Hotel for Dogs

Liam Neeson's thriller Taken scored the top spot at the box office this weekend, which according to Variety, proves that "male-driven pics can open successfully on Super Bowl weekend." Last year Miley Cyrus brought her magic to the big screen over Super Bowl weekend and broke records.

Meanwhile, Paul Blart: Mall Cop continues to do well and dropped to the No. 2 spot after two weeks in first place. People love this movie! Elizabeth Banks's horror flick, The Uninvited, came in No. 3 followed by Hotel for Dogs and Gran Torino.

Finally, New in Town, the romantic comedy starring Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr. had a disappointing (though not unexpected) debut at No. 8, only earning an estimated $6.8 million.

Photo courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

I think it's pretty awesome that while Hollywood is busy congratulating itself on fantastic performances these past two weekends with the Golden Globes and SAG awards, America is meanwhile off to the theaters to see Paul Blart: Mall Cop. I love this country! You can't put us in a box.

Once again the goofy comedy was No. 1 at the box office, followed by newcomer Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. In third place came the Clint Eastwood drama, Gran Torino, which has also been an audience favorite for several weeks.

Hotel for Dogs came in fourth place and the "slumdog" everyone loves to root for, Slumdog Millionaire, rounded out the top five.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Since scoping the trailer for the upcoming Hotel for Dogs film, I couldn't wait to learn the names of all the four-legged cast members we spotted (refresh your memory here). A couple of the film's human stars – Jake T. Austin and Emma Roberts – made a special stop earlier this week to promote the movie and show a whole line of special-edition stuffed animals at FAO Schwarz.

In addition to ones depicting Friday, Romeo and Juliet seen here, check out the cute toys to treat kids this Holiday season – let them get all their cuddles in while waiting for the film to open in January.

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This Hotel for Dogs isn't a swank, professionally-run doggie facility, but instead one started by two driven foster children just looking for a good home for their pooch, Friday. With Nickelodeon stars Emma Roberts (from Unfabulous) and Jake T. Austin (the voice of Diego on Go, Diego, Go!), the duo finds an abandoned hotel and their imaginations run wild! Check out the trailer to get a sneak peek – eyes peeled for a cutie pie smooshy named Georgia! – because the movie won't hit big screens 'til Jan. 16, 2009!

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• Don Cheadle will star in a live-action film version of the 1971 children's book Hotel for Dogs, Variety reports.
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