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UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
The Weinstein Co is experiencing a brutal 2011 with every movie it releases that’s not The King’s Speech. In quick succession, Scream 4, Spy Kids 4D, Our Idiot Brother, Apollo 18, and last weekend’s I Don’t Know How She Does It didn’t open worth a damn. And that doesn’t even count the rough reception given Madonna’s W.E. at the Venice Film Festival which Harv is releasing during the awards corridor. (Awards? Not unless he can buy her a Golden Globe.) I don’t know how the studio is going to stay on track with its reorganized finances if Dimension films keep bombing or TWC pics get no traction. If only Harvey Weinstein hadn’t bragged during the Tribeca Film Festival that 2011 was “going to be our best year financially” and that his indie studio was on track to outpace even its most profitable years at Miramax. But that was in April, before The Weinstein Co began its losing streak. That $150M it made from The King’s Speech before ancillary revenue streams kick in won’t last long. Weinstein said he has to rebuild “a model that’s beyond Oscar”. The real question now is whether he even knows how.
I Don’t Know How She Does It was based on a well-known book just like The Weinstein Co’s The Nanny Diaries which women rejected just as summarily. Problem is, IDKHSDI is such an awful movie (only 17% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) starring the annoying Sarah Jessica Parker (just go back to television already) in an abominable premise (a working wife under stress). But ask The Weinstein Co why it tanked, and the claim is that the opening weekend of The Lion King 3D took a $6M-$7M bite out of Parker’s pic. Because older women had a choice between seeing Sex And The City‘s Carrie as a clone of themselves or taking themselves and their kids to Lion King 3D – and picked the toon. (Given the choice between IDKHSDI and a kidney transplant, i would have picked the surgery.)
The studio also didn’t realize that women under age 30 “do not connect” to Parker. That said, casting her in anything when her last 2 non-Sex films failed to launch (2008′s Smart People $4M, and 2009′s Did You Hear About The Morgans? $6M) was not the smart move. I’m also biased: Carrie was my least favorite Sex And The City character.
For more estimates listed by title, see box office results here...Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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But how dare Kevin Smith tell Harvey to shut the hell up during a screening of his film right?
First thing I thought
At this rate he’s going to be the one that ends up running the more profitable production company. And that has better weed.
Hilarious! – “(Given the choice between IDKHSDI and a kidney transplant, i would have picked the surgery.)”
Considering the current state of the economy, I don’t know how they could be so clueless to think that real working women would be able to relate to the made up trials and tribulations of an upper middle class working woman.
All you have to do is read a newspaper to wonder “I don’t know how she does it” every day, with women (and men) still being laid off and no sign of life in the economy.
Hollywood has periods where it hits on what’s on America’s mind spot on, and periods where it doesn’t have a clue. Guess which period we’re in now. John V. Karavitis
Exactly, John. So very true.
John has the right idea. On the female spectrum, look at the success of Bridesmaids and The Help. SJP and her brand perpetuate everything that was wrong with the beginning of the millennium. If I want to see rich, overly Botoxed women in comedy situations I can stay home and watch reality television.
Parker is just so butt-ugly that she’s definitely not marketable.
Yup, Betty. Things have gotten worse economically since CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC came out just after the economic downturn and ran into the exact same lack of interest. As well, this kind of chick lit crap was annoying when it was uber-hot, and it hasn’t improved with age. Amazing how anyone thought this would be worth doing.
Does anyone really have to ask WHY this one failed? If they’re so ignorant that they must, here’s the reasons:
1. It’s starring the BEYOND washed up and overexposed, overrated Sarah Jessica Parker.
2. It seemingly had no plot. Ok, so a woman with a busy life….and….?
3. If you’ve never heard of the book then it looks like any other run of the mill romantic comedy, and romantic comedies simply aren’t interesting lately.
THAT is Sarah Jessica Parker??? I thought it looked like Julie Benz from “Dexter”. Is this a case of photoshop or plastic surgery??? John V. Karavitis
SJP is NOT a movie star. No big surprise. She’s never opened a film ever. S&TC is not drivne by her, only. the title is what brings them in (at least to the first one).
I choose reason #2. I don’t hate SJP but what was the story about? She’s busy? Yeah, then what?
