Scary movie "Dream House" loses ratings appeal (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) – "Dream House," a thriller starring real-life newlyweds Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, has lost a bid to have its "R" rating softened.

The appeals board of the Motion Picture Assn. of America said Wednesday that the movie merited the rating -- which requires U.S. viewers under 17 to be accompanied by an adult -- because of "some violence."

The film's producer still believes it will ultimately receive a PG-13 rating.

"They gave us a list of several things in the movie that they thought should be cut," Greg Mielcarz, Morgan Creek's executive VP of marketing, told TheWrap. "We're going to ... work with them together to ensure that we receive a PG-13."

The Universal Pictures release revolves around a family who discover that their new home was the murder scene of a mother and her children. It was directed by Jim Sheridan, and is set for release on September 30.

In order to have a rating changed, two-thirds of the members of the appeals board have to agree that the rating is "clearly erroneous." The MPAA says that the board reviews between 800 and 900 films each year and that fewer than a dozen ratings are appealed each year.

(Edited by Dean Gooodman)

(To read more about our entertainment news, visit our blog "Fan Fare" online at http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/)

Claudia Schiffer aims to create lasting fashion brand (Reuters)

PARIS (Reuters) – German supermodel Claudia Schiffer launched her first cashmere collection during Haute Couture fashion week in Paris with the hope of creating a lasting brand that she could pass on to her children.

The 40-year-old former Chanel muse said she has been thinking of getting into fashion design for years and had finally decided to start with the kinds of clothes she wore all the time as a working mom such as cashmere dresses and sweaters.

"I am always very busy, I have a family life... I want to wear the same outfit when I bring my children to school and then go to work with it and in the evening I want to be able to just change accessories," Schiffer told Reuters at the launch of the Claudia Schiffer clothing line in trendy Paris boutique Colette.

"Effortless chic. That is the idea of it," she added.

Schiffer's collection included long tube black and navy blue dresses, grey oversized cardigans and cable-knit sweaters costing from 250 to 500 euros ($360-$725).

Schiffer, who lives in Britain, is married to film producer Matthew Vaughn with whom she has three children.

While creating her brand was a "dream come true," the model acknowledged history was full of celebrities who had gone into fashion. For some, such as former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, the venture has been a success, while others have proved disastrous such as U.S. actress Lindsay Lohan at Emanuel Ungaro.

"I don't want this to be a celebrity line. It is meant to be a lasting business not a quick celebrity licensing line," Schiffer said.

Schiffer said she was on a steep learning curve and admitted she still had much to learn as a designer.

"I want the product to live without my name so that it does not really need me. As a company, I hope it builds up over time so that one day, hopefully, I can hand it over to my children."

The model created a joint-venture with the German maker of luxury cashmere sweaters Iris von Arnim. She invested her personal funds in the company of which she owns half.

Valentin von Arnim, managing director of Iris von Arnim, said the retail strategy of the Claudia Schiffer brand was to sell to retailers in given cities on an exclusivity basis.

For example, Colette in Paris, Harvey Nichols in Britain and Hong Kong, Boutique 1 in Dubai, Beirut, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, The Corner Berlin in Germany.

Arnim said the sweaters had been bought by about 50 stores worldwide and would also be on sale next week at online retailer net-a-porter, now controlled by luxury group Richemont.

Initially spotted for her resemblance to Brigitte Bardot, Claudia Schiffer began her career in the late 1980s and quickly joined the supermodel elite alongside Linda Evangelista, Elle Macpherson, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell.

Having appeared on the cover of more than 500 magazines, she is one of the world's most successful and most enduring of the supermodels with a fortune estimated at more than $50 million.

Having recently featured in Yves Saint Laurent, Salvatore Ferragamo ads, Schiffer is now in campaigns for L'Oreal make-up and Chanel sunglasses.

She said wished to pursue her modeling career for as long as she could: "I will continue modeling until they don't want me anymore basically because I do love it very much."

