Recycled Material

“No Strings Attached” starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman is a cute comedy- love story about boy meets girl, boy looses girl, boy gets girl back. This is your standard principle of writing a romantic comedy. Most of these films share the same base. However, what makes this film story unique is targeting the idea of no actual relationship commitment, rather than, just sex with that one favorite person of yours, that also happens to be your friend. Predictable as it is… that is what a committed relationship is all about! Strong Friendship and Great Sex. Am I wrong?
This film, directed by Ivan Reitman, had a production budget of $25 million dollars, and once released made $19 mil. in the opening week. Now its gross tops out to roughly $145 mil. worldwide. Not bad- given its redundant story line and very predictable script.
Released in January 2011- this film didn’t make much of an impression in the long running sense- people dont remember and quote it, such as one might do for a film like “Knocked Up”, released in 2007.
This film centers around the same idea. Guy meets girl, guy gets girl, guy looses girl, guy tries to get girl back. It’s unique targeting was one-night-stand resulting in pregnancy. This film, written directed and produced by Judd Apatow, had a production budget of $30 million. Within its opening weekend it paid out its budget to a little bit over $30 million. Overall gross worldwide topped at $219 million. Yet much more memorable even though it did not have such the attractive cast as “No Strings Attached”.

Currently in post production is a film titled “Friends With Benefits”, starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. This film is almost identical to “No Strings Attached”. Except instead of LA, it is based in NYC, and instead of Kutcher, we have Timberlake. Same story line. Enjoying sex while admitting to only be friends. This film, directed by Will Gluck ( “Easy A”) is expected to come out to theaters early summer. But then again, what makes one go to the theater to see an already done film? What makes THIS film worth seeing?

The bottom line is, Hollywood is on a recycled material bender, of recreating what has already been done. Why? Is it fear that an original idea will be so out of left field for viewers and confuse them of their expectancy ? Do you think people are so inclined to pay 12$ for a film they have already seen- versus a film that might be a mind blowing experience of new ideas?
What is it Hollywood? What are you afraid of ?

This goes for just about any film genre really. And not only is it the recreating of the same film, but plenty of adaptations from books older films or even cartoons.

Raja Gosnell (Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Never Been Kissed) adapted the cartoon “The Smurfs” and is taking these little blue creatures into the real world of New York City. Starring Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays. This film has had a series of animation issues in post production. It’s early marketing threw off reviewers expecting the film’s release date much sooner than it actually is.- July 29th. What happened here? Why the long winded process to get this film done? This film’s budget has not been released yet to the general public, however it has been in Post Production since early December. Its original trailer came out at the end of last summer. What is the expectancy rate to see this film? I can imagine high, given that people are curious to see what has taken so long..

Superhero films tend to have the same recycled feel, to the point that they have become comedies. Such as the recent release of “Green Hornett” and “Kick Ass”. The new edition to this is ” Green Lantern”- starring Ryan Reynolds as this green- spandex-wearing superhero.

Why did Avatar explode in the theaters? That story had nothing to do with a redundant idea. Indeed, James Cameron has developed a whole new world for us viewers, and kept this world from us until the right time came and technology development arrived so he can present us with this CGI invested special effects driven world of an Avatar. Now that is a good idea. Much like the recent film “Limitless”, directed by Neil Berger( The Illusionist) – although, in my opinion this film was not executed properly given its unique blend of story.

So, once again, I ask… Where are those ballsy enough to write a script full of original ideas and present it on the big screen?