I ain't afraid of no ghost
January 27, 2015 3:59 PM Subscribe
Last October, director Paul Feig announced he was working on Ghostbusters 3 along with the writer of The Heat, Katie Dippold, and said it "will star hilarious women". Today, the all-female cast of the Ghostbusters reboot was announced: SNL alum (and star of Bridesmaids) Kristen Wiig, two current SNL performers Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, and star of The Heat & Bridesmaids, Melissa McCarthy. The movie starts shooting this Summer.
This will be really great, Paul Feig is an amazing director, I loved the shit out of Heat and Bridesmaids, I think this one will be amazing too.
posted by mathowie at 4:03 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by mathowie at 4:03 PM on January 27, 2015
The movie starts shooting this Summer.
NOT SOON ENOUGH. Why is this not out now? I demand it to be out now.
posted by Etrigan at 4:07 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
NOT SOON ENOUGH. Why is this not out now? I demand it to be out now.
posted by Etrigan at 4:07 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Neat.
posted by boo_radley at 4:07 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by boo_radley at 4:07 PM on January 27, 2015
Yaaaayyyyyyyyy *Muppet flail*
posted by skycrashesdown at 4:07 PM on January 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 4:07 PM on January 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
It's *cough* The Heat. Not to be mistaken with Heat, which is a different mismatched buddy movie.
posted by alexoscar at 4:10 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by alexoscar at 4:10 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Thanks Alexoscar. I was about to start screaming about Michael Mann...
posted by Thistledown at 4:11 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Thistledown at 4:11 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Melissa McCarthy! WooHoo!
posted by jonmc at 4:12 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 4:12 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
Kate McKinnon is about the only reason I watch SNL any longer.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 4:13 PM on January 27, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 4:13 PM on January 27, 2015 [14 favorites]
I'm a little sad because I was really pulling for Chelsea Peretti to be in it but I'm OK with this casting.
posted by wabbittwax at 4:15 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 4:15 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
potsmoke: I love Kate best too, who wouldn't, but no love for Cecily?
I like this casting, Leslie Jones hasn't been funny on SNL yet this year but neither has anyone else, ZING! (I love SNL, will always watch, but the past 2 seasons are the worst since I started watching waaaay 25 years back).
posted by Cosine at 4:16 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I like this casting, Leslie Jones hasn't been funny on SNL yet this year but neither has anyone else, ZING! (I love SNL, will always watch, but the past 2 seasons are the worst since I started watching waaaay 25 years back).
posted by Cosine at 4:16 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Previously.
This sounds great - I hope they do a good remake, fingers crossed.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:17 PM on January 27, 2015
This sounds great - I hope they do a good remake, fingers crossed.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:17 PM on January 27, 2015
Ah, but could Chelsea Peretti be the new Janine? She's one of a very few women I think could fill Annie Potts' shoes.
posted by angeline at 4:17 PM on January 27, 2015 [16 favorites]
posted by angeline at 4:17 PM on January 27, 2015 [16 favorites]
I bet they are ditching the part where Venkman asks the librarian if she is menstruating.
posted by Renoroc at 4:17 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by Renoroc at 4:17 PM on January 27, 2015
the new Janine
As long as they are gender swapping, a friend on Twitter recommended Billy Eichner in the role and I think that would be kind of awesome.
posted by mathowie at 4:19 PM on January 27, 2015 [17 favorites]
As long as they are gender swapping, a friend on Twitter recommended Billy Eichner in the role and I think that would be kind of awesome.
posted by mathowie at 4:19 PM on January 27, 2015 [17 favorites]
I'm a little sad because I was really pulling for Chelsea Peretti to be in it
Heck, Chelsea Peretti could still make for a pretty entertaining ancillary character, ala Rick Moranis's Louis Tully, or maybe Slimer.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:20 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Heck, Chelsea Peretti could still make for a pretty entertaining ancillary character, ala Rick Moranis's Louis Tully, or maybe Slimer.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:20 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, I like Cecily, but she doesn't do the crazy eyes quite like Kate. Or Justin Bieber.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 4:20 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 4:20 PM on January 27, 2015
I'd buy a ticket right now if I could.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
the new Janine
John Mulaney.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
John Mulaney.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
angeline: " the new Janine?"
Danny Devito please and thank you.
posted by boo_radley at 4:27 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
Danny Devito please and thank you.
posted by boo_radley at 4:27 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
Why are they rebooting Ghostbusters? Just make a new movie with ladies that catch Ghosts. Or something. Why ride on the coattails of nostalgia?
I like the ladies involved but I can't imagine this not sucking.
posted by HarveyDenture at 4:29 PM on January 27, 2015 [10 favorites]
I like the ladies involved but I can't imagine this not sucking.
posted by HarveyDenture at 4:29 PM on January 27, 2015 [10 favorites]
If the new Dana Barrett is played by Ron Funches, this will be my new favorite movie.
posted by dogwalker at 4:29 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by dogwalker at 4:29 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
Also a little Judy Greer somewhere wouldn't go amiss.
posted by angeline at 4:30 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by angeline at 4:30 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
This casting news is like when somebody makes a dream cast of something online and you say "shut up and take my money" except they will eventually really take your money.
When Kristen Wiig is the least funny of your foursome, you've got yourself a solid cast.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:31 PM on January 27, 2015 [20 favorites]
When Kristen Wiig is the least funny of your foursome, you've got yourself a solid cast.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:31 PM on January 27, 2015 [20 favorites]
I really hope Jamie Denbo and Jessica Chaffin end up in this too.
posted by saladin at 4:34 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by saladin at 4:34 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hmm hmmm yes I am totes ok with gender-swap reboots of pretty much anything. Looking forward to this.
posted by Doleful Creature at 4:40 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Doleful Creature at 4:40 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Do you still fail the Bechdel Test if your female characters talk to each other about a male ghost? Because if not, slam dunk.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:40 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:40 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Why ride on the coattails of nostalgia?
Because every other movie in Hollywood that's not a franchise is based on reboots and/or nostalgia. If the reaction here is any indicator, it works, too.
posted by blucevalo at 4:44 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Because every other movie in Hollywood that's not a franchise is based on reboots and/or nostalgia. If the reaction here is any indicator, it works, too.
posted by blucevalo at 4:44 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Why are they rebooting Ghostbusters? Just make a new movie with ladies that catch Ghosts. Or something. Why ride on the coattails of nostalgia?
I like the ladies involved but I can't imagine this not sucking.
Welcome to Hollywood!
posted by sideshow at 4:48 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I like the ladies involved but I can't imagine this not sucking.
Welcome to Hollywood!
posted by sideshow at 4:48 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I apparently have exactly the opposite reaction to McCarthy as most people. I find her completely unwatchable.
Even my serious love of the other three -- all of whom I love to distraction and would ordinarily pay to see read their grocery lists -- is not enough to get me into a Ghostbusters reboot with McCarthy.
posted by uberchet at 4:51 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
Even my serious love of the other three -- all of whom I love to distraction and would ordinarily pay to see read their grocery lists -- is not enough to get me into a Ghostbusters reboot with McCarthy.
posted by uberchet at 4:51 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
Why are they rebooting Ghostbusters?
It's a well loved movie that made lot of money.
Just make a new movie with ladies that catch Ghosts. Or something. Why ride on the coattails of nostalgia?
It's a well loved movie that made lot of money.
Otherwise, every article I've read says this isn't definite, just very likely, so I'm not cheering just yet, but it sounds really promising.
Could use more black people in it though, since we're rebooting and all that.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:51 PM on January 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
It's a well loved movie that made lot of money.
Just make a new movie with ladies that catch Ghosts. Or something. Why ride on the coattails of nostalgia?
It's a well loved movie that made lot of money.
Otherwise, every article I've read says this isn't definite, just very likely, so I'm not cheering just yet, but it sounds really promising.
Could use more black people in it though, since we're rebooting and all that.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:51 PM on January 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
The women are absolutely crushing it on SNL this year.
posted by Sphinx at 4:52 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Sphinx at 4:52 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
This is a reboot like Star Trek under JJ Abrams is — they say it'll be a new universe not based on the previous movies and they will make more films in this new series if the first one does well.
posted by mathowie at 4:56 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by mathowie at 4:56 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
If McCarthy can't fucking swear through this fucker then I don't fucking know what she's going to fucking do.
posted by clvrmnky at 4:57 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by clvrmnky at 4:57 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
I want to see who they think could be the male Sigourney Weaver.
posted by Uniformitarianism Now! at 4:57 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Uniformitarianism Now! at 4:57 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
or just have sigourney weaver
posted by twist my arm at 4:59 PM on January 27, 2015 [46 favorites]
posted by twist my arm at 4:59 PM on January 27, 2015 [46 favorites]
The cynical side of me suspects that Hollywood will set this movie up to fail so that they can point it at anytime anybody wants more diversity in casting.
posted by Pyry at 5:03 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by Pyry at 5:03 PM on January 27, 2015
I want to see who they think could be the male Sigourney Weaver.