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

Royals' tour touches fire-ravaged northern Alberta (Reuters)

SLAVE LAKE, Alberta (Reuters) – Britain's Prince William and Kate took a side trip on their royal newlyweds' tour of Canada on Wednesday to visit Slave Lake, Alberta, which was devastated by wildfires in the spring.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toured a severely damaged part of the northern Alberta town, where burned out shells of buildings are all that are left following the May 16 inferno.

More than a third of the structures in the town of 7,000 people went up in flames.

William and Kate met for about an hour at a nearby college with residents who lost their homes. Then they greeted some of the thousands of royal-watchers who descended on the town.

The couple is due to attend festivities at the Calgary Stampede on Thursday and Friday before ending their Canadian tour and heading to California.

(Reporting by Andy Clark, writing by Jeffrey Jones)

Hasselhoff turns porn star for "Sons of Anarchy" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) – Is the world ready for David Hasselhoff, porn star?

The former "Baywatch" star will have a guest-starring turn on the upcoming season of the hit biker series "Sons of Anarchy," a representative for the actor confirms to TheWrap. The Hoff's role? He'll be playing Dondo, a former XXX actor who's segued into producing skin flicks.

Hasselhoff, who vacated his judge's chair on "America's Got Talent" early last year, has been keeping busy of late with a reprisal of his role as Dr. William "Snapper" Foster on "The Young and the Restless."

There's also the star-studded, sure-to-be-epic horror film "Piranha 3DD," which is slated for release on November 23 and will see Hasselhoff share the screen with such talents as Gary Busey, Christopher Lloyd and Katrina Bowden.

Which is to say nothing of his appearing in the occasional iced-treat promotional video.

The bad news? An FX spokesperson told TheWrap that, for the time being, Hasselhoff's guest-starring turn is just a one-episode deal. Fingers crossed, people...

News of Hasselhoff's "Sons of Anarchy" stint was first reported by TV Guide.

Charlie Sheen eyes TV return in "Anger Management" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) – Charlie Sheen hopes to return to TV in a show based on the 2003 Adam Sandler-Jack Nicholson comedy "Anger Management" in which he would play a variation of Nicholson's character, TheWrap has confirmed.

Joe Roth's Revolution Studios, which produced the film, is in negotiations with Lionsgate Television on the project, a person close to the talks told TheWrap. No talks are yet underway with prospective networks or producers.

Sheen would play a counselor who helps patients deal with anger management in potentially infuriating ways.

He told TMZ, which first reported details of the project, "I'm gonna be involved in every aspect of it." He also divulged Roth's involvement and that the show would be an adaptation of a Roth-produced film with the initials "A.M."

Lionsgate declined comment.

The show would be Sheen's first full-time TV project since his firing from "Two and a Half Men," the CBS hit that made him the highest-paid actor on television at about $1.8 million per episode. Sheen was fired in March after a barrage of media interviews in which he talked about past drug use and repeatedly insulted show runner Chuck Lorre.

A Comedy Central roast of Sheen will air on Monday, September 19, the same night "Two and a Half Men" will return to CBS with Sheen's replacement, Ashton Kutcher.

(Edited by Dean Gooodman)

(To read more about our entertainment news, visit our blog "Fan Fare" online at http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/)

Sales slide for Beyonce's new chart-topper (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – R&B singer Beyonce went to No. 1 on the U.S. pop album chart with her fourth consecutive release on Wednesday, although its sales were the lowest of her solo career.

Her new album "4" sold 310,000 copies during the week ended July 3, according to tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan -- about the same amount as the next four albums combined.

Her previous release, the double-disc "I Am ... Sasha Fierce," sold 482,000 copies during its first week of sale in November 2010, fueled by the hits "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)."

Her first solo outing away from Destiny's Child, "Dangerously in Love," started with 317,000 in 2003, while 2006's "B-Day" opened with 541,000.

The new album has not yet had the benefit of a hit single, with "Run the World (Girls)" stalling at No. 29 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 singles chart. It is now at No. 84.

