Most movies and stories start from nothing. Just an idea in the head of a writer for a character or a story and it gets fleshed out from there. Some movies get “based” on something. Either a true story, or something from another medium like a comic book or novel or even video game. So why not go all the way and start a story based on… a bubblegum comic… like Bazooka Joe.
Yes, that’s right friends. That little comic strip that would be on the inside of your bubblegum wrapper is apparently set to get the big screen treatment. The folks over at Cinematical give us this:
Michael Eisner (who owns Topps, the co. that makes the gum) and his Tornante Co. are producing, and they’ve grabbed newcomer and fresh film graduate Mark Hammer to pen the script. Why a super-fresh newcomer? It seems that he had a spec that was so killer, it got him this gig.
So its safe to say they’re going to build the movie around the CHARACTER of Bazooka Joe ranther than the STORY of Bazooka Joe. Fair enough.
Honestly I don’t see any problem with this. It’s just a character, its their starting point, they’ll build something around it. Not sure how this is any different than starting with just a blank piece of paper.
I’ll give something like this a better chance at “success” than a video game movie any day since developing a video game movie come with a truck load of preconditions that the studios feel they have to meet (ie. You have to include this character, you have to include this event, you have to include this tag line, you have to include this action, you have to include this plot point, etc etc etc).
Well, sweet… Someone will love this and I can’t wait to tell her about this. Thanks again…
Damn I was just about to pitch my Alexander The Grape movie!
I think there is some precedent for kids candy in a movie.
Remember the Garbage Pail Kids Movie?
And remember how that turned out?
Anyway, can’t wait for the Big League Chew movie to come out.
I stand firm in the belief that ANY idea for a film has the potential to be great, as much as it has the potential to be horrible.
Novel, TV show, comic book, video game, bubblegum comic… anything could be a source for an intelligent and fleshed out story. A few decades ago, would anyone have imagined that a film as intelligent and successful as Dark Knight could have been inspired by something as “silly” as a kids comic?
Will this be any good? Who knows. But I would never write off a films potential based simply upon it’s source material.
I want to se a CRUNCH movie. Nestle crunch bars are so provocative.
Nic Cage as Bazooka Joe? He could dye his mullet/wig platinum blonde. He’ll be perfect.
WTF? Most of the jokes on the comic weren’t even funny and when you bit into the gum it was as hard as a rock.
My teeth would always hurt after chewing this gum.
For one moment I thought it was a joke.
The next moment I was skeptical.
A minute has since passed and aside from the needed yet gratuitous product placement, HELL YES this is a brilliant idea.
Sadly, if they make it and at it is a hit, then will we get big screen versions of:
* The Honeycomb Hideout?
* The Adventures of the Geico Gekko Lizard? (Note: We DID get the short lived Caveman show)
* M&M World?
* The Taster’s Choice couple: Where Are They Now?
Just wonderin’?
Personally I am hoping for either a Jolly Green Giant movie, a Keebler Elves movie, or dare I say it… a Pillsbury Doughboy movie!
Maybe they will consider a film about the gecko from the GEICO commercials as well.
Nice retort, John. I agree. It’s fascinating how many consumers view the film industry. It often strikes me as a horribly dysfunctional relationship.
Eisner: We’re making a movie about Bazooka Joe.
Board Member: THE BUBBLEGUM GUY?!
Eisner: Yes, all comics are getting adapted into film now.
Board: $50million approved for Bazooka Joe movie.
G R E E D
What do you mean “GREED”?
Are you suggesting they’re making the movie to make money?
Can you point me to a movie that WASN’T made to make money? I haven’t found one yet.
The Anniversary. Clearly just for the art.
John, i think what bigsampson meant was that Eisner is just capitalizing on the life of Bazooka Joe. See Bazooka Joe lived a long storied life that involved torment, love, heartbreak and misadventures. The story of his eye alone will require 6 peter jackson length films. A movie about bazooka joe can’t be done for profit or increased bubblegum sales, it should only be done for the betterment of mankind by showing us the status of the human condition through Joe’s existentialist life.