Kicking & Screaming

elephant1978 · 05-14-2005, 07:34 PM

As many of you know, I worked on this film last year...as some of you also know, there were a lot of firings and re-hirings (for which my entry-level ass got caught in the middle of) and studio drama. I'm not sure I want to get into those things just yet. But I'm curious if anybody saw this movie.

Obviously, I was curious and I went. Myself, and ten other people in the theater, were subjected to an absolutely horrific and unfunny movie. This is Ladybugs II. It's exactly what the original director wanted to avoid. Furthermore, it's Will Ferrell (who's a sweatheart in real life) at his unfunniest. It's not the subject matter, it's the presentation. It almost looks like his performance was in there, but when you see the film supported by a cheeseball score and overly sentimental kids' stuff, the film becomes shmaltzy.

I have to blame the director for this one, despite that some will say I'm bitter. But his vision was sillier, goofier, cornier, and blander. It stripped a lot of the real feelings and heart out of it. This was supposed to be Bad News Bears, not Ladybugs. There are some changes from the draft that I read before the firings...but the draft I read was very solid. The guys did a great job on it. Funny stuff. And it had a great arch for Will's character...and the supporting characters as well. So I don't blame them. By default, it has to be the director. But it's all pointless now. I don't even know if it would be that much better with the original vision of the original director. Some scenes were left unchanged and were directed similarly to the original concept and they still sucked.

Well...it still would been a little better.

Ele...

billythrilly7 · 05-14-2005, 07:51 PM

Sorry Ele...

http://www.sallyminker.com/art/2-d/i...apes-print.jpg

elephant1978 · 05-14-2005, 08:11 PM

Haha, Billy!

But, seriously. This movie blows.

Ele...

billythrilly7 · 05-14-2005, 08:14 PM

I don't doubt that it does.

Pen Dragon · 05-14-2005, 08:20 PM

From the clips I've seen it doesn't look like they even had a script, just told Ferrell to stand on the touchline and mug incessent adlibs. Another quickie travesty attributed to an SNL alumni. Not even remotely enticing

elephant1978 · 05-14-2005, 08:43 PM

Again, the script was pretty damn solid. At least when we went into production. It was a great example of structure and character in a comedy. Furthermore, it didn't come off as a "kids" movie. There were a lot of issues of competition, one-up-manship, and father-son relations. It was the kind of script you'd want to see going into production. Very complete.

On the downside, it was long. A lot of Duvall's stuff was cutdown. The movie was far less about Will and Duvall's relationship as it had been in the original production draft. A lot was removed from the final version. And it did hurt it. But given the drama that went on behind the scenes, I doubt anybody was going to put up much of a fight against making the changes.

Ele...

Salazkin · 05-14-2005, 09:11 PM

I don't suppose you got any footage of the behind-the-scenes drama?

taurbabe · 05-14-2005, 10:57 PM

Elephant... do you work in movies? What did you do on this movie? I also work on movies. I'm an Extra's Wrangler.

billythrilly7 · 05-14-2005, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taurbabe

I'm an Extra's Wrangler.

"Do you know how long we're gonna be here today?"

taurbabe · 05-14-2005, 11:15 PM

I hear that over and over all day long... they're just like little kids. Even after I explain to them that they are there for 12 hours and they get paid for it.
They still constantly ask questions. When do we get to play? How much longer do we have to wait? I have to go to the bathroom. I'm bored.

05-14-2005, 07:34 PM	#1
elephant1978 Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,757	Kicking & Screaming As many of you know, I worked on this film last year...as some of you also know, there were a lot of firings and re-hirings (for which my entry-level ass got caught in the middle of) and studio drama. I'm not sure I want to get into those things just yet. But I'm curious if anybody saw this movie. Obviously, I was curious and I went. Myself, and ten other people in the theater, were subjected to an absolutely horrific and unfunny movie. This is Ladybugs II. It's exactly what the original director wanted to avoid. Furthermore, it's Will Ferrell (who's a sweatheart in real life) at his unfunniest. It's not the subject matter, it's the presentation. It almost looks like his performance was in there, but when you see the film supported by a cheeseball score and overly sentimental kids' stuff, the film becomes shmaltzy. I have to blame the director for this one, despite that some will say I'm bitter. But his vision was sillier, goofier, cornier, and blander. It stripped a lot of the real feelings and heart out of it. This was supposed to be Bad News Bears, not Ladybugs. There are some changes from the draft that I read before the firings...but the draft I read was very solid. The guys did a great job on it. Funny stuff. And it had a great arch for Will's character...and the supporting characters as well. So I don't blame them. By default, it has to be the director. But it's all pointless now. I don't even know if it would be that much better with the original vision of the original director. Some scenes were left unchanged and were directed similarly to the original concept and they still sucked. Well...it still would been a little better. Ele...

05-14-2005, 07:51 PM	#2
billythrilly7 Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: In a dark, cold place with no doors Posts: 7,165	Re: Kicking & Screaming Sorry Ele... http://www.sallyminker.com/art/2-d/i...apes-print.jpg

05-14-2005, 08:11 PM	#3
elephant1978 Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,757	Re: Kicking & Screaming Haha, Billy! But, seriously. This movie blows. Ele...

05-14-2005, 08:14 PM	#4
billythrilly7 Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: In a dark, cold place with no doors Posts: 7,165	Re: Kicking & Screaming I don't doubt that it does.

05-14-2005, 08:20 PM	#5
Pen Dragon Banned Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,550	Re: Kicking & Screaming From the clips I've seen it doesn't look like they even had a script, just told Ferrell to stand on the touchline and mug incessent adlibs. Another quickie travesty attributed to an SNL alumni. Not even remotely enticing

05-14-2005, 08:43 PM	#6
elephant1978 Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,757	Re: Kicking & Screaming Again, the script was pretty damn solid. At least when we went into production. It was a great example of structure and character in a comedy. Furthermore, it didn't come off as a "kids" movie. There were a lot of issues of competition, one-up-manship, and father-son relations. It was the kind of script you'd want to see going into production. Very complete. On the downside, it was long. A lot of Duvall's stuff was cutdown. The movie was far less about Will and Duvall's relationship as it had been in the original production draft. A lot was removed from the final version. And it did hurt it. But given the drama that went on behind the scenes, I doubt anybody was going to put up much of a fight against making the changes. Ele...

05-14-2005, 09:11 PM	#7
Salazkin Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,538	Re: Kicking & Screaming I don't suppose you got any footage of the behind-the-scenes drama?

05-14-2005, 10:57 PM	#8
taurbabe Regular Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 279	Re: Kicking & Screaming Elephant... do you work in movies? What did you do on this movie? I also work on movies. I'm an Extra's Wrangler.

05-14-2005, 11:15 PM	#10
taurbabe Regular Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 279	Re: Kicking & Screaming I hear that over and over all day long... they're just like little kids. Even after I explain to them that they are there for 12 hours and they get paid for it. They still constantly ask questions. When do we get to play? How much longer do we have to wait? I have to go to the bathroom. I'm bored.

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