I say just get Sigourney Weaver. The gender wasn't super-important, except for Bill Murray's somewhat bullying romantic stylings, which would not be missed.
posted by maxsparber at 5:14 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
I say just get Sigourney Weaver. The gender wasn't super-important, except for Bill Murray's somewhat bullying romantic stylings, which would not be missed.
posted by maxsparber at 5:14 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
Bill Murray cameo in 3...2...
posted by ostranenie at 5:17 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by ostranenie at 5:17 PM on January 27, 2015
I love half of this cast and think the other half is the opposite of funny. Crap.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:19 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:19 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
The idea of hearing a woman character--a doctorate-holding woman ghost hunter no less!--deliver the line, "Back off, man, I'm a scientist" fills me with utter glee.
posted by Monsters at 5:20 PM on January 27, 2015 [14 favorites]
posted by Monsters at 5:20 PM on January 27, 2015 [14 favorites]
I want to see who they think could be the male Sigourney Weaver.
Bill Murray. The part of Dana Barrett will be played by Bill Murray. Or Idris Elba.
posted by IRFH is not dead yet at 5:20 PM on January 27, 2015 [10 favorites]
Bill Murray. The part of Dana Barrett will be played by Bill Murray. Or Idris Elba.
posted by IRFH is not dead yet at 5:20 PM on January 27, 2015 [10 favorites]
Ghostbusters II wasn't enough for y'all to realize that some things are better left as one-offs?
I'm willing to be proven wrong, but this does not sound promising at all.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
I'm willing to be proven wrong, but this does not sound promising at all.
posted by IndigoJones at 5:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai~ *flails around excitedly*
posted by Deoridhe at 5:24 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Deoridhe at 5:24 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
The cynical side of me suspects that Hollywood will set this movie up to fail so that they can point it at anytime anybody wants more diversity in casting.
If the big studios found out that reboots of 80s comedies with all-female casts were easy moneymakers, Blues Sisters and The Three Amigas would start production tomorrow.
posted by the jam at 5:24 PM on January 27, 2015 [19 favorites]
If the big studios found out that reboots of 80s comedies with all-female casts were easy moneymakers, Blues Sisters and The Three Amigas would start production tomorrow.
posted by the jam at 5:24 PM on January 27, 2015 [19 favorites]
Bill Murray's somewhat bullying romantic stylings
Somewhat? The man showed up to a first date with a syringe full of tranq.
posted by Cosine at 5:26 PM on January 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
Somewhat? The man showed up to a first date with a syringe full of tranq.
posted by Cosine at 5:26 PM on January 27, 2015 [11 favorites]
I guess this could be fun but I could barely make it through the trailer for The Heat so I don't have very high expectations.
posted by octothorpe at 5:29 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 5:29 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I can't wait. This will be so much fun.
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 5:30 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by 80 Cats in a Dog Suit at 5:30 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
The cast may be strong but I get the feeling that this is (a) going to be toothless comedically (b) overwrought with CGI a la RIPD (c) as pointless and contrary to the original film as the recent Robocop and Total Recall reboots were.
It's not the Comediennes- I'm sure that Wiig and McCarthy will do their best, and pull it up to slightly-better than mediocre through talents alone. It's the writers and the studios and the climate of reboots. We are, all of us, going to forget Ghostbuster 3 about six months after it comes out.
posted by LeRoienJaune at 5:31 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's not the Comediennes- I'm sure that Wiig and McCarthy will do their best, and pull it up to slightly-better than mediocre through talents alone. It's the writers and the studios and the climate of reboots. We are, all of us, going to forget Ghostbuster 3 about six months after it comes out.
posted by LeRoienJaune at 5:31 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Idris Elba would make a fine Sigourney. But...would he be the Gatekeeper or the Keymaster??? And who would be a sufficiently schlubby girl (or boy!) to be his counterpart/pathetic stalker/accountant?
So many questions. Wonderful wonderful questions. I hope they don't make it suck.
posted by emjaybee at 5:34 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
So many questions. Wonderful wonderful questions. I hope they don't make it suck.
posted by emjaybee at 5:34 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Janine = Patton Oswalt
posted by zippy at 5:34 PM on January 27, 2015 [27 favorites]
posted by zippy at 5:34 PM on January 27, 2015 [27 favorites]
I'm intrigued by this idea, just because there are several things I can think of that will need to be changed because of the gender swap, but also because I'm sure there's a million other little things I'm not thinking of and I want to see the movie to catch those. Basically, I want to live in the universe where there is both a male Ghostbusters and a female Ghostbusters.
I think Chelsea Peretti could be awesome as the EPA person, though we're going to have to find a different joke.
posted by nubs at 5:46 PM on January 27, 2015
I think Chelsea Peretti could be awesome as the EPA person, though we're going to have to find a different joke.
posted by nubs at 5:46 PM on January 27, 2015
I nominate Miranda Hart for Louis Tully.
posted by Sara C. at 5:48 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Sara C. at 5:48 PM on January 27, 2015 [5 favorites]
And who would be a sufficiently schlubby girl (or boy!) to be his counterpart/pathetic stalker/accountant?
basically this question is "who is the modern-day janeane garofalo"
posted by poffin boffin at 5:51 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
basically this question is "who is the modern-day janeane garofalo"
posted by poffin boffin at 5:51 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
I was bummed to learn that Paul Feig was directing this. He strikes me as a guy with a good ear for funny dialog and can work well with improvising actors, but doesn't have much of a style beyond that (see Tony Zhou's, How to Do Visual Comedy). No doubt there will be funny moments, but my fear is that it will end up feeling like Supernatural Bridesmaids or The Supernatural Heat.
posted by bstreep at 5:53 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by bstreep at 5:53 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
On the one hand: female ensemble comedy. On the other hand: Ghostbusters reboot. Hard call.
posted by immlass at 5:57 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by immlass at 5:57 PM on January 27, 2015
"Let's make it official. Janelle Monae for Ghostbusters theme song remake. IT'S THE ONLY WAY."
RARELY DO I HIT THE RT BUTTON AS HARD AS I DID FOR THAT TWEET.
posted by sparkletone at 6:02 PM on January 27, 2015 [44 favorites]
RARELY DO I HIT THE RT BUTTON AS HARD AS I DID FOR THAT TWEET.
posted by sparkletone at 6:02 PM on January 27, 2015 [44 favorites]
Yeah, I can't wait for this. Even if it sucks it'll be good. And Patton Oswalt as Janine is genius.
posted by nevercalm at 6:09 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by nevercalm at 6:09 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
So worried about this one. I greatly enjoyed Bridesmaids, but The Heat was so fucking terrible that it was physically uncomfortable to watch.
It's hard to believe, but apparently several levels of moviemaker read "Melissa McCarthy throws a watermelon at a black guy" in the script, and no one came up with a better alternative.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 6:13 PM on January 27, 2015
It's hard to believe, but apparently several levels of moviemaker read "Melissa McCarthy throws a watermelon at a black guy" in the script, and no one came up with a better alternative.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 6:13 PM on January 27, 2015
Ok, but Janine wasn't just "sarcastic secretary" she was very very New York and helped give the movie it's very location-specific flavor. I don't know that Oswalt can do that.
That was part of the charm of the original; it was a semi-love-letter to the city as well as a ghost-hunting buddy film. The character actors were very important to making that happen.
posted by emjaybee at 6:16 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
That was part of the charm of the original; it was a semi-love-letter to the city as well as a ghost-hunting buddy film. The character actors were very important to making that happen.
posted by emjaybee at 6:16 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
I'd like to see the Lovecraftiness dialed up to 11 because I love monsters and cosmic alien brainwipe bigness... even though in the end it's all subverted because: 1) female protagonists (not an HPL strength) and 2) humanity prevails.
(However, if the earth were cleared, and humanity did get wiped out, that would be an awesome courageous ending, but super problematic because of the "see? what did I tell ya" Monday-morning quarterbacking.)
Anyway, upcoming movies I'm interested in seeing are:
* this one
* ... nothing else comes to mind right now
posted by kurumi at 6:18 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
(However, if the earth were cleared, and humanity did get wiped out, that would be an awesome courageous ending, but super problematic because of the "see? what did I tell ya" Monday-morning quarterbacking.)