Executives at her Sony Music label have been on the counter-attack in recent days after the album leaked on June 7 and fans took to the Web to give it a lukewarm reception.

Elsewhere on the album chart, English pop singer Adele's "21" rebounded one place to No. 2 in its 19th week, with 91,500 copies. Its tally stands at 2.5 million copies, easily making it the biggest album of the year.

Rapper Big Sean's debut release "Finally Famous: The Album" came in at No. 3 with 87,000 copies.

Disney starlet Selena Gomez, currently in theaters with the teen comedy "Monte Carlo," arrived at No. 4 with sales of 78,000 for "When the Sun Goes Down," an album on which she shares credit with her band the Scene. Their previous set, "A Year Without Rain," opened at No. 4 with 66,200 last September.

Last week's champ, R&B singer Jill Scott, fell to No. 5 with "Light of the Sun" (54,800).

"American Idol" accounted for the two other newcomers in the top 10. Season 7 winner David Cook debuted at No. 7 with his second album "This Loud Morning" (45,800 copies). It marked a sharp drop from his self-titled debut, which arrived at No. 3 with 280,000 copies in the same week as Beyonce's previous album.

Reigning champ Scotty McCreery came in at No. 10 with the Walmart-exclusive EP "American Idol Season 10: Scotty McCreery" (40,400). A full-length album, released immediately after his victory in May, debuted at No. 12 with 23,000 copies.

Filling out the top 10, country singer Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party" (47,800) rose four to No. 6 in its 35th week, talent contest winner Jackie Evancho's "Dream With Me" (43,900) fell four to No. 8 in its third week, and the Eminem side project "Hell: the Sequel" (42,200) fell three to No. 9, also in its third week.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

(To read more about our entertainment news, visit our blog "Fan Fare" online at http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/)

Royals' Quebec visit appears to be winning gamble (Reuters)

QUEBEC CITY (Reuters) – Anti-monarchist protesters failed to disrupt the visit of Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate to Quebec, which was the most politically sensitive portion of their Canadian royal tour.

A group estimated by local reporters at about 200 people used loudspeakers on Sunday to decry the royal family and call for sovereignty for the French-speaking province, but they were kept far away from the couple in Quebec City.

The royal family's Canadian visits in recent years have often avoided stops in Quebec, where many still see as a raw wound Britain's defeat their of France in 1759 giving it sovereignty over to Canada.

Hundreds of demonstrators protested the Queen's visit to Quebec City in 1964, and groups favoring Quebec's separation from Canada had vowed to give the newlywed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a rough ride.

Despite those concerns, William and Kate chose to visit both Quebec City and Montreal as part of a nine-day tour of Canada that monarchists hope will restore flagging Canadian interest in the royal family.

Protesters at events in Montreal on Saturday were also outnumbered by well-wishers.

The couple visited a youth shelter in Quebec city before attending a ceremony honoring the "Van Doos", an infantry regiment based in the provincial capital that has done extensive duty in Afghanistan.

William, in brief remarks in French, acknowledged his weakness in speaking the language used by 83 percent of Quebec residents who would become his subjects if he becomes king as the British monarch is also Canada's head of state.

"Thank you for your patience with my accent, and I hope that we will have the chance to get to know each other over the years to come," he said.

After Quebec, the William and Kate will travel to Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Alberta, where they are expected to receive warm greetings as they did in earlier stops in Ottawa.

The couple will visit California after leaving Canada.

(Writing by Allan Dowd in Vancouver, Editing by Sandra Maler)

Sting cancels Kazakh concert over oil worker dispute (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) – British singer Sting has canceled a concert in the Kazakh capital Astana scheduled for Monday after human rights group Amnesty International informed the former Police frontman about what it described as a "crackdown" on oil workers there.

Several thousand workers at UzenMunaiGas, a unit of London-listed oil producer KazMunaiGas Exploration Production, went on strike on May 26, saying their salaries had been cut and their lawyer imprisoned on false charges.

