As Hollywood agencies and production companies increasingly turn to artificial intelligence to evaluate screenplays, a group of writers and creatives have come together to design a so-called barrier against the incursion.
Shane Black (“Iron Man 3”), Jim Herzfeld (“Meet the Parents”) and Akela Cooper (“M3GAN”) are among two dozen industryites who collaborated on the development of a new tech platform, dubbed the Gauntlet, in an effort to keep humans assessing screenplays at the gate-keeper stage rather than AI.
ScriptHop, a Hollywood tech company founded by former UTA story department head Scott Foster and tech entrepreneur Brian Austin, is launching the Gauntlet Tuesday with 30 freelance script analysts from such high-profile companies as HBO and Lucasfilm, becoming the largest organized group of professional readers in the industry.
ScriptHop advisory board member and screenwriter Herzfeld came up with the idea that sees screenwriters pay a $380 fee to run their script through a “gauntlet” of professional story analysts.
Shane Black (“Iron Man 3”), Jim Herzfeld (“Meet the Parents”) and Akela Cooper (“M3GAN”) are among two dozen industryites who collaborated on the development of a new tech platform, dubbed the Gauntlet, in an effort to keep humans assessing screenplays at the gate-keeper stage rather than AI.
ScriptHop, a Hollywood tech company founded by former UTA story department head Scott Foster and tech entrepreneur Brian Austin, is launching the Gauntlet Tuesday with 30 freelance script analysts from such high-profile companies as HBO and Lucasfilm, becoming the largest organized group of professional readers in the industry.
ScriptHop advisory board member and screenwriter Herzfeld came up with the idea that sees screenwriters pay a $380 fee to run their script through a “gauntlet” of professional story analysts.
- 2/27/2024
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Variety Film + TV
Before you say, “wait a second, you’re wrong, Toy Story 3 did happen.” You should know that back in 2004, there was a rift between Pixar Studios’ Steve Jobs and Disney CEO Michael Eisner, and the partnership between the two studios ended. Disney held all of the rights to the films that Pixar had made, though, so when the two companies split, Disney set up their own CG animation studio that they named Circle 7 Animation, and they didn’t waste any time getting a Toy Story 3 movie into development… without Pixar. Not only did they start work on Toy Story 3, but they also began developing Finding Nemo 2 and Monsters Inc. 2.
It was in 2006 that Disney's newly appointed CEO Bob Iger was able to strike a deal with Jobs in which Disney bought Pixar for $7.4 billion and put Pixar's leadership in control of Disney's animation department. Disney’s Circle 7 Animation was shutdown shortly after,...
It was in 2006 that Disney's newly appointed CEO Bob Iger was able to strike a deal with Jobs in which Disney bought Pixar for $7.4 billion and put Pixar's leadership in control of Disney's animation department. Disney’s Circle 7 Animation was shutdown shortly after,...
- 12/29/2014
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Oh, I see what you did there, Fox. Sneaky. I like it. I'm not even remotely surprised that Fox is working to make a new "Predator" movie. I don't really care what they call it… reboot, remake, sequel, update… whatever. They'll never stop making "Predator" movies. They'll do it anytime they've got an idea that's even vaguely commercial, because it's an evergreen property for them. They don't have to license any rights. They're not playing with someone else's material. Like with the "Alien" series, they own "Predator" completely, and they've proven repeatedly that they're willing to bend those icons in a million different ways. Attaching Shane Black to co-write and direct the film is, for anyone who knows the first film, an especially sly move. Black is in the original film, playing one of the soldiers, and he appeared in that film during the heyday of what are known as the Pad O' Guys days,...
- 6/24/2014
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Photo: DreamWorks Animation
Today DreamWorks Animation issued a press release announcing their theatrical plans through 2014 featuring six original films three sequels based on Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon franchises. Or, at least, that's how they put it. You could also include the Shrek franchise in there as well as Puss in Boots hits theaters on November 4 along with Kung Fu Panda 2 on May 26 as the studio's other 2011 release.