Anyway, upcoming movies I'm interested in seeing are:
* this one
* ... nothing else comes to mind right now
posted by kurumi at 6:18 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
More importantly, idk that he can do it without descending into uncomfortable ethnic stereotype stuff.
posted by poffin boffin at 6:19 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by poffin boffin at 6:19 PM on January 27, 2015
The Three Amigas would be a 80s remake in several ways.
posted by Bromius at 6:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [18 favorites]
posted by Bromius at 6:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [18 favorites]
The vital thing here is to declare whether you think this will be the greatest thing ever OR if it will suck boney donkey tails--they read all internet comments before making a Hollywood movie like this & decide based on popular opinion how good to make it.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:23 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:23 PM on January 27, 2015 [8 favorites]
Dan Ackroyd cameo as an erotic haunting.
posted by Artw at 6:29 PM on January 27, 2015 [17 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:29 PM on January 27, 2015 [17 favorites]
basically this question is "who is the modern-day janeane garofalo"
There is a new law that Carrie Brownstein must be in everything.
posted by Artw at 6:32 PM on January 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
There is a new law that Carrie Brownstein must be in everything.
posted by Artw at 6:32 PM on January 27, 2015 [6 favorites]
Blues SistersYes! Yes! Jesus H. Tap-Dancing Christ I have seen the light!
posted by books for weapons at 6:35 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Dan Ackroyd cameo as an erotic haunting.
Fred Garvin's ghost!
posted by zippy at 6:40 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Fred Garvin's ghost!
posted by zippy at 6:40 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Blues Sisters
We're on a mission from Goddess.
posted by Drinky Die at 6:41 PM on January 27, 2015 [12 favorites]
We're on a mission from Goddess.
posted by Drinky Die at 6:41 PM on January 27, 2015 [12 favorites]
Melissa McCarthy gets to be the Venkman one, right?
posted by gusandrews at 6:43 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by gusandrews at 6:43 PM on January 27, 2015
If Oswalt is unavailable, Jeanine = Christian Bale, because he would method-act da fuq out of that character, which would be awesome.
posted by zippy at 6:47 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by zippy at 6:47 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
the jam: "Blues Sisters"
I would watch the crap out of this movie. Or really any female buddy road movie. Or heck buddy road movies in general; they seem to be lacking from the blockbuster circuit lately. But especially Blues Sisters. Though I'm not sure how successful the Roman Catholic school humour would be.
posted by Mitheral at 6:58 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
I would watch the crap out of this movie. Or really any female buddy road movie. Or heck buddy road movies in general; they seem to be lacking from the blockbuster circuit lately. But especially Blues Sisters. Though I'm not sure how successful the Roman Catholic school humour would be.
posted by Mitheral at 6:58 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Aziz Ansari for Janine.
posted by pxe2000 at 7:00 PM on January 27, 2015 [18 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 7:00 PM on January 27, 2015 [18 favorites]
Seconding John Mulaney for Janine. He's the perfect combination of pleasant and off-putting.
posted by kafziel at 7:16 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by kafziel at 7:16 PM on January 27, 2015
OMG WRITING BLUES SISTERS RIGHT NOWWWWWWWWW
(or should I say, doing another pass on my shitty-ass female buddy comedy road movie screenplay to make it a Blues Brothers homage instead of a Planes Trains And Automobiles ripoff)
posted by Sara C. at 7:16 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
(or should I say, doing another pass on my shitty-ass female buddy comedy road movie screenplay to make it a Blues Brothers homage instead of a Planes Trains And Automobiles ripoff)
posted by Sara C. at 7:16 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Melissa McCarthy gets to be the Venkman one, right?
Obvs.
In my dream casting, Wiig would be the Aykroyd, Leslie Jones would be the Spengler, and Kate MacKinnon would be the Winston.
However, you know Leslie Jones = Winston because execs gonna exec.
posted by Sara C. at 7:18 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Obvs.
In my dream casting, Wiig would be the Aykroyd, Leslie Jones would be the Spengler, and Kate MacKinnon would be the Winston.
However, you know Leslie Jones = Winston because execs gonna exec.
posted by Sara C. at 7:18 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
No, Melissa McCarthy should be the Dan Ackroyd character. She's done the abrasive wiseass thing enough. She would be really fun as the slightly naive true-believer type. Kristen Wiig could do Venkman but from her I'd rather have some hardcore Egon Spengler behavior. "I collect spores, molds, and fungus." Real wrath of God type stuff.
posted by wabbittwax at 7:18 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 7:18 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
I was 8 when the original Ghostbusters came out, and it is a seminal work in my twisted sense of humor. I don't need a remake, I *am*. But I have daughters, and am delighted at the thought that it could twist them just like dear old dad. Here's to hoping it is a success.
I really hope this isn't just the same script with these actresses aping the old parts, which were written to particular actors. There could be four hilarious new parapsychologists!
posted by nickggully at 7:31 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I really hope this isn't just the same script with these actresses aping the old parts, which were written to particular actors. There could be four hilarious new parapsychologists!
posted by nickggully at 7:31 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I want to believe that this will live up to the potential it has. Canary-in-the-coalmine for this will be whether they get to still all be PhDs. If they're a high school teacher, a stay-home mom, and a sexy hacker, I will be super pissed.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:47 PM on January 27, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:47 PM on January 27, 2015 [9 favorites]
Will we get to see a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Woman?
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 7:48 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 7:48 PM on January 27, 2015
The woman who wrote The Heat is apparently writing this, so it shouldn't be too embarrassing. But I could see them starting as cops or civil servants or teachers and not scientists, even so.
I mean obviously they should be scientists. And they've given the job to someone who has shown that she will write women in traditionally male careers. But again, execs gonna exec.
posted by Sara C. at 7:49 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
I mean obviously they should be scientists. And they've given the job to someone who has shown that she will write women in traditionally male careers. But again, execs gonna exec.
posted by Sara C. at 7:49 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
OMG I can't wait to see Kristen Wiig the hippy woo woo true believer reading everyone's tarot cards in a bad impression of either Professor Trelawney or Miss Cleo (or possibly both).
Kate MacKinnon as women's studies professor specializing in the Spiritualist Movement.
Please don't let them make Leslie Jones the sassy black friend
please
pls
posted by Sara C. at 7:51 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Kate MacKinnon as women's studies professor specializing in the Spiritualist Movement.
Please don't let them make Leslie Jones the sassy black friend
please
pls
posted by Sara C. at 7:51 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
I Ain't Afraid of 51% of Ghosts (Diesel Sweeties).
posted by wintersweet at 8:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by wintersweet at 8:22 PM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wasn't Winston just an unemployed dude looking for any old job? It'd be great if McKinnon was like an Uber driver who had her licensed revoked and just needs some work. (Despite the execs exec-ing I am on board with McKinnon as Winston.)
posted by dogwalker at 8:28 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by dogwalker at 8:28 PM on January 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
According to the lore, Winston was a former marine and a Ph.D. but this got cut from the movie.
posted by RobotHero at 8:35 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by RobotHero at 8:35 PM on January 27, 2015
I do think it would probably be best to just invent four new characters who bust ghosts because otherwise people will be constantly comparing them like the new Star Trek.
posted by RobotHero at 8:37 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by RobotHero at 8:37 PM on January 27, 2015
I think that's fair, and a decent shot at what it will be. I don't know how much I buy it if they aren't scientists of some sort though.
posted by dogwalker at 8:42 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by dogwalker at 8:42 PM on January 27, 2015
This is how I will feel if this comes to pass and is good.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:58 PM on January 27, 2015
posted by ocherdraco at 8:58 PM on January 27, 2015
The woman who wrote The Heat is apparently writing this
What if the new setting is Boston
posted by kurumi at 9:04 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
What if the new setting is Boston
posted by kurumi at 9:04 PM on January 27, 2015 [2 favorites]
Is it Ghostbusters 2?
posted by emelenjr at 9:20 PM on January 27, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by emelenjr at 9:20 PM on January 27, 2015 [10 favorites]
it "will star hilarious women" and Kristen Wiig as well*
*The only redeeming sketch for Wiig on SNL was the Lawrence Welk singer.
posted by dhens at 10:09 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
*The only redeeming sketch for Wiig on SNL was the Lawrence Welk singer.
posted by dhens at 10:09 PM on January 27, 2015 [3 favorites]
Please, please please don't mess with the theme tune. Just use the original, OK?
posted by dowcrag at 12:09 AM on January 28, 2015
posted by dowcrag at 12:09 AM on January 28, 2015
Please, please please don't mess with the theme tune. Just use the original, OK?
THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL SONG, FINE. THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL RECORDING OF THAT SONG, NO. THERE IS A BETTER WAY.
posted by sparkletone at 12:32 AM on January 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL SONG, FINE. THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL RECORDING OF THAT SONG, NO. THERE IS A BETTER WAY.
posted by sparkletone at 12:32 AM on January 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
I really hope Rebel Wilson is mixed up in all this too. Because there's always room for a random Australian with an unexplained back story. Possibly playing the Mayor of New York.
posted by Sonny Jim at 1:21 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Sonny Jim at 1:21 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Replace Wiig with Rebel Wilson and I am fully onboard
Potomac Avenue is right, they totally read these threads
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:16 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Potomac Avenue is right, they totally read these threads
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:16 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Bill Murray's somewhat bullying romantic stylings
Somewhat? The man showed up to a first date with a syringe full of tranq.
We watched the original Ghostbusters as our family film recently & I spent the first half thinking "oh god, what have I done" watching Bill Murray's pushy borderline PUA-style pickup routine. His character is at least partially redeemed for me by the fact that when he has the opportunity to have rampant sex with the object of his affections he flatly refuses on the grounds that she isn't of sound mind†. A teachable moment!
†The possibility that she might eat his soul post coitus might well had some influence on his decision making process though.
posted by pharm at 2:19 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
In all my years of watching Ghostbusters it has never once occurred to me to wonder where Venkman got the Thorazine. I'm now re-examining my life.
posted by wabbittwax at 4:49 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by wabbittwax at 4:49 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
So am I the only one who is disappointed in this, then? Kate McKinnon and Melissa McCarthy have always struck me as terribly one-note, and I don't remember anytime that Leslie Jones didn't Turn it up to 11 (although that may just be a function of SNL).
posted by graphnerd at 5:31 AM on January 28, 2015
posted by graphnerd at 5:31 AM on January 28, 2015
I'd really like it if this existed in the same universe as the original. I think it would be really fun if they stopped by Ray's occult bookstore to pick up the latest copy of Tobin's Spirit Guide.
I also really like the idea upthread about McCarthy being the wide-eyed true believer. I think there could be some good material if she and Aykroyd got into an emphatic discussion with the other three looking on with confused expressions.
posted by Fleebnork at 5:35 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
I also really like the idea upthread about McCarthy being the wide-eyed true believer. I think there could be some good material if she and Aykroyd got into an emphatic discussion with the other three looking on with confused expressions.
posted by Fleebnork at 5:35 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Leslie Jones is going to ruin it, given half the chance. She's terrible. Consistently terrible. At least as an actress. She may be a great writer, but she's going to ruin it acting.
posted by cashman at 5:36 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by cashman at 5:36 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
So am I the only one who is disappointed in this, then?
I am, only for the fact that if Paul Feig is involved, the movie will be 45 minutes to an hour longer than it needs to be.
posted by Dr-Baa at 5:36 AM on January 28, 2015
I am, only for the fact that if Paul Feig is involved, the movie will be 45 minutes to an hour longer than it needs to be.
posted by Dr-Baa at 5:36 AM on January 28, 2015
I totally called 50% of this cast. Granted, it was the 50% that was very easy to predict, but I stand by my ability to cast a Ghostbusters movie. Therefore, I say Hodgman. John Hodgman as Janine
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 5:42 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 5:42 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm against reboots on principle, but this sounds absolutely lovely. It may even be the very first time where I will excited for the inevitable immersion-breaking cameos!
posted by 256 at 6:26 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by 256 at 6:26 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Leslie Jones has a higher laugh-to-skit ratio than almost anyone on SNL these days. She was the one name of these that surprised and delighted me.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:59 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:59 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wait, are they rebooting, or just making a sequel?
Please just make a sequel set in *our* Ghostbusters universe of Zuul and Venkman and Slimer. The guys are all old, or dead, or sucked into a netherportal, and so NY needs new ghostbusters.
Is that so hard?
posted by General Tonic at 7:11 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Please just make a sequel set in *our* Ghostbusters universe of Zuul and Venkman and Slimer. The guys are all old, or dead, or sucked into a netherportal, and so NY needs new ghostbusters.
Is that so hard?
posted by General Tonic at 7:11 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I found Wiig kind of muggy and tiresome when my only exposure was the occasional contemporary SNL skit I'd catch, but then that goes for a lot of folks on SNL; I ended up rewatching a whole bunch of the 2000-2010 episodes more recently on Netflix after listening to a lot of post-mortem SNL/comedy chatter on Comedy Bang! Bang! and it turned me around on a lot of SNL folks in general and her in particular. Taking SNL in bulk as kind of an anthropological study in the weird living hell that is producing a weekly sketch comedy show for national television is really pretty interesting, and humanizes a lot of the dumb or half-baked stuff that actually hits the screen on Saturday nights and the people working behind it. When you stop treating the show as a failed attempt to deliver grade A comedy and start looking at it as a goddam hurricane that people are trapped in, it gets a lot more interesting and looking at the strained seems is engaging instead of annoying.
But so, yeah, at this point I really dig her; I think she's funny as hell, and capable of a lot of subtlety when that's actually allowed. Grim and not super focused though it was, she and Bill Hader were both great as actual living breathing fucked up non-comedian human beings in The Skeleton Twins.
Anyway, I'm like 110% for this whole thing. It's not like we need to wring our hands over the possibility of soiling the memory of Ghostbusters 2.
posted by cortex at 7:18 AM on January 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
But so, yeah, at this point I really dig her; I think she's funny as hell, and capable of a lot of subtlety when that's actually allowed. Grim and not super focused though it was, she and Bill Hader were both great as actual living breathing fucked up non-comedian human beings in The Skeleton Twins.
Anyway, I'm like 110% for this whole thing. It's not like we need to wring our hands over the possibility of soiling the memory of Ghostbusters 2.
posted by cortex at 7:18 AM on January 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
Yeah the idea that Leslie Jones shouldn't be in this because she "is too one-note" and "can't act" is....
ummmmmmm
did you guys hear Jimmy Fallon has his own late night talk show now?
posted by Sara C. at 7:18 AM on January 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
ummmmmmm
did you guys hear Jimmy Fallon has his own late night talk show now?
posted by Sara C. at 7:18 AM on January 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
Treating the first movie as a formula for success doesn't seem like such a successful idea.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:19 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:19 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I would like to add to the chorus hoping Chelsea Peretti gets a role, but really wish Aisha Tyler was cast in one of the main roles.
posted by 6ATR at 7:33 AM on January 28, 2015
posted by 6ATR at 7:33 AM on January 28, 2015
Why do people think this is a good idea? Ghostbusters is a great movie and, like many other great movies, doesn't need a remake. Great cast and everything but why can't they find their own movie to do? Something they write, something original?
posted by kernel_sander at 7:34 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by kernel_sander at 7:34 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Because every time Hollywood makes an original movie with an all-female cast, they make every excuse for why it wasn't "really" successful and how it's an exception and does not in any way prove that women should be allowed to star in movies.
Let them throw the full reboot treatment at it, and see if now they get the fucking point.
posted by Sara C. at 7:38 AM on January 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
Let them throw the full reboot treatment at it, and see if now they get the fucking point.
posted by Sara C. at 7:38 AM on January 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
Why do people think this is a good idea?
Because a lot of people find these actresses funny and love the original flick, so why not a modern update? At the worst, the trailers are terrible and people skip or people see a crappy movie. No big loss either way.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:45 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Because a lot of people find these actresses funny and love the original flick, so why not a modern update? At the worst, the trailers are terrible and people skip or people see a crappy movie. No big loss either way.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:45 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Did anyone say this yet? Janine = Jon Hamm. C'mon. You know I'm right.
posted by amanda at 7:46 AM on January 28, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by amanda at 7:46 AM on January 28, 2015 [8 favorites]
Can he wear thick-rimmed glasses for most of the flick, then take them off and do a hair flip when he meets Louisa Tully?
posted by wabbittwax at 8:03 AM on January 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 8:03 AM on January 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
It just occurred to me also that they probably shouldn't do any version of the scene where the Stay Puft marshmallow man explodes and covers everyone in white goop...
posted by wabbittwax at 8:06 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by wabbittwax at 8:06 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
He absolutely should wear his glasses on a chain.
posted by amanda at 8:26 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by amanda at 8:26 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I predict this movie will still somehow fail the bechdel test.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 9:01 AM on January 28, 2015
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 9:01 AM on January 28, 2015
I would be thrilled to contribute to a Kickstarter for Kristen Wiig to just retire already. To the Moon or something. Time for one-trick ponies to be put out to pasture.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:03 AM on January 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:03 AM on January 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
Tilda Swinton as EPA guy.