The company has called the strike illegal and a spokesman said last week that around 250 employees had been fired for breaching their contract terms.

Sting, criticized for performing in 2009 in Uzbekistan which is widely regarded as one of the most repressive countries to emerge from the Soviet Union, described the treatment of the Kazakh workers as "unacceptable."

"Hunger strikes, imprisoned workers and tens of thousands on strike represents a virtual picket line which I have no intention of crossing," the 59-year-old said in a statement.

"The Kazakh gas and oil workers and their families need our support and the spotlight of the international media on their situation in the hope of bringing about positive change."

Sting's website said an appearance at the Astana gig would be "interpreted as an endorsement of the presidents' administration and surely will go against everything he (Sting) has stood for, while supporting Amnesty and the fight for human rights, for the past 40 years."

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Linkin Park plays "Transformers" show in Moscow (Reuters)

MOSCOW (Hollywood Reporter) – The U.S. alternative band Linkin Park played an outdoor show in Moscow, near Red Square, on Thursday in support of the world premiere of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

The entrance to the show was free, but only to those who won tickets through the FM station Energy and men's magazine Maxim, which has helped to keep attendance to figures acceptable in the city's historic center.

"Linkin Park have always been huge 'Transformers' fans," the movie's director Michael Bay told a news conference a few hours before the show. "They do very 'movie-esque' kind of music. We've had a good run - their tracks for the first two movies became number one hits, and their song for this movie fit in perfectly."

In Moscow, in addition to "Iridescent" from the soundtrack of the third 'Transformers' movie, Linkin Park performed two dozen songs, mostly from their most recent album, 2010's "A Thousand Sins." Bay and "Transformers" star Shia LaBeouf, who also showed up in Moscow for the premiere, were seen in the VIP area during the concert.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

Stars with criminal pasts honored at BET Awards (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – R&B star Chris Brown, fully rehabilitated in the public eye after beating up ex-girlfriend Rihanna two years ago, led the list of winners with criminal pasts at the BET Awards on Sunday.

Brown took home four awards, including the viewers' choice prize, amid some confusion at the 11th annual celebration of black musicians, actors and sports people. He led the contenders with six nominations.

In an unfortunate turn, Brown's name was called as the winner of the viewers' choice award, and then Rihanna's. Canadian rapper Drake awkwardly appeared on stage at the Shrine Auditorium to accept on her behalf.

But at the end of the show, it was revealed that Brown was the actual winner and there had been a technical snafu. Alas, that was too late to save the lucky fan charged with announcing the winner from being savaged on Twitter.

Brown's music career stalled after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Rihanna in February 2009, setting off a national debate on young, abusive relationships.

He publicly apologized, underwent court-ordered domestic violence counseling, and spent six months performing community service. Earlier this year he topped the U.S. pop album chart, a sign that his career was back on track.

"I know it's been a long road, so I just appreciate every blessing that's been in front of me," said Brown, dressed casually in white T-shirt, denim shorts and a silver kerchief.

He shared BET's best collaboration prize with Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne. The latter spent most of 2010 behind bars on a weapons charge. Brown's other awards included best male R&B artist and best video.

MICHAEL VICK HONORED

Other winners included professional football player Michael Vick, on the comeback trail after serving 19 months in federal prison for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring. He was named best sportsman, but was not on hand to accept the award.

Representing the other side of the law was prison guard-turned-rapper Rick Ross, who was a frequent performer on stage. At one point, the portly star unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a notable pair of breasts.

"I feel like you should put a sports bra on," host Kevin Hart said afterward.

Soul star Cee Lo Green used his expansive girth to better effect during a tribute to Patti LaBelle. He dressed as the flamboyant R&B icon as he belted out her signature tune "Somebody Loves You Baby."

"You scared me," LaBelle said afterwards.