I like romantic comedies but this didn’t seem to have that either. Just, she’s busy. Sounded like you would watch her run around and then the credits roll. Pointless.
Sarah Jessica Parker is such an irritating actress and she makes dreadful career choices. Given her track record outside of SATC and the movie’s lame premise, it’s no surprise IDKHSDI tanked. I don’t think she has ever done a solid big screen project; her best roles were the Sex series and the classic 80′s series Square Pegs, which was produced years before her irritating, cloying, cutesy acting style began to take over. I really think she’s done.
“irritating” is exactly the right word. Good call. But more than that, isn’t she past the age where Hollywood offers prime roles to actresses? That’s a stereotype that the Women’s Lib movement has never been able to dislodge: there really are no really good character roles for “older women”. Hollywood endorses and promotes the “Youth Culture” that we find ourselves in. John V. Karavitis
I can’t stand this excuse. There are plenty of scripts out there with good female roles but the people with the financial resources, the pull and interest in seeing something like that produced (SJP, Aniston, etc.) would rather keep chasing the lame love interest roles they were getting in their 20s and 30s.
As actresses age, they have to evolve to keep finding work. There are still plenty of roles for actresses SJP’s age and older. Does Meryl Streep have a problem getting work? Does Marisa Tomei? Does Sandra Bullock? Helen Mirren?
College Student, you are either really young and igorant or just a plain idiot. Judging by your “name” I’ll go with the former.
To say “there are plenty of scripts out there with good female roles” is just beyond idiotic, and bolstering your point by citing Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, or Marisa Tomei (she’s ancient!) are by far the exceptions and NOT the rule.
That said, this movie did not appeal to me in the way I would go to the theater and pay theater prices to see it. It has an off-putting title for one. And though I am not a SJP hater, I have not been impressed with her choices since SATC.
BTW, I really want to know which SATC girl WAS Nikki’s fave…?
I’ve been down this road before on the casting of SJP and this film; it’s impossible to hear her voice-over narration, see her prancing around Manhattan, and not think of Carrie. And that’s okay, but studios, and SJP herself, need to realize and embrace this. She can’t be cast in these roles. No way. Harvey should’ve known better. He is quickly losing his relevance in this business. But he’s still too scary to be told that to his face.
One more thing about this awful film: Maybe it works as a book, but the previews just came off as obnoxious. “Oh, look at me, I can do so much.” No guy wants to see this, and women 1) Were ashamed to go see it 2) Turned off by the premise, because there’s plenty of women multi-tasking in this world, and they don’t need to be reminded of it on screen or have it shoved down their throats.
Well, who do women under 30 “connect to” these days?
Either you have actresses that avoid nightclubs and drugs and do not appear in gossip websites for bad behavior or there are train-wrecks that embarrass themselves and we know all about it every time we turn on our computer/smartphone.
Suggestions please ??
Zooey Deschanel, Natalie Portman, and Emma Stone, duh.
You should’ve qualified your rhetorical question — what you meant to say was: what do WHITE women under the age of 30 connect to these days…
I can’t imagine wanting to see a movie less than I wanted to see IDNHSDI, and I was the target demo. I’d add to Nikki’s assessment: why on earth would I want to watch a movie about privilaged people whining about how tough their life is? Here’s a thought, cut your shoe budget and hire a nanny. Ugh.
Can we also all agree that Aline Brosh McKenna is a one-hit wonder. Devil Wears Prada was great, but everything else she has been involved with has been pure crap.
I couldn’t agree more, but before we even credit her with Devil Wears Prada’s success, let’s jot forget she had incredible source material, a top notch cast who ad libbed several key parts, and a costume department that stole the show, making it easy to overlook the script inconsistencies and the flat lining last third of the movie. She’s a one hit wonder who isn’t even wholly responsible for said one hit…
It’s a dinosaur of a concept, but will pick up revenue on International Home Video and PPV.
Harvey shouldn’t hire yes men.
It’s a dinosaur of a concept, but will pick up revenue on International Home Video and PPV.
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…NO.
I agree it will do good vod numbers and good tv and home video numbers internationally. Many territories this kind of title will work very well. I believe it will release on vod in January in the US and it will help.