I will get to the details on the list of films in a second, but I thought I would first reference Rumblewick, which was announced as going in production last week via a press release that also included the above piece of art. The film is being directed by Tim Johnson (Over The Hedge, Antz) with a screenplay by Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents), which is inspired by the children's book, "My Unwilling...
Today DreamWorks Animation issued a press release announcing their theatrical plans through 2014 featuring six original films three sequels based on Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon franchises. Or, at least, that's how they put it. You could also include the Shrek franchise in there as well as Puss in Boots hits theaters on November 4 along with Kung Fu Panda 2 on May 26 as the studio's other 2011 release.
I will get to the details on the list of films in a second, but I thought I would first reference Rumblewick, which was announced as going in production last week via a press release that also included the above piece of art. The film is being directed by Tim Johnson (Over The Hedge, Antz) with a screenplay by Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents), which is inspired by the children's book, "My Unwilling...
- 3/8/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Briefly: The future slate for DreamWorks Animation is already packed with a great many sequel projects, but there is evidently still room for some new projects that could spawn future sequels down the line. The lastest option is for the kids' book My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters) by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton, which tells of a witch's cat whose owner no longer wants to be a witch. Rumblewick sounds as if it'll be a bit different, however, if still set in that same general world. It is being written by Tim Johnson (Antz) and Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Parents) with Tim Johnson directing. According to a press release, "Rumblewick will follow the adventures of a magician's rabbit for whom the invitation to learn real magic and train as a witch's familiar seems like a dream come true! But the dream becomes a nightmare when he discovers he's really...
- 3/7/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
DreamWorks Animation Skg has announced that they will be bringing Rumblewick to the big screen. Director Tim Johnson (Over The Hedge, Antz) and writer Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents) are collaborating on the feature project, which is inspired by the children’s book, My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters) by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton. DreamWorks Animation development executives Chris Kuser and Gregg Taylor are overseeing the project at the studio.
“The fascinating world of witches and witches’ familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes,” said DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke. “Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson and Jim Herzfeld, we look forward to bringing the world of Rumblewick to life.”
“The odds are stacked against our main character, a hard-working rabbit. Telling the story of his struggle and triumph is a fantastic journey.
“The fascinating world of witches and witches’ familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes,” said DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke. “Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson and Jim Herzfeld, we look forward to bringing the world of Rumblewick to life.”
“The odds are stacked against our main character, a hard-working rabbit. Telling the story of his struggle and triumph is a fantastic journey.
- 3/4/2011
- by Jason Moore
- ScifiMafia
DreamWorks have announced that they will be bringing an adaptation of "My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)" to the big screen. The children's book was written by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton. Rumblewick will be directed by Tim Johnson (Over the Hedge, Antz), while the screenplay will be written by Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers). Seems like an interesting combination.
- 3/4/2011
- by JL
- The Couch Potato Club
Glendale, Calif., March 3, 2011: DreamWorks Animation Skg, Inc. today announced that it will bring Rumblewick to the big screen. Director Tim Johnson (Over The Hedge, Antz) and writer Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents) are collaborating on the feature project, which is inspired by the children’s book, “My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)” by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton. DreamWorks Animation development executives Chris Kuser and Gregg Taylor are overseeing the project at the studio.
“The fascinating world of witches and witches’ familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes,” said DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke. “Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson and Jim Herzfeld, we look forward to bringing the world of Rumblewick to life.”
“The odds are stacked against our main character, a hard-working rabbit. Telling the story of his struggle and triumph is a fantastic journey.
“The fascinating world of witches and witches’ familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes,” said DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke. “Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson and Jim Herzfeld, we look forward to bringing the world of Rumblewick to life.”
“The odds are stacked against our main character, a hard-working rabbit. Telling the story of his struggle and triumph is a fantastic journey.
- 3/3/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
DreamWorks Animation Skg, Inc. today announced that it will bring Rumblewick to the big screen. Director Tim Johnson (Over The Hedge, Antz) and writer Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents) are collaborating on the feature project, which is inspired by the children’s book, “My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)” by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton.
DreamWorks Animation development executives Chris Kuser and Gregg Taylor are overseeing the project at the studio.
DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke said
“The fascinating world of witches and witches’ familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes. Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson and Jim Herzfeld, we look forward to bringing the world of Rumblewick to life.”
“The odds are stacked against our main character, a hard-working rabbit. Telling the story of his struggle and triumph is a fantastic journey.
DreamWorks Animation development executives Chris Kuser and Gregg Taylor are overseeing the project at the studio.
DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke said
“The fascinating world of witches and witches’ familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes. Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson and Jim Herzfeld, we look forward to bringing the world of Rumblewick to life.”
“The odds are stacked against our main character, a hard-working rabbit. Telling the story of his struggle and triumph is a fantastic journey.
- 3/3/2011
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
The children's book, "My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)" is being adapted into an animated movie by DreamWorks Animation. Rumblewick is about a magician's rabbit who tries to survive being caught between a pair of black cats who are the pets of witches. Over the Hedge director Tim Johnson will helm and co-write the script with Meet the Fockers scribe Jim Herzfeld.
Source: Variety...
Source: Variety...
- 3/3/2011
- by tara@kidspickflicks.com (Tara the Mom)
- kidspickflicks
DreamWorks Animation Skg, Inc. today announced that it will bring Rumblewick to the big screen. Director Tim Johnson (Over The Hedge, Antz) and writer Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents) are collaborating on the feature project, which is inspired by the children's book, "My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)" by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton. DreamWorks Animation development executives Chris Kuser and Gregg Taylor are overseeing the project at the studio."The fascinating world of witches and witches' familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes," said DreamWorks Animation's Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke. "Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson and Jim Herzfeld, we look forward to bringing the world of Rumblewick to life.""The odds are stacked against our main character, a hard-working rabbit. Telling the story of his struggle and triumph is a fantastic journey. I...
- 3/3/2011
- LRMonline.com
Here’s a new one from Dreamworks. Beginning of another franchise? Either way, witches and pussycats will get parents hauling carpet crawlers in their droves to cinemas. And everybody will then want to buy a cat… Blurb follows… Glendale, Calif., March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- DreamWorks Animation Skg, Inc. (Nasdaq: Dwa) today announced that it will bring Rumblewick to the big screen. Director Tim Johnson (Over The Hedge, Antz) and writer Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents) are collaborating on the feature project, which is inspired by the children's book, "My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)" by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton. DreamWorks Animation development executives Chris Kuser and Gregg Taylor are overseeing the project at the studio. "The fascinating world of witches and witches' familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes," said DreamWorks Animation's Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke....
- 3/3/2011
- by vicbarry@gmail.com (Vic Barry)
- www.themoviebit.com
DreamWorks Animation has officially announced that they will be developing a new film called Rumblewick for the big screen, which is inspired by the childrens book My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters) from Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton. The studio has hired Tim Johnson (Over the Hedge, Antz) to direct the movie, and Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Fockers, Meet the Parents) to write the script.
Rumblewick will follow the adventures of a magician's rabbit for whom the invitation to learn real magic and train as a witch's familiar seems like a dream come true! But the dream becomes a nightmare when he discovers he's really a pawn in a game between rival witches. Having learned the hard way that when something seems too good to be true it probably is, he must outsmart them both to save his fuzzy little hide.
DreamWorks Animation's Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke had...
Rumblewick will follow the adventures of a magician's rabbit for whom the invitation to learn real magic and train as a witch's familiar seems like a dream come true! But the dream becomes a nightmare when he discovers he's really a pawn in a game between rival witches. Having learned the hard way that when something seems too good to be true it probably is, he must outsmart them both to save his fuzzy little hide.
DreamWorks Animation's Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke had...
- 3/3/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
DreamWorks Animation announced today it plans to adapt Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton's children's book "My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)" into the animated feature "Rumblewick".
The story follows the adventures of a magician's rabbit who is invited to train as a witch's familiar and learn real magic. He soon discovers he's really a pawn in a game between rival witches and must outsmart them both to save his life.
Tim Johnson ("Over the Hedge," "Antz") directs from a script by Jim Herzfeld ("Meet the Fockers").
