Planet Fun News 05.15.08
Posted by Matt Richissin on 05.15.2008
Jonah Hill executive producing 21 Jump Street, 17 years later and we FINALLY get a second Point Break, and why you might not be calling it Transformers 2-D. Leave your hilarious Meghan Fox in 3D comments here!
Welcome Back Planateers! It's time for another edition of The Planet Fun. This week P-Fun will be orbiting double this week as you'll be able to catch me in Fact or Fiction tomorrow. Getchya popcorn ready and let's kick it to the news:
THE STORY:
Gather round kids, and let me tell you about a show called 21 Jump Street. What served as a launching pad for one of America's top actors, Richard Greico, 21 Jump Street was show that featured two baby faced detectives infiltrating local high schools and colleges to crack down on youth crimes. One of FOX's first real series' 21 Jump Street was considered a landmark show because of it's hipness and ability to deal with the issues of America's youth.
So of course it had to have a remake! And what hip, edgy young star is rumored to Executive Produce and Write the remake? No, not Zack Efron..... No, not Shia LeBeof.... No, not a Jonas Brother..... Yes! Of course, it's Jonah Hill!
It hasn't been decided whether Hill will actually star in the movie, but Sony confirms that he'll work on the screenplay and serve as executive producer.... Sony declined to give any details on the tone or direction of the movie, but it's probably safe to say that this new version won't be featuring any earnest public service announcements, as the series often did.
Without putting too much thought into this, I think its fair to assume that the movie will be along the lines of Starsky and Hutch; a campy comedy of a show that might've taken itself a little too seriously in the first place. I'd also imagine that Hill will be writing the movie to star himself with Superbad co-star Michael Cera. Now, don't read too far into this; I'm not saying that I think the movie (if actually made) would end up starring Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. I'm simply assuming that Hill will write the movie with himself and Cera in mind. The reason I stress this is because I think by the time that this movie would be made I think Hill might've lost his ability to look as young as he does (he's 24) and Cera might be too big at the point of production for what seems to be somewhat of a gamble
FUN FACTOR: 5.6
Despite that I think this movie has bomb potential written all over it, I'm holding some hope for it. There's gotta be something more to Jonah Hill that we've yet to see. He's in line for a starring role in what appears to be a Sarah Marshall spinoff, he got some attention from Michael Bay for Transformers 2, and he will be appearing in Ricky Gervais' This Side of Truth. So he's either the nicest guy in the world behind closed doors or he's got another comedic level we've yet to see. And as I've stated before, I don't mean this as any kind of bash to Jonah Hill. I think he's funny, I just haven't seen him be all that funny yet (though he certainly hasn't been in a situation that called for him to be drop-dead hysterical). And I'm holding out on the thought that if Michael Cera was casted, at the very least, it would have to 'have its moments.'
I wonder if the other guy from the original 21 Jump Street went on to do anything after Last Resort: Where EVERY room has a good view ?
THE STORY
Over the past 17 years I have spent roughly 46,000 hours writing letters to the studios, petitioning across the country and writing anywhere between 56-58 pieces of fan fiction in a desperate attempt to get a second Point Break movie. FINALLY, my voice has been heard by "the big wigs." The movie is set to be directed by Jan De Bont (Speed, Twister) and according to IESB.net will be about:
When Billy Dalton, military special ops and star surfer, is disqualified from the pro-surfing tour, he takes off for the coast of Bali looking for the perfect wave. While there he's recruited by a private security force who are trying to find a gang known as The Bush Administration, surfing outlaws and modern day pirates who work like "The Ex-Presidents," a bank robbing crew from Malibu twenty years ago.
Apparently both Keanu and Swayze have been contacted, but there isn't any news on how those conversations went. I'm going to bet with "Not Well."(Isn't it somewhat ridiculous that they'd even contact Swayze based on his health? Though who knows, maybe he'd love to make a cameo).