I do think this kind of rom com is a bit dated Baby Boom made sense in the 80′s along with Working Girl. I think that most working women in their 30′s, myself being one of them, can relate to this film but wants to see how they break out of the pattern as opposed to watching someone in it whose apartment does not fit what any of us can actually purchase. I think this is why films like Under the Tuscan Sun have been more successful and more down to earth films like Bridemaids have seen more success.
Have any of their “limited release” movies broke even?
Are you saying that casting one actress in a film can make or break the film? Doubtful. More likely it was a boring story … “a working wife under stress?” Who the h want to watch that s&*t? People have different tastes and I, for one, like Sarah. You sound like a bitter teenager with little experience. Give up journalism and go to your rightful place behind the counter at Burger King.
Wait, what? Sure, the story, or what there was of it, looked weak. I’ve not seen lots of flicks because of the main star, so that blows your “doubtful” out of the water. I will not see a Tom Cruise movie anymore because he completely turns me off. I’ve a whole list.
Exactly…this concept would have been shopworn 20 years ago.
This and “Larry Crowne” show that run-of-the-mill, pedestrian yuppie comedy-dramas just won’t cut it anymore, regardless of who’s starring.
I was surprised when I found out IDKHSDI was being released through Weinstein. It’s the kind of film Fox or Paramount would have made ten years ago with Meg Ryan and released in the dead of winter.
So it should have been Dimension?
I really do think Sara should find another TV project for herself. It would play well with the demographic she appeals to and I assume HBO would be willing to at least make a pilot with her since she starred in what is by far her their most successful comedy series. For almost all women, TV is a far better medium than film and I really don’t think it should be seen as second best. There are so, so few interesting roles for women in film and that has been true for some time now. SJP’s movie career may be all but over, but I can’t imagine a single network that wouldn’t kill to work with her.
I agree- for women over the age of 30, the most interesting roles are on television. There are a host of really amazing over 30 (and over 40, and over 50) actresses starring in really successful television shows and earning a great deal of acclaim, fame, and money.
Unfortunately, the attitude of “film is best” is pervasive, and it is difficult for many actors/actresses to accept the perceived “downward” move. Add to it that the average film takes 2-3 months of work, while the average television show takes 9-10 months of work, and most actors want to be in films.
Is it possible that these types of “chick lit” movies are the films that women don’t want to be seen going into? There are tons of crappy movies that guys want to see, but not be seen going into. That is what VOD is for a few months later.
These movies are also hurt by cable offering up a plethora of these female centric, all men are to blame for everything, pictures. It isn’t worth paying to see it.
Plus, after Sex and the City, many guys refuse to go to a SJP movie, even on date night. Most women are unwilling to do the kinds of things required to entice their boyfriends to go a movie like this.
The book was entertaining and enjoyable but one thing the filmmakers forgot is that the book was written by a British author and so has very British sensibilities. To remove its British setting, plunk it down in America and cast an American actress completely altered its tone and humor; casting SJP just made it wrong. Once I read about these changes, I lost all interest in seeing the movie.
Anyway, to those of us women who work hard, raise families and tend to our husbands (without straying, I might add!), we don’t stop to think about how we do it…we’re too busy working, raising and tending!!
I agree with the comments about under thirties not connecting with SJP (although I’m 33 and feel the this way). I also liked Carrie least of all on SATC so this new movie was a cinematic molotov. I don’t think women want to see (inexplicably) stressed out women who seemingly have it all whine their way through 1:45 minutes of celluloid only to end up as this faux ideal of what a successful working mother should be.
Aside from the SJP problem there were a couple of other detractors going for this film:
- the NYC-setting which seemed like a call back to the Uma Thurman flop with a similar premise “Motherhood” (2009),
- the casting of Olivia Munn as the #2 female (Munn has her fans but she is seen as threatening an unlikeable by many female ticket buyers),
- the awful ad campaign that made the film look like it would be two hours of EVERY character saying “I don’t know how she does it!”
…and on and on. There was no “must see” reason to get out to this film.
