Film-comedy powerhouse Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen were the main attraction at Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival last weekend, performing a one-time-only stand-up comedy show as research for their upcoming film about comics. At a press conference, Rogen deadpanned that even though it had been a while since he’d performed live, “what I lost in skill I made up for in recognition. For the first 10 minutes they’ll laugh at every fucking thing I say. I did 12 minutes, so I actually only needed two minutes of funny jokes.” Pineapple Express, the next project from producer Apatow and co-writer/star Rogen, opens in theatres Aug. 6.
¦ A movie about a guy who dresses as a bat and fights crime surprised no one last weekend, breaking the record for the highest grossing opening weekend ever, with $155.3 million. The marginally less violent event picture Mamma Mia! placed second with a solid $27.6 million. Hancock brought in $14 million in its third week, raising the total to $191.5 million (bankrolling at least one more weird private school).
¦ Within the glare of the local multiplex, Pleasure Dome offers an open-air escape from the blockbuster brigade July 26 at 9pm with a retrospective of Super-8 works by underground film legend Jack Smith. Guest curated by filmmaker and archivist Jerry Tartaglia, the program includes videos of the recently restored compendium Jack Smith’s Super 8 Films (1975-1985) and Sinbad of Baghdad (1978), with the curiously titled, ’60s vintage I Was a Male Yvonne DeCarlo. Screenings are held in the courtyard at 401 Richmond W. $2 for Pleasure Dome members, $5 for non-members. www.pdome.org.
¦?Quentin Tarantino associate and Wu-Tang kingpin the RZA will take to the director’s chair for kung-fu movie The Man With the Iron Fist… Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker reports he’s writing songs for Wes Anderson’s stop-motion animation version of Roald Dahl’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox… Spike Jonze’s feature adaptation of children’s picture book Where the Wild Things Are was recently removed from Warner Brothers’ release schedule. The movie reportedly terrified kids during test screenings and the studio wants Jonze to reshoot most of it. What they’ll lose in originality they’ll no doubt to pick up in happy-meal sales. ?