Chicago's Nick Offerman, producer and star of the indie film “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” is a local hero, at least at the box office.
The bittersweet comedy, written and directed by Bob Byington, stars Offerman, from the NBC TV sitcom “Parks and Recreation," and Keith Poulson as best buddies who fall in love with the same girl, played by Jess Weixler.
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Tribeca chose Chicago's 700-seat Music Box Theater to debut the film and – with Chicago native Offerman in attendance at many of the screenings – it took in an imressive $38,495 over the three days. That's the second-highest opening weekend in the last 6 years at the theater, trailing only 2012's “Sleepwalk With Me."
Tribeca Films picked up “Somebody” after it premiered at last year's South By Southwest Film Festival.
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Tribeca said Sunday that half of the shows are already sold out for next weekend's engagement at the Cinefamily in Los Angeles. Offerman will be in attendance for those screenings, and he plans to be at expansions planned for San Francisco (March 22), New York (March 29) and Austin, (April 50.
The film will be available on iTunes and all major VOD carriers starting Tuesday.
The film shares its title with the classic 1956 boxing drama starring Paul Newman, but isn't related.