Obsessed With Film

Are women stopping a THREE STOOGES movie?

The Farrelly Brothers and Ben Stiller have a new movie out this weekend, THE HEARTBREAK KID. I think this might be the quietest buzz I’ve ever heard for one of their flicks. Remember a decade ago when they were seen in the same stature as Judd Apatow… and it seemed like whatever they would touch would turn to gold?

The only reason to see their newest release from where I’m sitting is to see what Malin Akerman can do before she dons the short skirt of The Silk Spectre in WATCHMEN, although to judge her ability on a performance in a Farrelly Brothers film would be a little unfair.

What next then for the Farrelly Brothers? Well, last October we told you that First Look Studio’s had acquired their pitch for THE THREE STOOGES, an updated new take on the slapstick comedy trio which at one time was in development at Warner Brothers but for whatever reason it never got made.

Speaking to Coming Soon, Peter Farelly says they are having problems with a THREE STOOGES movie once again, this time because of the studio’s belief that women aren’t interested in seeing three guys clowning around…

“It’s one of those things that’s just been tricky,” he said. “The studios all feel like women won’t go see it. I don’t agree. ‘Dumb and Dumber’ wasn’t a chick flick, but eventually women got in there. Also, they don’t think it’s going to be big overseas because no one knows of it, but again, nobody knew about ‘Dumb and Dumber.’ We are going to do it eventually.”

13 years ago, DUMB AND DUMBER made nearly $250 million worldwide, which obviously would translate to a much larger figure in 2007.

There’s no doubt in my mind that if they cast three actors with superb chemistry then there is huge potential here. Putting a story together though I believe is the trickiest part. Remember, the original trio only made shorts and not feature length stories… the Farelly Brothers have to come up with a reason to bring them to the big screen or it will fall apart as quick as THE DUKES OF HAZZARD remake did.

I don’t think they have to worry too much about the female audience. The inevitable casting of Ben Stiller and the rest of the frat pack would make this movie a hit and draw with the female crowd, albeit making it exactly the same as every other Ben Stiller flick of recent time.

categories - Comedy

2 Comments »

I wouldn’t go see a Three Stooges movie, but it’s not because I don’t like The Three Stooges. It’s that there is no way they can cast actors and write a story that would live up to the original Three Stooges.

Comment by Christine | September 29, 2007
I would go, but only if they didn’t try too hard to BE the Three Stooges. I once saw a movie that was an update of the marx brother’s “A Night at the Opera” and was done very well, because while they were funny, they didn’t try to BE the brothers.

Comment by Mike Reed | December 17, 2007