In a decision that averted a family feud, singer/actors Willow and Jaden Smith shared the Young Star award, while their father Will Smith looked on with tears welling in his eyes. Willow, who had a novelty hit last year with "Whip My Hair," thanked her parents for "letting us push harder and keeping us on track with our music and stuff."

Jaden Smith's 17-year-old friend Justin Bieber, ubiquitous on the awards circuit recently, appeared on stage to present an award and engage in some scripted salacious banter with female hip-hop artist winner Nicki Minaj, almost 10 years his senior.

(Editing by Todd Eastham)

R&B singer Jason Derulo tops UK singles chart (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) – Miami R&B singer/songwriter Jason Derulo went straight to No. 1 on the UK singles chart, while Lady Gaga reclaimed the albums chart crown, the Official Charts company said on Sunday.

Derulo, 21, who started out as a songwriter for other big-name acts, scored on his account with "Don't Wanna Go Home," a tune from his upcoming second album "Future History." British singer Example's "Changed the Way you Kiss Me" slipped to No. 2.

Lady Gaga's "Born this Way" returned to No. 1 on the albums chart for a second spell after spending the past two weeks at No. 3.

(Reporting by Avril Ormsby)

List of winners at BET Awards (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Following is a complete list of winners at the BET Awards, honoring black entertainers and sports stars, held in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Viewers' Choice - "Look at Me Now," Chris Brown, featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

Male R&B artist - Chris Brown

Female R&B artist - Rihanna

Male hip-hop artist - Kanye West

Female hip-hop artist - Nicki Minaj

Collaboration - "Look at Me Now," Chris Brown, featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

New artist - Wiz Khalifa

Group - Diddy-Dirty Money

Video of the year - "Look at Me Now," Chris Brown, featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

Video director the year - Chris Robinson

Young star (tie) - Willow and Jaden Smith

Actor - Idris Elba

Actress - Taraji P. Henson

Movie - "For Colored Girls"

Gospel - Mary Mary

Centric - Marsha Ambrosius

Sportsman - Michael Vick

Sportswoman - Serena Williams

International act (UK) - Tinie Tempah

International act (Africa) (tie) - 2Face Idibia (Nigeria), D'Banj (Nigeria)

(Reporting by Dean Goodman)

DJ wins $1 million in lawsuit over "My Humps" song (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – Cleveland disc jockey and early rap artist Orrin Lynn Tolliver, Jr. has just been awarded nearly $1.2 million by a New York jury. The award comes after a former friend and collaborator allowed without permission his 1983 song, "I Need A Freak," to be sampled by the Black Eyed Peas for the group's hit song, "My Humps."

In the early 80s, Tolliver formed a concept band called Sexual Harassment and recorded "I Need A Freak" at his friend and collaborator James McCants' studio at Heat Records.

McCants registered the song with BMI, credited Tolliver as the songwriter, and agreed to pay him 75% of royalties.

In 2000, the song was included on the compilation, "In Da Beginning...There Was Rap," from Priority Records, which caused Tolliver to send McCants a cease-and-desist letter. His former friend and collaborator denied issuing a license.

However, in the proceeding years, the song was sampled for use by other artists, including by the Black Eyed Peas on "My Humps."

Tolliver sued McCants for copyright infringement.

During the preliminary stages of the case, McCants offered shifting excuses about what had happened. He first denied issuing a license. He then claimed he had co-authored the composition and owned it under the work-for-hire doctrine. He then attempted to obtain a musicologist expert's report that "My Humps" didn't sample Tolliver's work. Finally, he claimed that he owned the composition by virtue of a copyright assignment.

The judge didn't appreciate these inconsistent statements and ruled for Tolliver on summary judgment.

The case went to a jury to determine the damages. On Tuesday, the jury rendered a verdict. McCants owed Tolliver $816,877.28 in profits and $368,704.31 in actual damages for copyright infringement.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

Mick Jagger's SuperHeavy group to drop album in fall (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Universal Music will release the album from SuperHeavy, a group featuring Mick Jagger, Eurythmics founder Dave Stewart, singer Joss Stone, composer A.R. Rahman and reggae artist Damian Marley. No exact release date is set, but Universal Republic will handle the United States and A&M will handle the rest of the world.