I wasn't crazy about Wiig on SNL but she's been really great in her subsequent movie career, IMO.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:11 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I wasn't crazy about Wiig on SNL but she's been really great in her subsequent movie career, IMO.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:11 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wow, sorry to be the naysayer but I see this totally bombing. I thought people couldn't stand Wiig and McCarthy. Especially McCarthy.. did anyone see Identity Thief or the absolutely pathetic and dreadful Tammy? She's revolting and obnoxious sure, but that's not comedy for me. I would've been down with Kaitlin Olson or something, but this Wiig/McCarthy thing really turns me off of the whole idea.
posted by ReeMonster at 9:16 AM on January 28, 2015
posted by ReeMonster at 9:16 AM on January 28, 2015
I thought people couldn't stand Wiig and McCarthy.
I think you're wrong about this. I think their really successful careers are proof of that.
posted by zutalors! at 9:19 AM on January 28, 2015 [9 favorites]
I think you're wrong about this. I think their really successful careers are proof of that.
posted by zutalors! at 9:19 AM on January 28, 2015 [9 favorites]
I think their really successful careers are proof of that.
Having a really successful career in show business means nothing. By that rationale, Dane Cook is a great comedian and M. Night Shammy-wipe is a great director!
posted by ReeMonster at 9:23 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Having a really successful career in show business means nothing. By that rationale, Dane Cook is a great comedian and M. Night Shammy-wipe is a great director!
posted by ReeMonster at 9:23 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
It means they can get movies made with their names attached, so people apparently can not only stand them but enjoy their work. Also can we not with making fun of M.Night Shyamalan's name? Long ethnic names are hilars, got it.
posted by zutalors! at 9:26 AM on January 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 9:26 AM on January 28, 2015 [7 favorites]
Wow, sorry to be the naysayer but I see this totally bombing. I thought people couldn't stand Wiig and McCarthy.
Bridesmaids made $169M off a budget of $32.5M. Tammy made $84M off a budget of $20M. Identity Thief made $134M off a budget of $35M. That's around $300M in profit, and even if you take advertising out of it, they're making a lot of money for studios. People apparently can stand Wiig and McCarthy.
I'm willing to entertain the idea that they might not make good movies (I liked Bridesmaids, haven't seen the other two), but they definitely make successful ones.
posted by Etrigan at 9:38 AM on January 28, 2015 [9 favorites]
Bridesmaids made $169M off a budget of $32.5M. Tammy made $84M off a budget of $20M. Identity Thief made $134M off a budget of $35M. That's around $300M in profit, and even if you take advertising out of it, they're making a lot of money for studios. People apparently can stand Wiig and McCarthy.
I'm willing to entertain the idea that they might not make good movies (I liked Bridesmaids, haven't seen the other two), but they definitely make successful ones.
posted by Etrigan at 9:38 AM on January 28, 2015 [9 favorites]
Yea I didn't say anything about "great" I just said that it's not true that no one can stand them so this will totally bomb. Their commercial success is massive proof of that.
posted by zutalors! at 9:45 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by zutalors! at 9:45 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Slimer was famously based on John Belushi, I'd love to see a similar ghostly shout-out to Harold Ramis in this one.
posted by doctornecessiter at 9:47 AM on January 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by doctornecessiter at 9:47 AM on January 28, 2015 [4 favorites]
Ok, but Janine wasn't just "sarcastic secretary" she was very very New York and helped give the movie it's very location-specific flavor. I don't know that Oswalt can do that.
JGL in his premium Rush "youse guises" accent.
posted by The Whelk at 10:36 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
JGL in his premium Rush "youse guises" accent.
posted by The Whelk at 10:36 AM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
The awesome thing about how so many people hate Melissa McCarthy and wish she would be replaced in all movies by a hot blond girl from a dude-centric sitcom is that this makes it very easy to play Spot The Sexism.
posted by Sara C. at 10:57 AM on January 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Sara C. at 10:57 AM on January 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
I can't like this post hard enough.
posted by Flipping_Hades_Terwilliger at 11:01 AM on January 28, 2015
posted by Flipping_Hades_Terwilliger at 11:01 AM on January 28, 2015
So I don't want to get into spoilers for a movie that hasn't started yet, but the latest I read somewhere where one of the 4 characters was an MTA employee among the other Ghostbusting PhDs, and Leslie Jones is NOT going to be the MTA employee, and that this was such a god awful relief is very sad.
(But if it is true, it is another plus in my column for this movie.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:47 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
(But if it is true, it is another plus in my column for this movie.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:47 AM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think McCarthy has to be the sassy blue-collar audience surrogate, doesn't she?
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:02 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:02 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Or maybe wisecracking, rather than sassy?
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:02 PM on January 28, 2015
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:02 PM on January 28, 2015
"So worried about this one. I greatly enjoyed Bridesmaids, but The Heat was so fucking terrible that it was physically uncomfortable to watch."
How anyone can hate a movie that includes the incredulous line "Who closes the door to take a shit?" is beyond me. The Heat was fucking hilarious. It's a shame that most other things that I've seen McCarthy in (outside of Bridesmaids) have stuck her in the fat girl is fat role (see also: Rebel Wilson's horrible, horrible sitcom, which seemed like a concerted effort to destroy any affection anyone felt for her after Pitch Perfect).
posted by klangklangston at 12:03 PM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
How anyone can hate a movie that includes the incredulous line "Who closes the door to take a shit?" is beyond me. The Heat was fucking hilarious. It's a shame that most other things that I've seen McCarthy in (outside of Bridesmaids) have stuck her in the fat girl is fat role (see also: Rebel Wilson's horrible, horrible sitcom, which seemed like a concerted effort to destroy any affection anyone felt for her after Pitch Perfect).
posted by klangklangston at 12:03 PM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
The only treatment I heard that excited me was the idea that the original Ghostbusters are now a "brand", and the new gals are a franchise of the original. It would be great to imagine them attending a franchise seminar where they get a handbook from global Ghostbusters HR, and get to watch a short film about the business featuring founder and CEO Dr. Peter Venkman (because you know that Murray will want a cameo in this just to spite Aykroyd for all those years of trying to make GB3 happen).
On the other hand, I feel like I'm one of the only people out there who hated Bridesmaids. I found Kristin Wiig's character to be completely abhorrent the entire time, and thought Maya Rudolph's character forgave her too easily. The bridal shower scene is one of the worst things I've ever seen in a movie. Plus, it wasn't funny.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 12:11 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
On the other hand, I feel like I'm one of the only people out there who hated Bridesmaids. I found Kristin Wiig's character to be completely abhorrent the entire time, and thought Maya Rudolph's character forgave her too easily. The bridal shower scene is one of the worst things I've ever seen in a movie. Plus, it wasn't funny.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 12:11 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Ghostbusters have been absorbed into the DoHS and are basically supernatural TSA agents now.
posted by The Whelk at 12:19 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 12:19 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
If it's a franchise, I want Annie Potts' Janine to be the one handling franchise licensing.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:24 PM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 1:24 PM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yeah the idea that Leslie Jones shouldn't be in this because she "is too one-note" and "can't act" is....
ummmmmmm did you guys hear Jimmy Fallon has his own late night talk show now?
Fallon's a bad comparison because I'm not sure anyone would argue he's a good actor. But being a talk show host is a job where his enthusiasm works and he's allowed to laugh at his own jokes.
I am concerned about casting Leslie Jones because I've seen the least range from her. But I'm willing to lay the blame on SNL going for the easy joke most of the time (she's quite large and can shout).
posted by Gary at 2:00 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
ummmmmmm did you guys hear Jimmy Fallon has his own late night talk show now?
Fallon's a bad comparison because I'm not sure anyone would argue he's a good actor. But being a talk show host is a job where his enthusiasm works and he's allowed to laugh at his own jokes.
I am concerned about casting Leslie Jones because I've seen the least range from her. But I'm willing to lay the blame on SNL going for the easy joke most of the time (she's quite large and can shout).
posted by Gary at 2:00 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't like remakes in general, but I raised my expectations to ambivalent if it means we might get some new toys/LEGO, and a new cartoon.
Speaking of the cartoons, am I the only one that remembers the first woman ghostbuster? (depending if Janine is considered one or not)
posted by FJT at 2:00 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Speaking of the cartoons, am I the only one that remembers the first woman ghostbuster? (depending if Janine is considered one or not)
posted by FJT at 2:00 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah the idea that Leslie Jones shouldn't be in this because she "is too one-note" and "can't act" is....
Maybe I'm missing the boat. Share your top 10 Leslie Jones acting moments. Perhaps we can have a discussion and figure out where the disconnect is. Because I've watched SNL since the 80's and I've watched a bunch of things Leslie Jones has done on SNL in recent times and I can give you specifics and pinpoint all the problematic elements of her appearances. It's not going to be a "oh, she sucks". It's going to be a detailed breakdown of precisely what is going wrong, who it affects, and why it was a poor performance, choice or element of her appearance.
