By NEIL GRAVES
June 23, 2008
Would you believe... "Get Smart," blockbuster? The film adaptation of yesteryear's spy spoof topped the box-office charts in a landslide, with $39.2 million over the weekend, nearly doubling the take of its nearest competitor.
The Steve Carell laugher's appeal was bad news for Mike Myers' "The Love Guru," the only other major opener this week, which was blown away with a meager $14 million.
"Mike Myers, the master of the spy spoof, opens his movie against a spy comedy, and the spy movie genre was obviously a lot more appealing," said Paul Dergarabedian, head of box-office tracker Media By Numbers.
Industry analysts had forecast "The Love Guru" hitting the $25 million mark. But the screwball story finished a disappointing, if not disastrous, fourth.
Ahead of it, virtually neck and neck, were "Kung Fu Panda," which collected $21.7 million, and "The Incredible Hulk," with $21.6 million.
Rounding out the top five was "The Happening," with $10 million.
