"THE HELP" ON-TOP AGAIN IN TEPID WEEKEND

Still from The Help

For the second week in a row, Disney's The Help finds itself on-top at the Box Office. Now in its third week, the Drama earned $14.3 million in a weak weekend. To date the Tearjerker has earned $95.7 million domestically, exceeding all expectations and being well on its way to a serious run for Oscars Gold.

In second this weekend is Columbiana, which debuts with $11 million for Sony Pictures. The Thriller starring Avatar's Zoe Saldana keeps another debuting Film Don't be Afraid of the Dark in third spot with $8.7 million.

In fourth spot is 20th Century Fox's former champion Rise of the Planet of the Apes with $8.5 million this weekend, while The Weinstein Co.'s Our Idiot Brother opens in fifth spot with $6.6 million, opening well below expectations for the Comedy with an all-star Cast including Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel and Rashida Jones.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. slips to eighth spot this weekend with $3.2 million for Warner Bros. in its fifth week and Conan the Barbarian rounds out the Top Ten in its second week with a disappointing $3.2 million.

"THE HELP" RISES TO THE TOP

Still from The Help

The great news for Disney this weekend is that they wound up on top of the Box Office with The Help which in its second week, climbs to number one with $20 million. The bad news is that their Remake Fright Night starring Colin Farrell and Alex Pettyfer, under-performs in its debut in fifth spot, with $8.3 million despite great reviews. Coincidentally, both Films have garnered 74% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Finishing second is two-week champion, The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which brings in $16.3 million this weekend, with a three-week total of $133.4 million in North America. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4-D (Aroma-scope) debuts in third with $12 million for the successful franchise. The three previous installments of Spy Kids combined have grossed $161.7 million total.

Conan the Barbarian debuts in fourth spot with $10 million, which is devastating for its Backers at Lionsgate Films as it was made for $90 million.  Meanwhile, The Smurfs 3-D is still going strong in sixth spot behind Fright Night with $8 million, now having earned $118 million in four weeks. Sony Pictures recently announced plans to do a Sequel to this successful first installment.

The Romance One Day debuts in ninth spot for Focus Features/Alliance Films with $5 million, while Crazy, Stupid, Love. rounds out the Top Ten for Warner Bros.

ANALEIGH TIPTON, GRETA GERWIG & ADAM BRODY CONFIRMED FOR "DAMSELS IN DISTRESS" AT TIFF 2011

Analeigh Tipton confirms TIFF 2011 Visit

A bit of exclusive info from one of Hollywood's hottest new talents herself.  Analeigh Tipton who has won tons of praise for Breakout Role in Crazy, Stupid, Love., confirmed with me that she and her Damsels in Distress Co-stars Adam Brody and Greta Gerwig are Toronto-bound in September!  Their Film by Whit Stillman (who directed one of my favourites, The Last Days of Disco) will be closing out the Venice Film Festival and then they will be en route to our City.  How exciting!

What's even more amazing is that Tipton wants to thank me personally for all my support. *scream* Analeigh, we're so on!  Best Tour Guide ever right here. You name it.

"THE RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES" ON-TOP FOR A SECOND WEEK: "THE HELP" BOWS STRONG

Still from The Help

For the second straight week, The Rise of the Planet of the Apes finds itself on top of the Box Office, taking number one spot with $26.5 million.  In two weeks it has garnered an impressive $104 million for 20th Century Fox.

The Help from Disney/Dreamworks exceeds expectations with $24.8 million in its debut, despite having opened in theatres on Wednesday.  In five days, it has grossed $34.7 million and likely will keep going strong for the next few weeks.

Fans of the Final Destination franchise clearly aren't bored yet, with its fifth installment bringing in $17.5 million in its debut for Warner Bros., landing just ahead of The Smurfs 3-D in fourth spot with $13.7 million in its third week.

30 Minutes or Less starring The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari, debuts in sixth spot for Sony Pictures, with $13 million.  Meanwhile, Glee: The 3-D Concert Movie despite selling out arenas in North America, failed to enthuse Moviegoers earning only $5.5 million from 2,040 theatres for 20th Century Fox.

The well-reviewed Crazy, Stupid, Love. continues to go strong in eighth spot this weekend with $7 million earned, bringing its North American tally to $55.3 million.

"RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES" DOESN'T MONKEY AROUND AT BOX OFFICE

Still from Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is an easy Winner at the Box Office this weekend, taking in $54 million in its debut for 20th Century Fox. Reviews also have been strong for the Film starring James Franco  and Freida Pinto with an 81% rating on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes; it was made for $90 million and likely will earn this back soon.

The Smurfs 3-D is second in its second week with $21 million for Sony Pictures, edging out last week's champion Cowboys and Aliens, which brought in $15.7 million this weekend.