The story follows the adventures of a magician's rabbit who is invited to train as a witch's familiar and learn real magic. He soon discovers he's really a pawn in a game between rival witches and must outsmart them both to save his life.
Tim Johnson ("Over the Hedge," "Antz") directs from a script by Jim Herzfeld ("Meet the Fockers").
- 3/3/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
DreamWorks Animation Skg, Inc. today announced that it will bring Rumblewick to the big screen. Director Tim Johnson ( Over the Hedge , Antz ) and writer Jim Herzfeld ( Meet the Fockers , Meet the Parents ) are collaborating on the feature project, which is inspired by the children's book, "My Unwilling Witch (The Rumblewick Letters)" by Hiawyn Oram and Sarah Warburton. DreamWorks Animation development executives Chris Kuser and Gregg Taylor are overseeing the project at the studio. "The fascinating world of witches and witches' familiars is perfectly suited for the medium of animation, where anything goes," said DreamWorks Animation's Chief Creative Officer, Bill Damaschke. "Combined with the magically creative and comedic sensibilities of Tim Johnson...
- 3/3/2011
- Comingsoon.net
During the economic crisis of 1970s, television was ruled by procedural dramas, variety shows and socially relevant comedies.
Now, as the country is suffering the steepest economic downturn since then, primetime is still ruled by crime procedurals and the descendants of the old-fashioned variety shows, music and dance-themed reality series. What is missing is socially relevant comedies, something that the networks are seriously looking at for next season.
There is a promising entry in the arena: an untitled comedy starring Kelsey Grammer and written by "Everybody Loves Raymond" exec producer Tucker Cawley.
ABC has ordered a pilot from the project, produced by Warner Bros. TV and Tom Werner's studio-based company Good Humor TV.
The half-hour reflects the harsh realities of the financial crisis as it centers on a hotshot Wall Street executive (Grammer) who loses his job and is forced to move back with his wife and kids to...
Now, as the country is suffering the steepest economic downturn since then, primetime is still ruled by crime procedurals and the descendants of the old-fashioned variety shows, music and dance-themed reality series. What is missing is socially relevant comedies, something that the networks are seriously looking at for next season.
There is a promising entry in the arena: an untitled comedy starring Kelsey Grammer and written by "Everybody Loves Raymond" exec producer Tucker Cawley.
ABC has ordered a pilot from the project, produced by Warner Bros. TV and Tom Werner's studio-based company Good Humor TV.
The half-hour reflects the harsh realities of the financial crisis as it centers on a hotshot Wall Street executive (Grammer) who loses his job and is forced to move back with his wife and kids to...
- 1/6/2009
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Meet the Parents" and "Meet the Fockers" co-writer Jim Herzfeld is returning to his sitcom roots with "Changing Positions," a multicamera comedy project at NBC that shares some similarities with "Fockers."
Produced by Ums and Dutch Oven, "Positions" centers on a Wall Street guy in his late 30s who loses everything and is forced, along with his wife and their teen kids, to move in with his parents -- a wealthy, very sexually active couple in their mid 50s who live in a large compound in the Hollywood Hills after amassing a fortune making (and starring in) instructional sex videos in the 1980s when they also invented the "standing O" position.
"They're moving into a pretty cool place," Herzfeld said. "The challenge is raising a family the way you want to raise them around grandparents who don't have the same values you have, who have no filter when it comes...
Produced by Ums and Dutch Oven, "Positions" centers on a Wall Street guy in his late 30s who loses everything and is forced, along with his wife and their teen kids, to move in with his parents -- a wealthy, very sexually active couple in their mid 50s who live in a large compound in the Hollywood Hills after amassing a fortune making (and starring in) instructional sex videos in the 1980s when they also invented the "standing O" position.
"They're moving into a pretty cool place," Herzfeld said. "The challenge is raising a family the way you want to raise them around grandparents who don't have the same values you have, who have no filter when it comes...
