'Roadside Romeo' secretly released in Los Angeles

[ALIASd]

Roadside Romeo secretly released in L.A.

This almost escaped our notice… but not quite! Disney has quietly opened Roadside Romeo today (we posted the trailer back in May). It’s “Absolutely ‘howl’arious!” says the India Times in a four-star review.

Should you wish to see this flick, it’s playing at the NAZ 8 Cinemas in Artesia, with English subtitles. The theatre is located at 6440 E. South Street, in Lakewood, CA. It’s playing all week at 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 and 11:00pm.

Move over Wall•E - Roadside Romeo is now qualifed for for an Oscar nomination!

Roadside Romeo secretly released in L.A. | Cartoon Brew: Leading the Animation Conversation

Official Website: Roadside Romeo

[Aladdin]

So, Disney has teamed up with another unknown CGI company ( www.Yashrajfilms.com ), this time from India. Youtube has at least three different trailers for the film. I'm a little unsure about the movie - but want to see some reviews, to find out more.


IMDB has this on the movie - only one review and it sounds like Wall-E shouldn't have anything to worry about

Rotten Tomatoes doesn't have a single review, yet



oh, here is the list of theaters it's playing in US and Canada:


Is Disney keeping this a limited release since Bolt will be out soon? This just seems like a strange time for Disney to be trying out another misguided attempt at distributing another companies CGI movie, when they are just trying to get on their feet with Bolt. Gaw - don't they remember The Wild, or the Pigeon movie Valliant? Maybe not, hardly anyone remembers those two movies. But at least Disney didn't release them a week before one of their own major animated features. Sounds like a big mistake on the timing on this movie.


Just to add, here is part of the review from the India Times that Alias pointed to:

There are takeoffs on films like Sholay, Karan Arjun, Amar Akbar Anthony, DDLJ and a lot more. You indeed have to be a perceptive movie buff to catch the finer nuances of the spoofs.

Sorry, i didn't catch ANY of the movies that the India Times mentioned, (Bollywood movies, perhaps? - and I am only vaguely familiar with that terminology)

And most of the advertisement wishes us a: Happy Diwali

Well, with the movie being made a half a world away from us, no wonder most of this goes over my head. I just wonder how well the movie will play with a westen audience.

[ALIASd]

It had to be released theatrically and have all other required elements submitted by November 14th in order to qualify for Academy Award consideration. 'Bolt's release wouldn't seem to be a factor of any consequence here.

Disney has huge interests in India, many reported here in our NEWS section, so setting this limited run is a fairly small affair. Just a guess but probably chosen for their local Indian communities. In the grand scheme it costs Disney very little.

Unless of course it actually does gain the Academy's attention then you'll see some industry trade ads, private events and inclusion in the Studio's Academy screenings schedules. None of which the general public will ever be aware of.

[ALIASd]

First industry trade review:

Posted: Mon., Oct. 27, 2008, 2:49pm PT

New Int'l. Release

Roadside Romeo

(Animated -- India-U.S.)

By Derek Elley
Variety

Much ballyhooed as the first in a series of Bollywood/Disney co-productions -- though entirely made in India with Indian staff -- "Roadside Romeo" scores high on the tech front but considerably lower on script smarts. Subcontinent's first 3-D computer-animated feature, about a happy-go-lucky Mumbai mutt's life on the streets, should entertain undemanding tykes but looks unlikely to generate as much heat as some other heavy-hitters during the Diwali frame. Though the pic comes loaded with U.S. pop-culture influences -- from hip-hop musical numbers to a hero who calls everyone "dude" and "guys" -- there's little crossover potential beyond non-resident Indian auds.

Despite the 2005 hit "Hanuman" (done in traditional 2-D style and centered on Indian myth) and other recent attempts (live-action/animated "My Friend Ganesha" and warring-techno-ants saga "Cheenti cheenti bang bang"), animation is one field India has yet to make a lasting mark in, (although the country is used for outsourced work on many Western pics). Apart from its less-than-smooth character movement, "Roadside Romeo" is a good calling card for the work of Visual Computing Labs (part of the Bangalore-based Tata Elxsi group), with exceptionally detailed rendering of fur and hair -- a bargain for a reported budget of only $7 million.

full review at:
Roadside Romeo Review - Read Variety's Analysis Of The Movie Roadside Romeo

[Aladdin]

Two reviews in Rotten Tomatoes now - both thumbs down.

So the reviews are SLOWLY coming in, not enough make a decision, but I'd be surprised with something greater than 45%

[ALIASd]

Disney Indian adventure rewarded

By Matthew Garrahan
FT.com
Published: November 12 2008 02:00 | Last updated: November 12 2008 02:00

When Walt Disney recently released Roadside Romeo , its first animated movie aimed specifically at the Indian market, it got all the proof it needed that the country's cinemagoers appreciate films made especially for them.

The film came out last month and scored Disney its best opening weekend performance in India, outstripping previous animation hits such as Toy Story . "In its first four days it exceeded the entire Indian gross of The Incredibles ," says Jason Reed, general manager of Walt Disney Studio international productions.

FT.com / UK - Disney Indian adventure rewarded

[Aladdin]

Box office mojo has it showing a little over 1.5 million worldwide box office.

The Grade comes in at a "C" - at mojo Roadside Romeo (2008)

Let's face it, the movie is a dog. Disney hasn't even bothered to nominate it, but they are advertising for Wall-E, Bolt, and HS3. It would be better for Disney to keep their name of bad movies, when they are struggling to bring back the stature of Disney Animated Films. Pixar name is good. But the Disney Animated movies have had a set back for several reasons. To associate there name with movies with such limited appeal only hurts Disney in the long run.

Looks like they are just going after video sales $$$'s

[ALIASd]

Originally Posted by Aladdin

Looks like they are just going after video sales $$$'s

Domestically this would be the easiest market to aim for.