THE THOUGHT PROCESS:
Really? This is what we've sunk to? Point Break 2? Hollywood is so into looking for an easy payday that it's willing to gamble on a sequel to Point Break ? On the bright side, Swayze can scratch Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights off the top of his "Most Ridiculous Sequels I had hand in" list.
But if I could play the role of Producer, I think I would have one trick up my sleeve to save this movie (the Gary Busey documentary is too obvious). Let's face it, Keanu isn't coming back for this movie. So this leaves a huge hole for our lead. We could go the obvious route, and go for the BIG (straight to dvd) NAME actor, someone along the lines of a Dean Cain. Or you role the dice on the straight to DVD Daniel Day Lewis: Deron McBee. Most of America knows McBee as American Gladiator Malibu. But not me, I'll forever know Deron McBee as Garret Bodine in his breakout movie, The Killing Zone.
FUN FACTOR: 7.8
Point Break 2 has "Top 10 Unintentional Comedy Movie" written ALL over it. Call your friends up, get some cheap alcohol and enjoy! Hell, while we're at it, I'll give you you're drinking rules.
Drink every time there's an over-the-top political joke involving The Bush Administration
Drink every time someone uses an outdated "surfer term" ie: Boss, Radical
Drink every time you're reminded that Gary Busey is out of his mind
Take a shot for every C-List celebrity that appears in the movie
Take a shot every time someone shoots their guns in the air and yell "AH!"
Put the song "She's like the Wind On" and then finish the bottle if Swayze shows up
THE STORY
What's more futuristic than a second movie about trucks that could turn into robots here to protect our nation from alien life form? ANTI GRAVITY BOOTS: Boots that defy the "laws" of gravity. Besides Anti-Gravity boots, I guess maybe a second movie about trucks that could turn into robots here to protect our nation from alien life form IN 3D!According to Comingsoon.net
The "2008 ShoWest Edition" of the Dolby newsletter (in PDF format) has a list of upcoming 3-D releases and includes Transformers 2.... We're hearing that, although it's on the list, the sequel is not a lock yet for a 3-D Release. A final decision will be made based on the availability of Digital 3-D and IMAX 3-D screens. The big problem facing the Transformers sequel is that Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs comes out just five days later and would rule out a majority of the Digital 3-D Screens.
It should be noted that it hasn't been clarified if the ENTIRE movie would be in 3D or just parts of it.
THE THOUGHT PROCESS:
BREAK OUT THE CHAMPAGNE! THEY'RE MAKING A THIRD ICE AGE MOVIE! VIVA ROMANO!
I'd really be shocked if the studios couldn't come up with some kind of compromise here: Hollywood isn't going to let a conflict in schedule get in the way of them making 15 bucks a ticket off of us opposed to ten. So, I think we're safe, we'll be able to see both Ice Age and Transformers in our local IMAX theaters in the near future. The first movie was fine enough. Action packed, entertaining.... buuuuut it was a bit long. Couldn't we ask him to chill on these 2 and a half hour epics? Could that 45 minute car chase in the second Bad Boys movie be cut down just a tad? And even though I appreciated it's efforts to be campy, sometimes I thought it went a little too far.
FUN FACTOR: 9
After seeing U23D I'll pretty much see anything in 3D. Which reminds me; if you haven't seen U23D and it's playing anywhere near you still, see it. You don't even have to like U2 (though it certainly helps). 3D is the future. And I don't mean this to be"Get me out of here! The Train is coming at me!" 3D is the logical next step to HD: it brings depth to the next step (and it's a RIDICULOUSLY big step. So big that you'd probably be better off calling for one of those electronic old lady seats that you can sit in and it'll bring you up and down the stairs so you won't have to miss Becker ).
I'm sure the 3D elements, regardless of how much there is will be amusing enough. Of course, if Bay wanted to make this movie into a full 10 on the Fun Factor he'd unleash THE LION and give us the face-melting metal version of the Transformers theme.