- 11/3/2008
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If their lives were a Hollywood comedy, it might be called When Greg Met Mary.... Greg Glienna is a writer-director-actor-musician, and Mary Ruth Clarke is a writer-actor. Though Glienna is based in L.A. and Clarke resides in Chicago, they have shared a longtime friendship and have collaborated as writers a few times over the years. The two recently resumed their artistic partnership with the L.A. world premiere of a stage comedy they co-authored, Suffer the Long Night, which opened at the Meta Theatre recently and continues through Sept. 14.The first joint effort by Glienna and Clarke was a low-budget independent film comedy that should sound familiar to many: Meet the Parents (1992). It became the basis for Universal's 2000 hit film of the same name, starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, which in turn spawned the 2004 sequel Meet the Fockers and a rumored -- yet unconfirmed -- third film.
- 8/21/2008
- by Les Spindle
- backstage.com
Barbra Streisand, who hasn't appeared on film since 1996's The Mirror Has Two Faces, is returning to the screen. She is in final negotiations to play Ben Stiller's mother in Universal Pictures' Meet the Fockers, the sequel to the 2000 comedy hit Meet the Parents. Fockers is being directed by Jay Roach and produced by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Roach. Stiller, De Niro, Blythe Danner and Teri Polo are returning in their original roles. Dustin Hoffman was cast as Stiller's father in January. In the sequel, Greg Focker (Stiller) and his fiancee, Pam Byrnes (Polo), have won over Byrnes' parents, Jack (De Niro) and Dina (Danner). But when the tightly wound Byrnes family is introduced to Greg's parents, the hyper-relaxed Fockers, there's an immediate clash. Fockers is written by Jim Herzfeld, Tim Rasmussen and Vince DiMeglio. The executives overseeing the project are Mary Parent and Holly Bario. Streisand won a best actress Oscar for 1969's Funny Girl and was nominated in the same category for 1973's The Way We Were. She is repped by ICM and Martin Erlichman Associates.
- 3/12/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In the tradition of Bill and Ted and Wayne and Garth, meet the Deedles, a pair of surfer dude teen twin gremmie brahs (that's loser brothers in Deedlespeak) who get a chance to make a name for themselves when they're mistaken for park ranger recruits.
Very much a live-action cartoon, "Meet the Deedles" is innocuous and often amusing Disney fare, armed with enough pratfalls and scatological asides to keep the kids happy.
Given the scarcity of appropriate PG product out there, the picture could catch a bit of a wave, particularly with boys.
Debuting feature director Steve Boyum keeps the pace cranked for this fish-out-of-water story, in which the fish in question are Phil (Paul Walker) and Stew Deedle Steve Van Wormer), surfin' siblings who are forced to leave their beloved Hawaiian home when their dad Elton (Eric Braeden) sends them off to Camp Break Spirit in Wyoming to toughen them up.
Through a series of inevitable mishaps, the Deedles instead find themselves in Yellowstone National Park (although they keep referring to it as "Jellystone"), where the chief park ranger, Captain Pine (John Ashton), believes them to be experts in handling a prairie dog invasion threatening to put a damper on celebrations for Old Faithful's one billionth birthday.
Little do our heroes know -- and that's about what they know -- the
p-dog invasion was orchestrated by one Frank Slater (Dennis Hopper), a deranged former ranger determined to get back at his former employers by rerouting the famed geyser into another part of the park and renaming it New Faithful.
But quicker than you can say "Ore-ida!" and "Nutrageous!" (two of the brothers' pet expressions), the Deedles foil Slater's plans and the geezer geyser gushes once more.
What Jim Herzfeld's script may lack in overall originality, it makes up for inventive dialogue and situations, wisely using the sheltered innocence of his lead characters as the source of much of the humor. Unfortunately, things begin to get bogged down toward the end during the inevitable good-vs.-evil finale.
As Phil and Stew, Walker and Van Wormer keep the loopy sweetness of their TV-damaged characters intact, while old pros Ashton and Hopper avoid the easy temptation to go over the top, given the film's cartoony structure. As Ashton's stepdaughter and resident Jellystone babe, A.J. Langer plays a blossoming former tomboy effectively.
Shot extensively near Park City, Utah, the flora and fauna have been brightly captured by cinematographer David Hennings, and Steve Bartek's score ripples with the necessary surf guitar twang.