An official release said the album will be unveiled in September; the first single is titled "Miracle Worker" and the five stars will be recording a video for the track. Jagger and Stewart co-produced the album.

Recording in various studios around the world -- France, Cyprus, Miami, India -- the majority of the tracks laid down over three weeks in Los Angeles earlier this year. The quintet wrote 22 songs in their first six days together. The term "SuperHeavy" was inspired by Muhammad Ali.

Jagger and Stewart had worked together on the 2004 soundtrack to the film "Alfie," and Stewart produced Stone's last album. Both wanted to bring in a Jamaican musician and Damian Marley entered the picture with his rhythm section, bassist and composer Shiah Coore and drummer Courtney Diedrick. They met Rahman while recording in Los Angeles.

According to the band's bio, SuperHeavy came together after Jagger and Stewart wondered what a band of musicians from different genres would sound like. Jagger had his doubts it would come together.

One of the first on the album is Jagger singing in Urdu. He takes lead on Rahman's song "Satyameva Jayate," which translates to "the truth alone triumphs."

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

Factbox: Award winners at the IIFAs (Reuters)

TORONTO (Reuters) – Following is a list of winners at the 12th annual International Indian Film Awards, or IIFAs, in Toronto on Saturday night.

Best film:"Dabangg"

Best direction: Karan Johar ("My Name Is Khan")

Leading role male: Shahrukh Khan ("My Name Is Khan")

Leading role female: Anushka Sharma ("Band Baaja Baaraat")

Supporting role male:Arjun Rampal ("Raajneeti")

Supporting role female:Prachi Desai ("Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai")

Contribution to Indian cinema: Dharmendra Deol

Achievement in Indian cinema: Sharmila Tagore

Achievement in international cinema: Irrfan Khan

Lifetime achievement: Asha Bhonsle

Comic role:Riteish Deshmukh ("Housefull")

Negative role: Sonu Sood ("Dabangg")

Debut male:Ranveer Singh ("Band Baaja Baaraat")

Debut female: Sonakshi Sinah ("Dabangg")

Best story: Shibani Bhatija ("My Name Is Khan")

Best screenplay:Dilip Shukla, Abhinav Kashyap ("Dabangg")

Best dialogue: Vishal Bhardwaj ("Ishqiya")

Music direction: Sajid - Wajid & Lalit Pandit ("Dabangg")

Best lyrics: Niranjan Iyengar (Sajdaa, "My Name Is Khan")

Playback singer male:Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (Tere Mast Mast Do Nain, "Dabangg")

Playback singer female:Mamta Sharma (Munni Badnam, "Dabangg")

Special "green" award: Priyanka Chopra

Best on-screen jodi: Anuksha Sharma and Ranveer Singh ("Band Baaja Baaraat")

(Reporting by Shadia Ismail; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Film review: "The Best and the Brightest" (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – A ludicrous and difficult-to-like farce that asks viewers to identify with its protagonist's aspirational cluelessness, Josh Shelov's "The Best and the Brightest" manages to be simultaneously offensive and bland. Its familiar cast and made-for-TV vibe (cemented by Ted Masur's busy, mood-deaf score) might have made it salable for off-hour television programing, but trimming its pervasive lewdness to basic-cable standards would whittle the film to nothing.

Bonnie Somerville plays Samantha, a onetime cheerleader who moves to New York in a self-pitying effort to feel as special as she did in high school -- and perhaps to goad husband Jeff (Neil Patrick Harris) into finding work more glamorous than computer programing.

In a movie whose knowledge of New York City seems limited to one widely-discussed truism -- it's hell getting kids into private schools -- Samantha has somehow never heard this fact. She blithely walks her kindergarten-age daughter into a string of tony schools, where administrators (and the just-pregnant women already getting in line) laugh her off.

