‘Cat in the Hat’ survives bad reviews for No. 1 spot

Los Angeles — Starring Mike Myers as the whiskered trickster of Dr. Seuss’ children’s book, “The Cat in the Hat” overcame scathing reviews to become the No. 1 weekend movie with ticket sales of $40.1 million.

Halle Berry’s supernatural thriller “Gothika” premiered in second place with $19.6 million while the previous weekend’s top movie, “Elf,” slipped to No. 3 with $19.1 million.

Other estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.:

4. “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” $15.2 million.

5. “Love Actually,” $9.1 million.

6. “The Matrix Revolutions,” $6.7 million.

7. “Brother Bear,” $5.5 million.

8. “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” $4.1 million.

9. “Scary Movie 3,” $3.3 million.

10. “Radio,” $2.6 million.

‘Music for the eyes’

Avon, Conn. — More than 100 paintings, doodles, caricatures and drawings by slain Beatle John Lennon were on display for a three-day show, wrapping up on Sunday.

Lennon’s artwork explores the joys of fatherhood, sex, aging and life.

“It’s an intimate look at John’s love for life,” organizer Larry Schwartz said. “It’s music for the eyes.”

The display, titled “Come Together,” included children’s illustrations such as cartoonish animals that Lennon drew for his son, Sean. Also on display were handwritten lyrics and framed words to songs such as “Imagine,” which is listed at $2,350, and “Grow Old With Me,” with an asking price of $2,900.

And there was erotica involving Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, in an exhibit first displayed in London in 1970 that was shut by police for its racy content.

Wishing for wedding bells

London — Gwyneth Paltrow says she hopes to get married — but she won’t reveal whether that aspiration extends to her current boyfriend, Chris Martin, frontman for the British band Coldplay.

Michael Parkinson of the British Broadcasting Corp., in an interview airing Saturday, asked the Oscar-winning actress whether she planned to marry.

“I don’t know. I hope so,” she replied.

But Paltrow declined to say whether it’s Martin she wanted to wed.

“I’m the wrong person to ask — ask him,” she said.

The couple have dated one year.

Life’s a parade for Aiken

Raleigh, N.C. — An estimated 50,000 people lined up to watch this year’s Christmas parade, mostly to catch a glimpse of American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken. The Raleigh native served as the parade’s grand marshal.

“This is so very exciting,” Aiken said. “I am so glad I could be here.”

Fans greeted Aiken Saturday with cheers and screams as he waved to the crowd from the back of a red convertible Mustang.

Aiken finished second this year in television’s “American Idol” singing competition. Since then, he has released a No. 1 album.