Can 'The Croods' catch 'Oz'?

Welcome to the weekend of "The Croods." If theater counts are any indication, it should win the weekend, but just what is "The Croods"?

Well, take a deep breathe, it is yet another animated film. In a nutshell, it is a tale of a prehistoric family going on a road trip. Timing is everything and many kids will be out of school as spring break is here and Easter is March 31. However, "Olympus Has Fallen" opens as well and it will hit or miss, it seems. It has potential to break out like "Independence Day," but it also has what many will think, "too soon."

After all, The White House gets blown up and D.C. is under siege, thanks to North Korea. Talk about timing. One can sit back and see which country will offer up a lawsuit for this one. Usually, this film would be an easy one to say yes, let's go, but not necessarily in these times. Seeing The White House getting this treatment might not sit well, nor will the idea of America under siege on its own soil. Just waiting to see how this falls into typical political party lines will be interesting. If the movie does well, it will. If not, it will be ignored.

But please, like "Argo" and "Zero Dark Thirty," and any other film, it is entertainment. Injecting politics can ruin what is a popcorn movie. It people want to get political, try fact-checking and forming lawsuits over documentaries that really are not.

Hollywood needs both "The Croods" and "Olympus Has Fallen" to do well and kick start the spring box office. One would think "Oz," did that but it really did not.

Weekend

1. "The Croods" - 4,046 theaters

2. "Olympus Has Fallen" - 3,098 theaters

3. "Admission" - 2,160 theaters

4. "Spring Breakers" - 1,104 theaters

5. "InAPPropriate Comedy" - 292 theaters

6. "On the Road" - 37 theaters

7. "The Sapphires" - 4 theaters

The real film to track is the no-plot, shoot-em up, drug and alcohol-laced film, "Spring Breakers," which continues to add theaters, as was noted here. So, on end there is a family film with "The Croods" and then there is "Spring Breakers," which features the Disney star of "Wizards of Waverly Place," and Venessa Hudgens, star of the "High School Musical" series. It also stars Ashley Bensen, who is currently in TV's "Pretty Little Liars." Trying to explain why the youngsters cannot see that film even though they have the fan-friendly women will require a balancing act, as it is R-rated and very lewd and raunchy.

Well, they grow up and this is one way to do it.

Tina Fey and Paul Rudd hit the comedy and drama fans this weekend with "Admission" while a laugh riot for all the wrong reasons may be brewing. Rob Schneider, Michelle Rodriguez, Adrien Brody and Lindsay Lohan attempt "InAPPropiate Comedy." The spelling along on that comedy is enough to make one cough and scratch the head. A comedy about computer apps has arrived. That also leaves us with the idea that "Oz" may and should lose this weekend and where will "Burt" go? "Burt" bombed last weekend and with a crowded house, it does not bode well for that one.