Austin Powers," it's great. The first 10 minutes fabulous, but it's just the same joke over and over.

HEMMER: The same joke is funny, though, sometimes, don't you think?

MAJEWKSI: It definitely is. It definitely is, but people are getting a little tired of that, I think.

HEMMER: I knew I could get you to disagree on something.

Lori, thanks, have a great weekend. Lori Majewski, with "US Weekly."

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