HopPacked theater. Mostly kids under 14 and parents. Maybe -- maybe -- two or three "full theater" laughs.
A couple of "over their heads" shots that got a smattering of small laughs from the grownups.
So it wasn't a comedy. Surely it could wring some drama from the premise, maybe give a tear-jerker moment (like The Santa Clause was able to do). Nope. All eyes dry.
So what was it. Cute. That's about it. It was just cute. It wasn't "awwww" cute. It wasn't "that's so" cute. It was just cute. Really had nothing to say.
What happened to Kaley Cuoco? She was sooooo hot in "Fuck You If You Want To Date My Daughter" or whatever that show was where John Ritter had his swan song (see below). She looked absolutely horrible here. Her hair was a shitty mess, her face looked puffy and swollen, and her clothes (except for the jogging outfit) didn't even fit well. She looked horrible and was a pretty bad actress, too.
Marsden? Goofy grinning bastard. Found him utterly annoying.
The thing I was most dreading -- Russell Brand as the bunny -- was actually tolerable. Apparently Russell is only an annoying fuck when you have to actually look at his goofy ass. He was much, much better as an animated character.
Animation was okay -- not nearly as good as Rango, but the job on the rabbit hair was very good. The movie just had a hard time drumming up any feeling for any of the cardboard cutout characters. And it really needed it.
Based on the enormous crowd I saw lining up for this one, it's going to make a shitload of cash and be number one for a week or so. Really a sad state of affairs.
Be glad when Kung Fu Panda 2 and Pirates 4 come out.