I'd likely be happy with her casting if I learned she beat out Glozell and Keenan dressing up as a woman, but that's probably it.
posted by cashman at 2:42 PM on January 28, 2015
Maybe I'm missing the boat. Share your top 10 Leslie Jones acting moments. Perhaps we can have a discussion and figure out where the disconnect is. Because I've watched SNL since the 80's and I've watched a bunch of things Leslie Jones has done on SNL in recent times and I can give you specifics and pinpoint all the problematic elements of her appearances. It's not going to be a "oh, she sucks". It's going to be a detailed breakdown of precisely what is going wrong, who it affects, and why it was a poor performance, choice or element of her appearance.
I'd likely be happy with her casting if I learned she beat out Glozell and Keenan dressing up as a woman, but that's probably it.
posted by cashman at 2:42 PM on January 28, 2015
On the other hand, I feel like I'm one of the only people out there who hated Bridesmaids. I found Kristin Wiig's character to be completely abhorrent the entire time, and thought Maya Rudolph's character forgave her too easily. The bridal shower scene is one of the worst things I've ever seen in a movie. Plus, it wasn't funny.
I didn't like it at all either, I was really surprised considering the amount of praise it has received. Haven't seen The Heat. (But after looking it up on IMDB, I am totally gonna watch it tonight.)
I was about to say, "Even though I didn't like Bridesmaids, I feel like Ghostbusters is just too good a concept to mess up and the casting is too good to fail." But now I guess I have to watch The Heat first before I can say that because it sounds too good to mess up too.
posted by Drinky Die at 2:48 PM on January 28, 2015
I didn't like it at all either, I was really surprised considering the amount of praise it has received. Haven't seen The Heat. (But after looking it up on IMDB, I am totally gonna watch it tonight.)
I was about to say, "Even though I didn't like Bridesmaids, I feel like Ghostbusters is just too good a concept to mess up and the casting is too good to fail." But now I guess I have to watch The Heat first before I can say that because it sounds too good to mess up too.
posted by Drinky Die at 2:48 PM on January 28, 2015
There are a lot of people who have a lot of long detailed lists of exactly why this or that female comedian isn't worthy to do a job she already got hired to do. Snooze.
posted by Sara C. at 3:10 PM on January 28, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Sara C. at 3:10 PM on January 28, 2015 [5 favorites]
I'm surprised on all the dislike of Melissa McCarthy. I like her on Gilmore Girls and I though The Heat was a pretty entertaining movie (though not watched through a cringing stereotype awareness filter).
posted by Mitheral at 3:18 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Mitheral at 3:18 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Annie Potts would make an awesome Janine.
posted by bstreep at 3:35 PM on January 28, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by bstreep at 3:35 PM on January 28, 2015 [5 favorites]
I'm not hating on Leslie because she's a woman, Sara C. I appreciate that a lot of times that is indeed what is going on when people have problems. But that's not what I'm doing. A lot of the issues I have with her, and with Kenan, is related to them being black, me being black, and how they are acting on television.
posted by cashman at 3:42 PM on January 28, 2015
posted by cashman at 3:42 PM on January 28, 2015
cashman, I think that a lot of what gets missed in Leslie's performances is that she's much stronger as the "straight man" in a sketch (she's a frigging metronome when it comes to keeping the timing going, for example) but her size and willingness to go slapstick make her a go-to when it comes to writing skits. Physical humor gets the laughs.
posted by echolalia67 at 4:01 PM on January 28, 2015
posted by echolalia67 at 4:01 PM on January 28, 2015
The awesome thing about how so many people hate Melissa McCarthy and wish she would be replaced in all movies by a hot blond girl from a dude-centric sitcom is that this makes it very easy to play Spot The Sexism.
Sure, but that doesn't actually make her funny or magically endow her with any actual range. Also, was that a reaction to anyone in this thread? Because I and others have suggested the former and not the latter.
posted by graphnerd at 4:30 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sure, but that doesn't actually make her funny or magically endow her with any actual range. Also, was that a reaction to anyone in this thread? Because I and others have suggested the former and not the latter.
posted by graphnerd at 4:30 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
You saying she's not funny doesn't magically make that true either
posted by zutalors! at 5:25 PM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by zutalors! at 5:25 PM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
People can disagree over whether she's funny.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:18 PM on January 28, 2015
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:18 PM on January 28, 2015
I'm afraid not. In my role as United States Comedy Arbiter, I have designated her as "Funny, but often undermined by weak material." The next period for public comment will come after the 2016 election, but I'm looking strong to retain the post. People who just don't find her funny are advised to lump it.
posted by klangklangston at 6:30 PM on January 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by klangklangston at 6:30 PM on January 28, 2015 [6 favorites]
Comedy is one of those things that either works for you or doesn't. Melissa McCarthy has never made me laugh even once but if she makes you laugh then that's great. There's not too many things more subjective than comedy.
posted by octothorpe at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2015
posted by octothorpe at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2015
A friend of mine wrote her (philosophy) dissertation on subjective properties, and funniness was the lead example, actually.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2015
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2015
Leslie Jones as the Ferguson traffic reporter in that cut Ferguson morning show sketch was so funny, I nearly had a stroke. And she was barely in the thing.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:54 PM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:54 PM on January 28, 2015 [2 favorites]
People can disagree over whether she's funny.
Yes that was my point.
Leslie Jones as the Ferguson traffic reporter in that cut Ferguson morning show sketch was so funny, I nearly had a stroke. And she was barely in the thing.
God yes.
posted by zutalors! at 7:01 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yes that was my point.
Leslie Jones as the Ferguson traffic reporter in that cut Ferguson morning show sketch was so funny, I nearly had a stroke. And she was barely in the thing.
God yes.
posted by zutalors! at 7:01 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
The clip
To quote Furious Styles, yeah there's a problem. It's just a shame you don't know what it is.
posted by cashman at 7:29 PM on January 28, 2015
To quote Furious Styles, yeah there's a problem. It's just a shame you don't know what it is.
posted by cashman at 7:29 PM on January 28, 2015
Stacey Nightmare tweets:
"Women make better Ghostbusters than men because we are used to caring about invisible problems no one else believes in."
posted by um at 7:56 PM on January 28, 2015 [5 favorites]
"Women make better Ghostbusters than men because we are used to caring about invisible problems no one else believes in."
posted by um at 7:56 PM on January 28, 2015 [5 favorites]
I wonder if they'll keep all the smoking. That surprised me when I recently rewatched it, this time with my kids. The good guys just don't smoke in PG movies any more. (Note: this is good.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:47 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:47 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
New All-Feminist Ghostbusters is a punch in the dick to all of mankind (Jezebel, taking on some terrible thing going around. And by terrible, I mean terribly funny, because dudes are seriously spending time defending the "right" for an 80s movie to be remade like it was before. How many of those same upset dudes would be pissed off that someone even bothered to remake the movie if it were a bunch of men who weren't the original cast?)
posted by filthy light thief at 9:21 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by filthy light thief at 9:21 PM on January 28, 2015 [1 favorite]
How many of those same upset dudes would be pissed off that someone even bothered to remake the movie if it were a bunch of men who weren't the original cast?
Err, have you seen nerd responses to every reboot ever? So far I've found the reactionary response in this case to be actually toned down compared to other situations. Starbuck being a woman got a ton of heat even though it turned out to be one of the best decisions they made for new BSG. I think the pure novelty factor of making them ALL women has left most people just plain curious more than upset.
posted by Drinky Die at 9:35 PM on January 28, 2015
Err, have you seen nerd responses to every reboot ever? So far I've found the reactionary response in this case to be actually toned down compared to other situations. Starbuck being a woman got a ton of heat even though it turned out to be one of the best decisions they made for new BSG. I think the pure novelty factor of making them ALL women has left most people just plain curious more than upset.
posted by Drinky Die at 9:35 PM on January 28, 2015
I'm super excited about McKinnon, McCarthy and Kristen Wiig. I love so many of their SNL moments.
posted by cashman at 4:43 AM on January 29, 2015
posted by cashman at 4:43 AM on January 29, 2015
she's much stronger as the "straight man" in a sketch (she's a frigging metronome when it comes to keeping the timing going, for example) but her size and willingness to go slapstick make her a go-to when it comes to writing skits.
This is one of the reasons I'm most looking forward to seeing her in a film rather than on SNL, which I think is just a total outlier in terms of what comedy performance is about nowadays. SNL is really only like SNL, and it has the constraints that only SNL has, and has certain pitfalls for performers just on account of the weird phenomenon that it is.
