"Proposal," "Year One" face off at box office

LOS ANGELES – Hollywood has a shot at getting back into the win column this weekend, as a pair of wide releases are poised to perform solidly at the box office.

Disney's romantic comedy "The Proposal," starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, has drawn positive early reviews and keen interest among females. That alone should get "Proposal" a $20 million-plus bow without even popping the question over possible date-night business.

Audiences attending sneak previews of the film last weekend were predominantly (78 percent) couples. If that translates into a broad range of demographic groups attending its opening, "Proposal" has the best shot at preventing Warner Bros.' comedy behemoth "The Hangover" from three-peating atop the domestic box office.

An opening in the range projected for "Proposal" also would represent a personal best for Bullock, whose box-office high was the $17.6 million debut of "Premonition" in March 2007.

This weekend Sony releases "Year One," a comedy set in biblical times. Jack Black and Michael Cera star as two hunter-gatherers banished from their primitive village.

"It's a funny concept -- the very first road trip," Sony distribution president Rory Bruer said.

Harold Ramis ("Analyze That") directed "Year One," and produced the film with Judd Apatow. Rated PG-13, "Year One" is tracking best among young males and is expected to open with about $20 million.

Collectively, the weekend's three-day gross receipts will be compared with a $143 million year-earlier session topped by the $38.7 million opening of Warners' "Get Smart." Paramount's "Love Guru" also bowed during the 2008 session but contributed less than $14 million.

'HANGOVER' HOLDING ON