It looks like they've mothballed the reported remake of Drop Dead Fred (DDF) starring Russell Brand (no news since this initial 2009 report). But whether this gets rebooted or not, it's a prime example of Hollywood CONSIDERING a remake of a movie that clearly doesn't need to get remade. The original did little at the box office, wasn't well reviewed and probably isn't even remembered by 95% of the movie-going public. And yet somewhere, in some SoCal backlot, it was contemplated that DDF 2.0 needed to "get got". This is clearly an industry that is completely out of ideas at times and I will strike your face if you suggest this would merely be a chance to get DDF "right" this time around.
A lot of movies exist in the cultural vacuum of their time and would seem trite, mundane, plodding or irrelevant if modernized (the discussed remake of The Crow comes to mind). Comedy might be the ultimate genre to fall victim to this theory, since a lot of film humour demands context. To be considered funny on a wide scale, a film (or comedy, in general) relies on the viewer to make certain concessions to the period when the film was made, in terms of pacing, costume, cinematography, etc. Even humour that is somewhat timeless (i.e. not topical) can seem really dated based on factors outside the material itself. For example, it's hard not to focus on Jerry Seinfeld's feathered locks even though his inane "observations" are as funny and poignant in 2011 as they were in 1985.
OK, clearly what I'm trying to get at here is a passionate discussion of a theoretical Police Academy franchise reboot. Loose math.
Honestly, I'm surprised this hasn't happened yet (update???) since (A) Police Academy was required viewing for all children born in the 1970s and (B) a lot of key Hollywood decision makers fall within this bracket. Yes, the humour was a little blue, a little tasteless but what 8-year old didn't ROFL when Hooks pulled out her considerable piece and uttered, "Don't move, dirtbag!!!" In retrospect, I'm not sure why this is even funny, especially considering that it was so predictable since she did this in the final 10 minutes of each installment. And yet goddamit, this might've been the most often repeated movie for 7-8 years olds between the years 1985 and 1988. It spoke to us.
But revisit the second paragraph and gauge whether any of this is still funny. I'm on the fence.
Notable for the impressive view count and the fact the young man looks like Wheels
I don't really get why this is funny at all. Also, the music is uplifting and the actor who played Tackleberry is dead.
The animated version, featuring a theme by the underrated Fat Boys.
Akademie 3
Here is a rundown of casting for the franchise reboot, featuring new players in key roles:
Steve Guttenberg => Paul Rudd as Cadet Carey Mahoney
Kim Cattrall, Collen Camp, Janet Jones and others => Elisa Cuthbert as token blonde officer/love interest
Bubba Smith => John Salley as Cadet Moses Hightower
Michael Winslow => David Alan Grier as Cadet Larvell Jones
David Graf => Patrick Warburton as Cadet Eugene Tackleberry
Bruce Mahler => Ed Helms as Cadet Douglas Fackler
Marion Ramsey => Frangela as Cadet Laverne Hooks + 1 twin sister (a rare 1-for-2 fakeout)
G. W. Bailey => Lewis Black as Lt. Thaddeus Harris
Lance Kinsey => TJ Miller as Sgt. Proctor
George Gaynes => Ted Danson as Cmndt. Eric Lassard
Howard Hesseman => John Lithgow as Capt. Peter 'Pete' Lassard
Tim Kazurinsky => Jeffrey Asch as Cadet Sweetchuck
Brian Tochi => Bobby Lee as Cadet Tomoko Nogata
Bobcat Goldthwait => Andy Dick as Cadet Zed
Bye.
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