See for instance Jenny Slate, who fucking hilarious but bombed out of SNL hard. Or really any of the long list of brilliant comedians of all sexes, races, ages, etc. who got fired from that show.
posted by Sara C. at 7:39 AM on January 29, 2015 [5 favorites]
This is one of the reasons I'm most looking forward to seeing her in a film rather than on SNL, which I think is just a total outlier in terms of what comedy performance is about nowadays. SNL is really only like SNL, and it has the constraints that only SNL has, and has certain pitfalls for performers just on account of the weird phenomenon that it is.
See for instance Jenny Slate, who fucking hilarious but bombed out of SNL hard. Or really any of the long list of brilliant comedians of all sexes, races, ages, etc. who got fired from that show.
posted by Sara C. at 7:39 AM on January 29, 2015 [5 favorites]
"The Heat was so fucking terrible that it was physically uncomfortable to watch."
I disagree. Two words; "Tracheotomy scene". I laughed so hard that I actually hurt myself.
posted by quin at 10:13 AM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I disagree. Two words; "Tracheotomy scene". I laughed so hard that I actually hurt myself.
posted by quin at 10:13 AM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Re; "The Heat": As a native Bostonian, the "ARE YOU A NARC" scene left me short of breath I was laughing so hard.
posted by rmd1023 at 10:41 AM on January 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 10:41 AM on January 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
I don't know Jones or McKinnon since I don't watch SNL these days, but people who like Jones -- if she's a good straight-man, would she be a good Egon? (I realize they probably won't just slot them all into the old characters, but it's entertaining to think about alternative ways of doing those characters.)
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:50 AM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:50 AM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
1. I thought Bridesmaids sucked, but mostly because of the script. The worst I can say about Wiig and McCarthy is that they failed to rescue it.
2. The Heat was somewhere between okay and pretty good.
3. Seriously, why in God's name do we need a Ghostbusters reboot?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:59 PM on January 29, 2015
2. The Heat was somewhere between okay and pretty good.
3. Seriously, why in God's name do we need a Ghostbusters reboot?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:59 PM on January 29, 2015
Why do we need any movie? I didn't need The Lego Movie, but I sure liked having it.
But, if we can be said to need anything, we do need movies that have strong female leads in the sorts of roles that have historical been limited to men. This is one way to do that. It's not the only one, but seems like a good one to me. I mean, Dan Ackroyd viewed Ghostbusters as a potential franchise, with all sorts of different groups of Ghostbusters in all sorts of stories, and he's happy with the cast, so I have no complaints.
posted by maxsparber at 1:03 PM on January 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
But, if we can be said to need anything, we do need movies that have strong female leads in the sorts of roles that have historical been limited to men. This is one way to do that. It's not the only one, but seems like a good one to me. I mean, Dan Ackroyd viewed Ghostbusters as a potential franchise, with all sorts of different groups of Ghostbusters in all sorts of stories, and he's happy with the cast, so I have no complaints.
posted by maxsparber at 1:03 PM on January 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
I apparently have exactly the opposite reaction to McCarthy as most people. I find her completely unwatchable.
I think McCarthy is a very talented actress & comic who makes some really awful job choices. Which seem to often make her a lot of money, so, whatever I guess - she's no less entitled to success than anyone else. But you know, this could describe me:
hate Melissa McCarthy and wish she would be replaced in all movies by a hot blond girl from a dude-centric sitcom
because then at least the dissonance might make all the fat jokes - both the words and the portrayal of heavy people as stupid buffoons - actually funny. As it is they're just awful and I feel bad that a talented actor doesn't have better equally well paying work she could pick.
Wiig, on the other hand, I do find unwatchable. That's clearly just a personal taste thing, given how many other people find her so great, but I was pretty interested to see this all-female Ghostbusters thing before and now I think on video will be soon enough. If at all.
posted by phearlez at 1:09 PM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think McCarthy is a very talented actress & comic who makes some really awful job choices. Which seem to often make her a lot of money, so, whatever I guess - she's no less entitled to success than anyone else. But you know, this could describe me:
hate Melissa McCarthy and wish she would be replaced in all movies by a hot blond girl from a dude-centric sitcom
because then at least the dissonance might make all the fat jokes - both the words and the portrayal of heavy people as stupid buffoons - actually funny. As it is they're just awful and I feel bad that a talented actor doesn't have better equally well paying work she could pick.
Wiig, on the other hand, I do find unwatchable. That's clearly just a personal taste thing, given how many other people find her so great, but I was pretty interested to see this all-female Ghostbusters thing before and now I think on video will be soon enough. If at all.
posted by phearlez at 1:09 PM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
But, if we can be said to need anything, we do need movies that have strong female leads in the sorts of roles that have historical been limited to men. This is one way to do that. It's not the only one, but seems like a good one to me.
Huh. I hadn't thought about it like that. I'm definitely all for more female-led movies, this one is just running into my kneejerk opposition to latter-day revivals of decades-old properties because they tend to be bad movies that could have been good (or at least better) ones if they'd been allowed to do their own thing. But you're absolutely right that just making a movie with female leads doesn't seem to have the impact of gender-flipping an established cast.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:17 PM on January 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Huh. I hadn't thought about it like that. I'm definitely all for more female-led movies, this one is just running into my kneejerk opposition to latter-day revivals of decades-old properties because they tend to be bad movies that could have been good (or at least better) ones if they'd been allowed to do their own thing. But you're absolutely right that just making a movie with female leads doesn't seem to have the impact of gender-flipping an established cast.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:17 PM on January 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm surprised we haven't had "GHOSTBUSTERS: THE MUSICAL" yet. It's a perfect musical theater reboot for latter-day Broadway: it has 80's nostalgia, a built-in fan base, potential for big production numbers with crazy stage fx.
posted by rmd1023 at 2:09 PM on January 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 2:09 PM on January 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
"Wiig, on the other hand, I do find unwatchable."
I found Wiig pretty unwatchable on SNL, but she's been good to great in everything I've seen with her since.
Likewise, I found Will Ferrell generally terrible on SNL and have liked most of his post-SNL stuff.
It's hard to tell from SNL who will be a Chris Rock and who will be a Chris Kattan.
posted by klangklangston at 3:59 PM on January 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
I found Wiig pretty unwatchable on SNL, but she's been good to great in everything I've seen with her since.
Likewise, I found Will Ferrell generally terrible on SNL and have liked most of his post-SNL stuff.
It's hard to tell from SNL who will be a Chris Rock and who will be a Chris Kattan.
posted by klangklangston at 3:59 PM on January 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
At the very least Chris Kattan has Mr. Feather from Undercover Brother on his resume. He may suck elsewhere, but in that, he was fantastic.
(That movie also deserves credit for bring Neil Patrick Harris back to the public's attention. He also stole every scene he was in, in it.)
posted by quin at 5:03 PM on January 29, 2015
(That movie also deserves credit for bring Neil Patrick Harris back to the public's attention. He also stole every scene he was in, in it.)
posted by quin at 5:03 PM on January 29, 2015
Oh god, no, he was the worst thing about Undercover Brother and that was a movie that had Denise Richards in it. He was Roxbury bad in it.
posted by klangklangston at 5:31 PM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 5:31 PM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think McCarthy is a very talented actress & comic who makes some really awful job choices. Which seem to often make her a lot of money
What the hell kind of job choices are you making?
posted by Artw at 6:01 PM on January 29, 2015 [4 favorites]
What the hell kind of job choices are you making?
posted by Artw at 6:01 PM on January 29, 2015 [4 favorites]
I feel pretty confident, Artw, that you don't actually think that a career choice is necessarily good because it results in a lot of money. I wouldn't quite call McCarthy's choices of roles - including ones she's made since reaching a level of career success where she surely has more offers than she has time to take them - unethical. But they certainly don't serve her talents and some of them are what I would call both-type-hostile, in particular her current tv role.
posted by phearlez at 7:29 AM on January 30, 2015
posted by phearlez at 7:29 AM on January 30, 2015
A lot of Melissa McCarthy joints are projects that seem like they could have been great ideas before the movies were actually made. There are a lot of good scripts that make shitty movies.
Also, wrt the "fatty fall down" potential of anything she does, I think it's worth considering that most people who do comedy aren't choosing their work based on social responsibility or especially what's appropriate for the right sort of people to laugh at. So many bigger performers actively seek out kind of problematic material, both because it's comfortable/in their wheelhouse (which I'm sure isn't helped by agents saying, "Look, Melissa, we all know why people think you're funny. Just go fall down and drop your slice of cake and take the paycheck,") and also because the goal is the LAUGH, not to spread a political message.
