Movie bosses have denied that comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, new film starring Adam Sandler, plagiarised a Paul Hogan comedy released in 2004. Hogan and Michael Caton starred in Australian movie Strange Bedfellows as two heterosexual men who pretend to be a gay couple - the same basic plot premise as I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry. However, officials at Universal Pictures have denied any intentional similarity, arguing the Sandler film was in development years before Strange Bedfellows' release.In a statement, the studio says, "Universal Pictures has reviewed the contentions of the producers of Strange Bedfellows and has determined that Universal's film I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry does not infringe the copyright in Strange Bedfellows."In addition to the fact that the films are substantially different, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry was in development at Universal several years before Strange Bedfellows was theatrically released in Australia."Despite this controversy the comedy has ended Harry Potter's spell on the U.S. box-office debuted at the top of the American movie chart.The comedy, about two heterosexual men who pretend to be a gay couple, made $34.8 million (£17.4 million) over the weekend (20-22Jul07).

After jumping straight in at the top of the chart last week (16Jul07), Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix falls to second place with $32.2 million (£16.1 million).

Musical Hairspray has sung its way straight in at three with $27.8 million (£13.9 million), while Transformers slips a place to number four with $20.5 million (£10.25 million).

Rounding out the top five is animated movie Ratatouille, which took $11 million (£5.5 million).

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