When times get tough, we pick 'Chihuahua'

There's nothing like a cute little dog to take our minds off the economy. Chihuahua takes another big bite out of the box office last weekend.

Chicago (MCT) - When the economy goes to the dogs, moviegoers follow.

That's the apparent message of "Beverly Hills Chihuahua's" weekend box office triumph over the explosive, topical thriller "Body of Lies."

"Body of Lies" came in boasting three-time Oscar nominee/"Titanic" star Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar winner Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott, who directed Crowe in "Gladiator" and last year's hit "American Gangster." Yet the big names and bigger action-film marketing were no match for Disney's pint-size pooches with Mexican accents, even though "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" already had been out for a week.

According to Monday's final numbers, "Chihuahua" grossed $17.5 million over the weekend, and "Body of Lies" pulled in $12.9 million, leaving it in third place behind the low-wattage horror film "Quarantine" ($14.2 million).

These numbers are being cited as inevitable signs of the times. Last week, after all, was Wall Street's worst ever, and the general population was diagnosed with a case of high anxiety.

Did they choose to relieve their pain by seeing a mega-star thriller about the War on Terror? Nope. They went with the talking pooches.

"Movies that reflect what's going on in society in a realistic way may be a tough sell right now," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office tallying company Media By Numbers. "With 'Chihuahua,' when you're sitting at that movie, how can you be thinking about your pocket book or your bank accounts or mortgage or your stocks and bonds?"

Of course, the PG-rated "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and the R-rated, torture-depicting "Body of Lies" aren't exactly apples and oranges; they're more like apples and buzz saws. Although Disney is touting the appeal of "Chihuahua" beyond parents and kids, those seeking a family-friendly comedy have few other options.

"This is 'Chihuahua' by default," said Neal Gabler, author of "Life: The Movie" and "Walt Disney." "It's not that America has said, 'Oh, we have to see 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' because the economy is melting down.' "

Gabler also debunked the "myth" that the nation flocks to escapist movies in dire times. During the Great Depression, he said, movie attendance actually dipped, and studios didn't stop releasing socially relevant dramas in addition to the era's hit comedies and musicals.

"That notion that America whiled away its troubles at the movie theater is not true," Gabler said.

While "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" evoked fond memories of Taco Bell commercials, "Body of Lies" arrived shlepping the baggage of other recent Middle East-themed films that have sputtered: "In the Valley of Elah," "A Mighty Heart," "Rendition," "Lions for Lambs," "The Kingdom," "Grace Is Gone" and this year's "Stop Loss" and "The Lucky Ones."

Should the new movie's apparent failure be interpreted as a continuation of audiences' studious avoidance of this topic? Or was the problem that "Body of Lies" has an unfun title, got so-so reviews and didn't give potential viewers the impression that they'd be seeing anything new?

One might note that the year's most popular movie also is about the War on Terror: "The Dark Knight." Darkness is just more fun with capes, face paint and killer filmmaking.