Elizabeth Banks is back, and it couldn’t be nicer.
The smart, attractive actress turned director had big hits with the “Pitch Perfect” trilogy. (She produced the first one, produced and directed the second and third.)
Then came the “Charlie’s Angels” reboot in 2019. It was a total bomb. I can’t even remember who was in it. The flop made just $17.8 million in its total run, $55 million worldwide.
Suddenly, Banks the director was cold as ice. And that’s a total female director thing. Male directors can have flop after flop and keep coming back. But not women. It’s a one strike ballgame.
So now comes “Cocaine Bear.” With a $23 million opening weekend, the Bear made more in one weekend than “Charlie’s Angels” did in its whole run! Not only did this Bear resurrect Banks’s directing career, it did a lot of good for all the actors involved starting with the late Ray Liotta. It’s nice that he goes out in a hit. Plus, Alden Ehrenreich, who was unfairly treated when he starred as a young Han Solo, begins his rebound campaign.
And let’s not forget the bear himself. Last time we saw a bear he was viciously humping Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Revenant.” No one liked him. Now he’s like Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. See how you can turn things around in Hollywood?
Bravo to Elizabeth Banks! And if you want to see her act, stream a little gem called “Call Jane.” She’s terrific!