With the help of a nutty school-placement consultant (the full-tilt Amy Sedaris, dressed in a repertoire of exotically frumpy ensembles from one scene to the next) she lands an interview at Coventry Day School -- which is going great until Jeff's buddy (Peter Serafinowicz), a sex addict who's supposed to be babysitting their child, interrupts the meeting with news that makes them look like the world's worst parents.

The increasingly hard-to-swallow action takes a gag that's good for a scene or two at most -- that Jeff has been mistaken for a poet whose work is a kind of debased erotica -- and stretches it to a point where the plot needs us to believe, for instance, that an aspiring politician would invite the recitation of porn at her dignified fundraiser.

Despite a couple of bright points (John Hodgman's pointy-headed appreciation of "poems" that are in fact printouts of late-night sex-texting), the script will annoy even viewers who can stomach its fundamental class-blindness. The idea that Sam's daughter would attend a public school is never broached, and in fact the word "public" isn't even heard until a closing-scene punch line.

Somerville's performance brings no likability to her shrill character, while Harris wisely chooses detachment.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

Ed Helms comedy pitch bought by Warner Bros (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) "Hangover" star Ed Helms is attached to star and executive produce "True North," a comedy pitch that was bought by Warner Bros.

A source familiar with the project said it centers on a high-powered, workaholic father (Helms) who slips into a two-year coma after suffering through a horrific plane crash. Upon emerging from the coma, the once debonair man finds that he has undergone reconstructive facial surgery and looks nothing like his former self. He then must track down his family and reconnect with his former life.

Rob Pearlstein will write and direct "North" with Imagine Entertainment producing.

Helms' profile is rising with his second turn as Stu in Warner Bros.' "The Hangover: Part II," in addition to his role on U.S. network NBC's "The Office." He also executive produced and starred in this year's "Cedar Rapids," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

Pearlstein has previously written for NBC's "Medium." He wrote and directed the short film "Our Time is Up," which was nominated for an Oscar for live action short film in 2006.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

'Cars 2' races past 'Kung Fu Panda 2' overseas (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – New domestic champ "Cars 2" posted a swift No. 1 opening lap on the foreign box office circuit, beating comparable overseas debuts of previous Pixar outings.

The sequel drew $42.9 million overall from 18 overseas territories, representing a quarter of the overall market.

The opening take was 127% ahead of the comparable figure registered by the first "Cars" in 2006; that film ended up grossing $218 million offshore. It also beat that of last year's "Toy Story 3" ($648.2 million total) by 4%.

Top markets were Russia ($9.3 million), Mexico ($8.1 million), Brazil ($7.6 million), Italy ($5.7 million) and Australia ($5.2 million).

After two weekends at No. 1, DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda 2" dropped to No. 2 with a $37 million round in 56 markets. Its foreign total stands at $340 million.

"The Hangover: Part II" was No. 3 overall with $15.6 million, also from 56 markets. The comedy opened at No. 1 in Spain with $2.9 million. The foreign total rose to $283.2 million.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" followed at No. 4 with $13.5 million (foreign total: $756.1 million), and newcomer "Bad Teacher" came in at No. 5 with $12.9 million from 24 markets. The comedy, starring Cameron Diaz as a foul-mouthed school teacher, opened at No. 1 in Germany $6.1 million.

Flaccid so far overseas are "The Green Lantern" and "Mr. Popper's Penguins." The former generated $7.1 million in 16 markets, bringing its total over two weekends to $29.4 million. Jim Carrey's latest comedy, rolling out slowly offshore, grossed $3.4 million from 16 markets, nudging its overseas total to $4.6 million, also over two rounds.

Sarah Palin documentary to premiere Tuesday in Iowa (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The Sarah Palin film "The Undefeated" has booked a 111-year historical landmark in Iowa for its world premiere next week.

The premiere is scheduled at 5 p.m. central time Tuesday at the Pella Opera House, a venue that hosted live stage plays before hitting its stride with silent movies in the early part of the last century.