MEET THE DEEDLES
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents a DIC Entertainment production
in association with Peak Prods.
Credits: Director: Steve Boyum; Screenwriter: Jim Herzfeld; Producers: Dale Pollock, Aaron Meyerson; Executive producers: Andy Heyward, Artie Ripp; Director of photography: David Hennings; Production designer: Stephen Storer; Editor: Alan Cody; Costume designers: Alexandra Welker and Karyn Wagner; Music: Steve Bartek; Music supervisor: Karen Glauber; Casting: Amy Lippens. Cast: Phil Deedle: Paul Walker; Stew Deedle: Steve Van Wormer; Captain Pine: John Ashton; Lt. Jesse Ryan: A. J. Langer; Nemo: Robert Englund; Mo: Megan Cavanagh; Elton Deedle: Eric Braeden; Frank Slater: Dennis Hopper. MPAA rating: PG. Color/stereo. Running time - 90 minutes.
Very much a live-action cartoon, "Meet the Deedles" is innocuous and often amusing Disney fare, armed with enough pratfalls and scatological asides to keep the kids happy.
Given the scarcity of appropriate PG product out there, the picture could catch a bit of a wave, particularly with boys.
Debuting feature director Steve Boyum keeps the pace cranked for this fish-out-of-water story, in which the fish in question are Phil (Paul Walker) and Stew Deedle Steve Van Wormer), surfin' siblings who are forced to leave their beloved Hawaiian home when their dad Elton (Eric Braeden) sends them off to Camp Break Spirit in Wyoming to toughen them up.
Through a series of inevitable mishaps, the Deedles instead find themselves in Yellowstone National Park (although they keep referring to it as "Jellystone"), where the chief park ranger, Captain Pine (John Ashton), believes them to be experts in handling a prairie dog invasion threatening to put a damper on celebrations for Old Faithful's one billionth birthday.
Little do our heroes know -- and that's about what they know -- the
p-dog invasion was orchestrated by one Frank Slater (Dennis Hopper), a deranged former ranger determined to get back at his former employers by rerouting the famed geyser into another part of the park and renaming it New Faithful.
But quicker than you can say "Ore-ida!" and "Nutrageous!" (two of the brothers' pet expressions), the Deedles foil Slater's plans and the geezer geyser gushes once more.
What Jim Herzfeld's script may lack in overall originality, it makes up for inventive dialogue and situations, wisely using the sheltered innocence of his lead characters as the source of much of the humor. Unfortunately, things begin to get bogged down toward the end during the inevitable good-vs.-evil finale.
As Phil and Stew, Walker and Van Wormer keep the loopy sweetness of their TV-damaged characters intact, while old pros Ashton and Hopper avoid the easy temptation to go over the top, given the film's cartoony structure. As Ashton's stepdaughter and resident Jellystone babe, A.J. Langer plays a blossoming former tomboy effectively.
Shot extensively near Park City, Utah, the flora and fauna have been brightly captured by cinematographer David Hennings, and Steve Bartek's score ripples with the necessary surf guitar twang.
MEET THE DEEDLES
Buena Vista Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures presents a DIC Entertainment production
in association with Peak Prods.
Credits: Director: Steve Boyum; Screenwriter: Jim Herzfeld; Producers: Dale Pollock, Aaron Meyerson; Executive producers: Andy Heyward, Artie Ripp; Director of photography: David Hennings; Production designer: Stephen Storer; Editor: Alan Cody; Costume designers: Alexandra Welker and Karyn Wagner; Music: Steve Bartek; Music supervisor: Karen Glauber; Casting: Amy Lippens. Cast: Phil Deedle: Paul Walker; Stew Deedle: Steve Van Wormer; Captain Pine: John Ashton; Lt. Jesse Ryan: A. J. Langer; Nemo: Robert Englund; Mo: Megan Cavanagh; Elton Deedle: Eric Braeden; Frank Slater: Dennis Hopper. MPAA rating: PG. Color/stereo. Running time - 90 minutes.
- 3/24/1998
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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