I'd also guess, in terms of Mike And Molly, that she was probably told it wasn't going to be that kind of comedy, and then it went to series, and it was that kind of comedy and she couldn't get out of it. You'd think with that kind of box office clout you'd be able to go over to Chuck Lorre's office and say "I'm not doing this!" but again for all we know Melissa McCarthy thinks that type of comedy is hilarious and has no particular problem with making more of it.
posted by Sara C. at 7:42 AM on January 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
Also, wrt the "fatty fall down" potential of anything she does, I think it's worth considering that most people who do comedy aren't choosing their work based on social responsibility or especially what's appropriate for the right sort of people to laugh at. So many bigger performers actively seek out kind of problematic material, both because it's comfortable/in their wheelhouse (which I'm sure isn't helped by agents saying, "Look, Melissa, we all know why people think you're funny. Just go fall down and drop your slice of cake and take the paycheck,") and also because the goal is the LAUGH, not to spread a political message.
I'd also guess, in terms of Mike And Molly, that she was probably told it wasn't going to be that kind of comedy, and then it went to series, and it was that kind of comedy and she couldn't get out of it. You'd think with that kind of box office clout you'd be able to go over to Chuck Lorre's office and say "I'm not doing this!" but again for all we know Melissa McCarthy thinks that type of comedy is hilarious and has no particular problem with making more of it.
posted by Sara C. at 7:42 AM on January 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
Dan Aykroyd: New 'Ghostbusters' Cast Is "Magnificent"
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:18 AM on January 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:18 AM on January 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
You'd think with that kind of box office clout you'd be able to go over to Chuck Lorre's office and say "I'm not doing this!" but again for all we know Melissa McCarthy thinks that type of comedy is hilarious and has no particular problem with making more of it.
Given that Tammy was supposedly her long-time dream project and a labor of love, I suspect that's closer to correct than not.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:30 AM on January 30, 2015
Given that Tammy was supposedly her long-time dream project and a labor of love, I suspect that's closer to correct than not.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:30 AM on January 30, 2015
Given that Tammy was supposedly her long-time dream project and a labor of love, I suspect that's closer to correct than not.
I'm also pretty sure that Chuck Lorre's oeuvre wasn't exactly a huge surprise to anyone by the time M&M was being cast. "What? Sexism and lowest common denominator humor in a Lorre show? Unpossible!"
posted by phearlez at 9:32 AM on January 30, 2015
I'm also pretty sure that Chuck Lorre's oeuvre wasn't exactly a huge surprise to anyone by the time M&M was being cast. "What? Sexism and lowest common denominator humor in a Lorre show? Unpossible!"
posted by phearlez at 9:32 AM on January 30, 2015
It's also probably worth noting that McCarthy's turn in St. Vincent is pretty amazing. She is the straight man; there are no fat jokes, no pratfalls, just a person in a bad place in her life having to deal with a neighbor (Bill Murray) who is an asshole.
A lot of people didn't like the film, which I don't actually get, but the performances by the three leads, particularly McCarthy are absolutely excellent.
So I would argue that she has quite a lot more in her than just one note characters, and that we've only just begun to see her full range. (For the record. I think she's brilliant in most of her films, so this serious role was just an impressive cap on a career that I already appreciate quite a bit.)
posted by quin at 9:35 AM on January 30, 2015
A lot of people didn't like the film, which I don't actually get, but the performances by the three leads, particularly McCarthy are absolutely excellent.
So I would argue that she has quite a lot more in her than just one note characters, and that we've only just begun to see her full range. (For the record. I think she's brilliant in most of her films, so this serious role was just an impressive cap on a career that I already appreciate quite a bit.)
posted by quin at 9:35 AM on January 30, 2015
A lot of people didn't like the film, which I don't actually get, but the performances by the three leads, particularly McCarthy are absolutely excellent.
I haven't seen that film yet, but that sounds about right, if you reverse things. Sometimes comedic actors just suck at drama, but there are also a lot of people who get off on laughing at people or 'enjoying' content when they can look down on them.
So you get some people who won't enjoy McCarthy in a good role where she comes off as a human being. Just like you'll have some people who love listening to rap when it's nonsense and full of over-the-top performances with none of the humanity of the person in sight, and those same people just sit there when it's Mos Def or any of a number of talented artists who are actually saying something over great music. Those same people who can't laugh when black people make potent, composed comedy just love it when we jump around and bug our eyes out like it was back in the days when they could spit on us and get away with it.
Anyway, I hadn't fully seen the ridiculous undercurrent (or tidal wave) of fools complaining about the cast of the movie because of sexist reasons. I just hope I run into one of those people in real life. 3 of the 4 are some of my favorite performers on television. I don't enjoy it when Melissa does the 'fatty fall down' thing referenced above. Mostly because to me she's just flat out funny for a bunch of different reasons that have nothing to do with weight. I love McKinnon so much that she's pretty much all I look for in skits. She's just 'off', for lack of a better word. Kind of how Method Man & Redman are just 'off'. Some people just have that weird spark, and she's got it. And Wiig, I just don't know how anyone hates her. I've loved her characters for so long, and I just think those "just kidding" performances from that character during the news were masterful. Even when I'm not getting anything out of a skit or a scene, Wiig just never can detract from it, if that makes sense. She's just solid. I'm excited for the film. I'll be in the theater opening night.
posted by cashman at 12:29 PM on January 30, 2015 [4 favorites]
I haven't seen that film yet, but that sounds about right, if you reverse things. Sometimes comedic actors just suck at drama, but there are also a lot of people who get off on laughing at people or 'enjoying' content when they can look down on them.
So you get some people who won't enjoy McCarthy in a good role where she comes off as a human being. Just like you'll have some people who love listening to rap when it's nonsense and full of over-the-top performances with none of the humanity of the person in sight, and those same people just sit there when it's Mos Def or any of a number of talented artists who are actually saying something over great music. Those same people who can't laugh when black people make potent, composed comedy just love it when we jump around and bug our eyes out like it was back in the days when they could spit on us and get away with it.
Anyway, I hadn't fully seen the ridiculous undercurrent (or tidal wave) of fools complaining about the cast of the movie because of sexist reasons. I just hope I run into one of those people in real life. 3 of the 4 are some of my favorite performers on television. I don't enjoy it when Melissa does the 'fatty fall down' thing referenced above. Mostly because to me she's just flat out funny for a bunch of different reasons that have nothing to do with weight. I love McKinnon so much that she's pretty much all I look for in skits. She's just 'off', for lack of a better word. Kind of how Method Man & Redman are just 'off'. Some people just have that weird spark, and she's got it. And Wiig, I just don't know how anyone hates her. I've loved her characters for so long, and I just think those "just kidding" performances from that character during the news were masterful. Even when I'm not getting anything out of a skit or a scene, Wiig just never can detract from it, if that makes sense. She's just solid. I'm excited for the film. I'll be in the theater opening night.
posted by cashman at 12:29 PM on January 30, 2015 [4 favorites]
I just sought out and watched it, I guess I'm the only person here who actually really liked Tammy? Because I thought it was wonderful.
posted by kafziel at 9:30 PM on January 31, 2015
posted by kafziel at 9:30 PM on January 31, 2015
To be fair, I've only seen about 45 minutes of it at a Thai restaurant that was also making bootleg DVDs.
posted by klangklangston at 11:51 PM on January 31, 2015
posted by klangklangston at 11:51 PM on January 31, 2015
I know that a lot of conversation on the Web in general is focused on how the movie shouldn't be made at all, or how it shouldn't be remade with female leads, but you know what I absolutely love about this discussion here on MeFi?
I love that we live in a day and age when a big, mainstream project is being made with enough name-recognizable female comedians that we can have a passionate debate about which ones we like and don't like on their own merits and according to our own tastes. That is so freaking cool!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:48 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
I love that we live in a day and age when a big, mainstream project is being made with enough name-recognizable female comedians that we can have a passionate debate about which ones we like and don't like on their own merits and according to our own tastes. That is so freaking cool!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:48 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
I was thinking about the same thing recently, and also about the fact that, at this point, there are enough female comedians in the public eye that a movie like this can be made, can be very well-cast, and then there are still zillions of other female comedians that are not in this movie who are also very funny and well-known. Whereas I feel like even five years ago this whole project would have hinged on whether Amy Poehler and Tina Fey wanted to do it, and the studio would have had a hard time casting the other two roles.
posted by Sara C. at 9:50 AM on February 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Sara C. at 9:50 AM on February 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
I mean not that Fey and Poehler were the only female comedians five years ago (obviously), but they were the only ones who'd have been understood to be able to carry a big tentpole movie like this.
posted by Sara C. at 9:52 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Sara C. at 9:52 AM on February 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by erinfern at 4:01 PM on January 27, 2015 [11 favorites]