"DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX" DEBUTS HUGE WITH $70.7 MILLION OPENING

Still from Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

Relevant in the '70s when it was first was written and definitely still poignant today, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax takes the top of the Box Office in its debut, connecting in a big way with audiences. The environmentally-conscious Animated 3-D Musical debuts to a huge $70.7 million opening from 3,729 theatres for Universal Pictures.  Its release was timed on what would have been Dr. Seuss' 108th Birthday.  Already recouping its $70 million production budget, its Cast features the likes of Betty White, Taylor Swift, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Danny DeVito and many more, covering a wide range in terms of Fanbase already.  Critics however, gave it mixed reviews overall with it scoring 56% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

Exceeding the expectations of many, Warner Bros.' Project X opens in second spot this weekend with $20.7 million from 3,055 theatres.  Made for $12 million, the Party-Comedy produced by Todd Phillips (The Hangover) gave its first indication of success with an impressive Midnight Screening tally of $1.15 million on Friday.  Reviews on the other hand haven't been as stellar garnering 29% at Rotten Tomatoes, but it is connecting with the under-25 audience; CinemaScore rates it at a B.

Last week's Champion Act of Valor still continues to perform well in third, earning $13.7 million in its second week of release for Relativity Media, ahead of Safe House which still is going strong in fourth spot with $7.2 million.  In three weeks, it has tallied $108.2 million for Universal Pictures. Tyler Perry's Good Deeds from Lionsgate Films settles for fifth spot with $7 million in its second week.

Rounding out the Top Ten is Best Picture Winner at the Oscars last Sunday, The Artist with an expansion from 966 to 1,756 theatres, experiencing a 34% spike in its 15th week of release.

"ACT OF VALOR" SHOWS COURAGE AT BOX OFFICE

Still from Act of Valor

Proving that you don't always need big stars to score a Box Office hit, Relativity Media's Act of Valor comes out of nowhere and takes the number one spot this weekend with Moviegoers. Tallying $24.5 million, the Action-Drama starring real-life Navy SEALS, was made for $18 million approximately. A majority of the money paid by Relativity Media however was above its production costs, including $13 million for rights and then an additional $30 in advertising costs according to Deadline. Celebrity endorsements from the likes of Charlie Sheen and Joe Jonas definitely helped with word-of-mouth over the weekend, although Critics generally panned the Film, garnering 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Lionsgate Films scored a debut in second with Tyler Perry's Good Deeds, earning $16 million in its debut.  It did however open in only 2,132 theatres compared to Act of Valor, which opened in 3,039 theatres.  The Inspirational/Romantic-Drama was made for about $15 million and would appear to be slightly less of a success than Perry's earlier work which sees him portraying his most famous character, Madea. Alliance Films releases the Top Two in Canada.

Warner Bros.' Journey 2: The Mysterious Island still is going strong in third spot this weekend in its third week with $13.1 million, now earning a total $77.2 million domestically, ahead of last week's number one Movie Safe House in fourth with $11 million. To-date, the Action-Thriller starring Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington has made $97.7 million for Universal Pictures.

The Vow breaks the $100-million mark this weekend in fifth spot taking-in $10 million for Sony Pictures, while Comedy Wanderlust starring Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston didn't fare so well in its debut in eighth earning $5.8 million.  The same can be said about Amanda Seyfried-headlined Thriller, Gone, opening in ninth spot with $5 million.

"GOOD DEEDS" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Good Deeds

To attack Writer/Director Tyler Perry's eleventh effort Good Deeds is easy to do. Is it the type of Film that gets campaigned for an Oscar?  No - absolutely not.  How can one argue though with Perry's success, being named the Highest-Paid Man in Entertainment by Forbes Magazine last year?  Clearly he knows what his Audience wants and has a knack for delivering it to them time and time again.

This Romantic-Drama sees Perry breaking outside his Madea mold playing Wesley Deeds, a well-to-do San Francisco Businessman who questions his direction in life after crossing paths with a Janitor in his office named Lindsey (Thandie Newton), a Single Mother living out of her van.  Although they get off to a rocky start, soon they begin developing a bond as Lindsey works evening shifts and Wesley continues logging long hours at work.  A couple tricky obstacles: Wesley is running a company deep in Family tradition and fears disappointing his Mother (Phylicia Rashad) should he walk away and also, he has a Fiancée whom he still loves (Gabrielle Union). Also, his Brother Walter (Brian White) is jealous and volatile, plotting his downfall.

Good Deeds certainly isn't lacking in Melodrama. Slaps are handed, tears are cried, insults are made and punches are thrown.  The writing lacks grace, particularly glaring is an awkward elevator confrontation between Brothers Wesley and Walter, which plays out unintentionally funny. Perry delivers a tense and worried performance, which although required of his character, overall plays flatly.  

Escaping unscathed here is the fabulous Newton, who is committed as a devoted Mother refusing to accept defeat, being really the only one to go through any visible growth and transformation through all of this. Nonetheless, Fans of Perry's work - and there are many - will leave feeling satiated, their appetites fed with a generous helping of Drama.  Alliance Films releases Good Deeds on February 24, 2012.