"Undefeated" is the well-hyped documentary about the former vice presidential candidate from Victory Film Group and ARC Entertainment that was written and directed by Stephen Bannon. It was produced by Bannon and Victory's Dan Fleuette and Glenn Evans.

The moviemakers have extended an invitation to Palin, though she has not committed to attending. It was unclear Friday whether others featured in the film - Andrew Breitbart, Tammy Bruce, Mark Levin and other pundits - would attend, either.

Organizers on Friday also wouldn't commit as to whether or not red carpet arrivals were planned, but said the premiere is for 320 invited guests only.

"Undefeated" begins limited release on July 15 at 10 AMC theaters in Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Atlanta, Orange County, Phoenix, Houston, Indianapolis and Independence, Missouri.

At the film's website, they're asking visitors to vote on which other AMC theaters ought to show the film, though plans for wider release were vague Friday.

(Editing by Zorianna Kit)

Box office champ "Cars 2" crunches critics (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – "Cars 2," a Pixar sequel judged by critics to be the worst movie produced by the Disney-owned animation studio, sped to the front of the pack at the weekend box office in North America.

According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, the massive merchandising opportunity earned about $68 million during its first three days of release across the United States and Canada.

Heading into the weekend, both studio executives at Pixar's Walt Disney Co parent and industry pundits had doubted "Cars 2" would exceed the $60 million start for the first "Cars" in 2006.

Indeed by one major benchmark, it did fall short since the inflation-adjusted opening for "Cars" was estimated at $72 million by analysts at Box Office Mojo. The sequel also had the benefit of premium pricing for 3-D engagements.

The only other new release in the top 10, the raunchy Cameron Diaz comedy "Bad Teacher," opened at No. 2 with a better than expected $31 million. Last weekend's champion, the underwhelming superhero film "Green Lantern," slid to No. 3 with $18.4 million.

Total ticket sales were up about seven percent from the year-ago period at about $176 million, according to the box office division at Hollywood.com.

PIXAR TARNISHED?

Critics, who usually fall over themselves to praise Pixar movies, lambasted "Cars 2." The Wall Street Journal said the film "seldom gets beyond mediocrity," while the Chicago Tribune said it was "virtually joke-free." By contrast, Pixar's "Toy Story 3," which opened to $110 million a year ago, was among the best reviewed films of 2010.

The target audience of young boys and their parents was clearly revved up by "Cars 2," giving the film a bullish "A-minus" in exit polling conducted by CinemaScore.

Some on Wall Street worried that Pixar's impeccable movie-making credentials would be tarnished by an unseemly focus on churning out "Toys" memorabilia.

"'Cars 2' clearly exists because of the massive merchandising success of the original film, which has driven nearly $10 billion in global sales," Doug Creutz, an analyst at Cowen & Co, said in a commentary. "We believe protecting the brand value of Pixar is more important."

As with Disney's recent "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel, which badly trailed its predecessors in North America but was huge overseas, "Cars 2" is expected to fire on all cylinders internationally. The storyline follows the talking autos in Grand Prix races across Europe and Japan.

The film debuted to $42.9 million in 18 territories representing 25 percent of the international market. Top markets included Russia ($9.3 million), Mexico ($8.1 million) and Brazil ($7.6 million).

"When we make movies we have to think on a global basis these days," said Chuck Viane, president of Disney's domestic theatrical distribution. Disney does not disclose budgets.

"Bad Teacher," which cost $20 million to make, was expected to approximate the $26 million opening of the similarly themed bawdy comedy "Bridesmaids" last month.

Diaz stars as a foul-mouthed teacher who competes for the affections of a colleague played by Justin Timberlake. Reviews were mixed.

The film, from Sony Corp's Columbia Pictures, earned $12.9 million overseas. Germany led the way with a first-place $6.1 million start.

The 10-day total for "Green Lantern" rose to $89.3 million in North America. The film, from Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros., reportedly cost about $200 million to make.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Vicki Allen)