Because the brain behind “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” has him in his sights.
Check out this must-read story from The Politico’s Jeffrey Ressner (hat tip: Dirty Harry’s Place)
Director David Zucker, a self-described Sept. 11 Republican, has created a new spin on “A Christmas Carol,” but this time the story has a pro-American, anti-Michael Moore bent.
Cannot wait.
My concern regards the finished product. Will Zucker’s own ideological bent blind him to the funny, or will he use the wealth of untapped material, stuff other “brave” comedians rarely touch, to make a comedy for the ages?
(Photo: Filmmaker David Zucker is working on a pro-American film based on the “Christmas Carol” template)
Not too long ago the thought of going to see the newest comedy filled me with dread.
It usually meant Sandra Bullock pretending to be clumsy in some “Miss Congeniality” flick or, much worse, somebody in a fat suit mugging for laughs.
No longer. The Judd Apatow Express has changed the landscape of film comedies. Now, even the least of the bunch (”Drillbit Taylor”) offers genuine laughs, and the best of ‘em (”Knocked Up”) leave me rolling.
So here’s a toast to Apatow, director Adam McKay (”Step Brothers,” “Talladega Nights”) and other comedic types for bringing the funny back to theaters.
Now, if we can work on some solid horror movies I’d be all set …
(Photo: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are helping bring honest to goodness comedy back to the big screen)
The folks behind “The Dark Knight” did a masterful job of promoting their movie AND being respectful to the late Heath Ledger. Easier said than done, but clearly their efforts paid off. The movie is making a proverbial mint, and I don’t recall anyone complaining about the crassness of their outreach effort.
But how do they handle this?
It’s one thing when a woman at a bar accuses a celebrity of groping her, or worse. Sometimes such a scenario can involve a grasp for attention. Other times, the charges can be right as rain.
But why would Christian Bale’s own mother and sister blow the whistle on their Bat son/sibling? [click to continue...]
Poor John C. Reilly.
His attempt at headlining a major movie, “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” crashed and burned at the box office. So it’s back to second banana status for him.
He’ll have to settle for being an in-demand character actor for the next 30 years. Tough luck.
Reilly likely saw his future on the set of “Step Brothers,” his new comedy with Will Ferrell. Reilly and Ferrell play step brothers who call actor Richard Jenkins their pappy. Jenkins, 61, is the prototypical character actor, someone who works constantly without ever drawing a huge salary - or being the target of invasive paparazzi. [click to continue...]
So I’m in the theater tonight waiting for “Step Brothers to unspool (will post my review on Friday).
My theater starts showing “Before They Were Stars” and famous quotations from old movies on the big screen. Great. Keeps my mind occupied while I wait for the movie to begin.
But five minutes after settling in my seat, the screen is already repeating the same “Stars” and “Quotations” I saw mere minutes ago.
Huh? They can’t scrape up a good 10-15 minutes of original material? How hard is it for someone to research a few more quotations and pre-famous folks?
Seems a lost opportunity to build some goodwill with the theatrical experience.
Because the brain behind “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” has him in his sights.