One look at the poster and “I don’t care how she does it”
An industry “insider” friend gave me a copy of the script of Aline McKenna’s “I Don’t Know How She Does It” early in its production process. My friend did not tell me who wrote the script because my friend wanted unbiased feedback. I told my friend the script had about three or four laughs in it but that the overall structure was mediocre-to-weak and that the protagonist, as scripted, was not:
1) likable or 2) interestingly dynamic in terms of their journey in the movie.
When I found out who the writer was and later read the glowing New York Times’ profile of said writer I could only come to one conclusion: McKenna is uber mediocre, and got lucky with “Prada”
I think she is one of the those still embryonic scribes who lucked out because she is 1) good in working a room/pitching and 2) is a woman writing about womanly angst stuff, albeit shallow in her approach, and execs give her the nod, given the dearth of A-list women writers out there/given a chance.
McKenn’a execution is lackluster at best. And the New York Times had the audacity to mention her writing chops in the same breath as Billy Wilder? Shame on the New York Times. This movie was doomed from the script, and the Industry can chalk that up to another overrated “it” girl — McKenna, only second to Diablo Cody.
Yeah, she definitely needs to go back to TV. And that’s not even meant as a knock. She’s a very likable TV presence. She just isn’t going to suddenly be a successful big screen leading lady at this point in her career. And that’s hardly a shock since her inability to be one is why she turned to TV in the first place. She should get Michael Patrick King to write her a guest spot on 2 Broke Girls (maybe as Beth Behr’s mother?) to remind people how good she is on TV and then try to snag some kind of development deal with CBS.
It’s hard to imagine a more culturally tone-deaf actor than SJP, or project than this. The country is in fiscal and spiritual meltdown. A frighteningly high percentage of SJP’s core cohort are unemployed, live in foreclosed or upside-down homes, and/or face bankruptcy. They are miserable and desperate. SJP has given them not one but three absurd fantasies in a row about the alleged “problems” of affluent women, which are trivial and ridiculous compared to the genuine problems of the people in the audience who skipped coffee all week to get $15 together to go out to the movies.
This is not the kind of fizzy Busby Berkeley product that got people through the Depression by distracting them. This is a completely insensitive product that makes people feel worse by telling them they don’t exist.
You could not ask for a crueler piece of filmmaking at a time like this.
I think viewers would line up around the block, though, for a movie in which SJP loses her job, house, and 401(k), has to line up at a food bank for rice and beans, and eventually dies of exposure under a freeway overpass after making soup from her last Manolo. That, i think, would make her audience feel better.
I wuv you.
I wuv you too
I agree – idiotic screenplay. It still amazes me, that “Sex 2″ TOTALLY ignored the obvious and relatable story of how the women would cope with a recession. It’s not as if all four had to become destitute, but quite a bit of humor could have been mined from those women being forced to deal with reality. Instead, they took them “away from it all,” and plopped them into one of the most obscene examples of overindulgence one could imagine, and had them whine even MORE. Of course, I realize that it was perceived as “escapist” entertainment, somehow, but not every film made during the Depression era, was a Busby Berkeley musical.
Damn straight, TomF.
Right on! Understand that Hollywood movie makers are insulated with their big salaries and percs. I don’t think they realize the recession is real.
i’d like to see her in something sheer and silent
Could it be that there are just too many damn films out there this month for some reason? IDKHSDI was one of FOUR wide releases last weekend. There were four more this weekend – Abduction, Killer elite, Moneyball, Dolphin Tale, and three more next weekend – Dream House, 50/50, What’s your number. Couldn’t any of this stuff be released in July to cater to people who don’t want to see superhero films or Harry Potter?
Why would even this film’s target audience – women with super stressful lives – want to go see a movie about someone with a super stressful life? Wouldn’t they desire escapism instead? Of course I’m about as far from the target audience as can be – the sight of SJP makes me flee as fast as my legs can carry me. What a stupid project.
Kids the gays and women over 40 like Sarah nobody else cares.
And even the gays are growing tired of her!
Yup…we are.
She needs to go back to TV. She’s an awesome TV actress (in the right vehicle). She doesn’t play well on the big screen.
Agree- some people are just television actors. That’s not an insult- 95% of actors in this country are not working as actors, so being one of the VERY lucky few who could probably green-light a pilot on most any network is an exceptionally privileged position.