In fourth spot in a soft opening is Comedy The Change-Up starring Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds with $13.5 million, landing just ahead of Captain America: The First Avenger which in its third week earns $13 million - a total domestic gross of $143 million.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. slips to sixth spot for Warner Bros. with $12 million. It has yet to earn back its $50 million budget with a tally of $41.6 in North America, but also it hasn't opened overseas yet also.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Transformers: Dark of the Moon with $3.0 million in its sixth week. To-date it has earned a staggering $344.5 million.

"THE SMURFS 3-D" AND "COWBOYS & ALIENS" BATTLE TOOTH AND NAIL

Still from The Smurfs 3-D

Critics hated them both but Moviegoers loved them both equally... one just a little more than the other.  In one of the tightest finishes at the Box Office in recent memory, Universal Pictures' Cowboys and Aliens, starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, fought tooth and nail to edge out The Smurfs 3-D with $36.4 million.  The former  was panned by Critics with a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the latter equally was torn to shreds with an 18% consensus on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. The Motion Picture based on those lovable blue creatures who many in the '80s grew-up watching, earned $35.6 million for Sony Pictures.  

Last week's champion Captain America: The First Avenger slips to third spot with $25 million in its second week, bringing its tally to $110 million in North America.  The Marvel adaptation was made for $140 million.

Warner Bros.' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 finished just ahead in fourth of another Film from the studio, Crazy Stupid Love. The Rom-Com perhaps had the misfortune of opening on a busy weekend, but it still debuts in a dignified fifith with $18.6 million.  This one looks to be a stayer with many positive reviews pouring in.

Friends with Benefits in its second week, slips to sixth spot with $9.3 million for Sony Pictures, earning $38 million total thus far, just making back its $35 million invested in production costs.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Disney's Cars 2, with $2.5 million earned this weekend.  To-date the Film has made $354 million worldwide in six weeks.

CRAZY STUPID LOVE. - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Crazy Stupid Love.

Widely-regarded as one of the most anticipated Rom-Coms of 2011, Crazy Stupid Love. delivers every bit of promise that it hints. This complicated Love Story centers around a married Couple, Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore), who are set to divorce after she cheats on him with a Co-worker of hers, David (Kevin Bacon). This of course impacts their two young Children Robbie (Jonah Bobo) and Molly (Joey King) but Cal especially struggles being in his mid-40s and now forced to re-enter the Dating scene again. He lacks the social graces to be at any type of an advantage after marrying young and never dating anybody else other than Emily.

Cal comes across handsome Playboy Jacob (Ryan Gosling) at a bar one night and under that one’s tutelage, his life is turned around, undergoing a Makeover and projecting a confident approach with Women. Despite appearing better off, Cal still however, is lonely. Both he and Emily realize that perhaps a Divorce might not be the best answer to their problems. Along the way, Jacob meets vivacious young Lawyer Hannah (Emma Stone) who just might be the one to trigger a change to his Playboy lifestyle. Is it too late for Cal though and has he veered too far off-path that their Marriage is now irreparable?

WHO IS ANALEIGH TIPTON?

Analeigh Tipton in Crazy Stupid Love

I never would've guessed she had it in her but America's Next Top Model Cycle 11's second runner-up Analeigh Tipton is quite the Actress!  I just came out of a screening for Crazy Stupid Love, the first breakout role for the 22 year-old as Jessica - a lovelorn Babysitter - and for the life of me I could not pinpoint where exactly I knew her from. Finally my Friend Kara pointed out to me her ANTM roots and suddenly it all came together!

Tipton not only held her own against the likes of Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, but dare I say, she stole the show? She is remarkable.

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 5 ADVANCE SCREENING PASSES TO SEE "CRAZY STUPID LOVE" IN TORONTO

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 5

 ADVANCE SCREENING PASSES TO SEE 

"CRAZY STUPID LOVE"

IN TORONTO

Warner Bros. Canada & Mr. Will-W.: Pop Maven want to give you and your guest a chance to attend a Toronto Advance Screening of one of this Summer's most eagerly-awaited Romantic Comedies, Crazy Stupid Love.  Best Cast ever!

NEW POSTERS FOR "STUPID CRAZY LOVE"

Boys will be Boys!  Check out these newly-released Posters for Crazy Stupid Love, in theatres in exactly July 29, 2011 via Warner Bros.  Funnyman Steve Carell looks just about ready to murder Kevin Bacon there.  No, his Wife will not be stolen! 

The Rom-Com sees Cal (Carell) try to carry on with his life after his Wife Emily (Julianne Moore) leaves him.  He also is faced with the challenge of getting back into the swing of Dating once again with the help of Playboy Jacob (Ryan Gosling), in addition to working on his relationship with his Kids.

See more of the sexy Posters below: