Brad Pitt may have dumped Jennifer Aniston for Angelina Jolie and then rubbed it in her face by being photographed with Jolie and their growing family every other day for two years, but, so far at least, Aniston’s movie is whupping Brad’s movie’s butt!
Big Hollywood just came out with preliminary box office numbers for Christmas Day, and “Marley & Me” has edged out “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” for the Number One slot.
“Marley” clocked in with $13.9 million in ticket sales, while “Button” lagged slightly behind with $11.1 million.
“Bedtime Stories,” “Valkyrie,” and “The Spirit” round out the Top 5, which means Adam Sandler also beat Tom Cruise, although, since the two were never married, that’s not as interesting.
Remember, these are early numbers, and there are still three days left in the big Christmas holiday weekend for “Button” to make up ground on “Marley,” but for one glorious day, Jen can bask in the knowledge that she opens a movie better than her ex.
Jennifer Aniston met up with friends David and Courteney Cox Arquette and their 4-year-old daughter Coco Wednesday for their annual Christmas Eve dinner at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills.
“Jen and Courteney chatted non-stop,” a source tells PEOPLE. “Jen was also very sweet to Coco and the two giggled together.”
While Aniston’s beau John Mayer remained on the East coast, Aniston ā dressed in black and smiling from ear to ear ā joined the Arquettes and a few other friends in the restaurant’s private dining room, which overlooks the kitchen, and features a rhinestone chandelier.
“Jen usually gets steak, but she asked for fish instead and she ended up getting the sole and vegetables,” the source says. “Jen also had some white wine with her fish, while the rest of the table enjoyed steak. Courtney and David were also in a great mood and they acted very sweet to each other.”
Frank Sinatra played in the background and their table was festively decorated with candles.
“Coco was walking around the restaurant without any shoes and when Courteney asked her where her shoes were, Coco said they were too tight and that she had to take them off,” a source says. “Both Jen and Courteney were smiling at her. Jen and Coco seem to have a very special bond and it was cute to watch Jen dote on Coco.”
Meanwhile, a pregnant and glowing Alyson Hannigan also enjoyed a romantic, candle lit Christmas Eve dinner at Mastro’s Steakhouse with her husband Alexis Denisof.
“Alyson showed off her small baby bump in a black top,” an eyewitness says of the How I Met Your Mother star. “Alexis was very sweet to Alyson and the two looked adorable together.”
It’s been a big year for Jennifer Aniston: A new home in Beverly Hills, a new boyfriend (musician John Mayer, 31) and a new comedy, Marley & Me (costarring Owen Wilson), which hits theaters Christmas day.
The Hollywood star sat down with PEOPLE to answer questions submitted by readers about life, love, finding happiness ā and canine jealousy.
How did your dogs [Norman and Dolly] react to your Marley costars? Was there any intense jealousy?
ā Misti Bell, Bridge City, Texas
Aniston: Oh, play it for me, Misti! Dolly didn’t travel to Miami because she is too young at 2 ½, and to put her in a trailer didn’t seem fair. All Norman wants to do is just lie at my feet, which is what I like. [The trainers] were strict about letting the Marleys play with other dogs. But there was no jealousy because Norman is very secure. Norman is now 13, but even back [as a puppy] he was as cool as a cucumber. He’s just a person in a dog suit.
Do you think you will remarry?
ā Kizzi Lewellen, Childress, Texas
Aniston: I don’t know! I honestly don’t know. I’m not against it. Maybe (smiles). Maybe, sure.
The former ‘Friends’ star Jennifer Aniston is completely smitten with boyfriend John Mayer and claims he is ‘extraordinary’. The actress has fuelled rumours that the couple may settle down as they “adore each other”.
“He’s a rare one. He is extraordinary and it is wonderful to watch him. The way his brain works and the way he thinks thoughts… it’s beautiful,” she told ‘Daily Mirror’.
Aniston, after her divorce with ex-husband Brad Pitt and failed relationships with Vince Vaughn and Tate Donovan, is learning to understand the world of music for Mayer’s sake.
“It’s an amazing thing to watch a musician think. I don’t know many musicians but when his guitar is on him it’s just like a channel. It’s something I’ve never ever seen before,” she added.
The 39-year-old Anniston and 31-year-old Mayer resumed their relationship in October, two months after the singer announced he had dumped the actress following their brief four month romance.
But it seems that the couple’s on and off relationship is back on track as both of them publicly declared their affection for each another recently. Aniston has already introduced Mayer to her father, soap actor John Aniston.
Jennifer Aniston must like confinement. We reported yesterday her involvement in a Gerard Butler romantic comedy set in prison, and now we have a bit more info on her other jail-themed flick, āGoree Girls.ā
According to the erstwhile āFriendsā star, the film ā based on a true story ā will find Aniston teaming with other female inmates to start a country western band, which quickly becomes nationally popular. Asked if her vocal chops are up for the job, she was quick to point out that didnāt really matter. āIām not supposed to know how to really sing,ā she replied.
Looking stunning and dressed for the occasion, provocative cover girl Jennifer Aniston worked the red carpet with costar Owen Wilson at Thursday’s Los Angeles premiere of their comedy Marley and Me, at the Mann Village Theater in Westwood.
Summing up the film’s universal appeal ā Marley is a tale about a dog ā Aniston, 39, called it “a true story, about a family and their life.”
With nearly everyone also interested in the tale behind Aniston’s new eye-opening GQ cover, the star was asked what sort of message she was trying to send by wearing nothing more than a necktie for the magazine.
She replied, with a laugh: “I wasn’t trying to make any kind of statement!”
Aniston’s boyfriend, John Mayer, did have something to say, on the other hand. Arriving about 10 minutes before Aniston and Wilson, the musician told reporters that he was there to “support my girl.”
Meanwhile, Marley costars Eric Dane and Alan Arkin also spoke up ā in support of Aniston’s GQ pose.
“I’m going to renew my subscription,” said Dane. “”She always looks fabulous, she will look fabulous at 50.”