A pair of industry veterans are launching a production company aimed at providing family-friendly, escapist comedy to TV viewers.
Former Home Improvement and Suite Life of Zack and Cody writer-producer Billy Riback and producer and author Steve Rubin (Showtime's Bleacher Bums, Hallmark's Silent Night) have founded Anagram Flims (yes, "Flims"). The duo has partnered with the estate of producer Jack Chertok (The Lone Ranger, My Favorite Martian) to develop a remake of Chertok's 1960s sitcom My Living Doll titled My Perfect Man.
Riback and Rubin are also shopping several other projects, including To Live and Dye in L.A., about ...
Former Home Improvement and Suite Life of Zack and Cody writer-producer Billy Riback and producer and author Steve Rubin (Showtime's Bleacher Bums, Hallmark's Silent Night) have founded Anagram Flims (yes, "Flims"). The duo has partnered with the estate of producer Jack Chertok (The Lone Ranger, My Favorite Martian) to develop a remake of Chertok's 1960s sitcom My Living Doll titled My Perfect Man.
Riback and Rubin are also shopping several other projects, including To Live and Dye in L.A., about ...
- 5/17/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Joining the ranks of "Lost in Space", "The Avengers" and "The Saint"-- recent TV-to-the-big-screen remakes that got zapped at the boxoffice -- Disney's "My Favorite Martian" is a recycled sci-fi comedy without much energy that only comes to life in the fantastical special effect sequences.
Based on 1960s TV series "My Favorite Martian", created by John L. Greene and produced by Jack Chertok, director Donald Petri's fantasy starts cheerfully with the revelation that seemingly dead Mars boasts at least one spectacular city teeming with bustling aliens.
One such bug-eyed adventurer (Christopher Lloyd) crash lands on the beach in Santa Barbara, Calif., and causes comic mayhem when he befriends bedraggled TV news pro Tim O'Hara (Jeff Daniels). It's E.T. meets "Broadcast News", with Lloyd's grumpy creature-in-human-form possessing cute little antenna that pop up from his head.
The filmmakers don't do much with the lead's powers of invisibility and other minor wizardry, but there is a lot of imagination in the sequences where he outwardly transforms into other characters and aliens, with the help of magical bubble gum. Likewise, a lot of superior craftsmanship went into the comic-relief character of the Martian's animated spacesuit.
Taking on the identity of Tim's Uncle Martin, the alien visitor struggles to repair his ship -- which can be shrunk into the size of a football or smaller -- while Tim loses his job by humiliating the boss' daughter and girl of his dreams (Elizabeth Hurley) on air.
Friends with supportive, honest Lizzie (Daryl Hannah), Tim first tries to tell the world about Martin, then scrambles to stop Hurley's hard-charging character from breaking the story. Meanwhile, hot on the trail of Martin are scary government sleuths Wallace Shawn and Ray Walston (star of the original TV show), with the latter approaching his obvious nostalgic casting with wry dignity.
In one tough spot, Martin shrinks Tim's car and they escape down a sewer. A little dose of "Back to the Future" almost saves the day, but overall the scenario is lacking. Lloyd is mostly upstaged by the effects and Daniels' character is too bland. Hurley vamps it up with gusto, while Shawn is not at his funniest. Hannah proves reliable as the girl next door. Michael Lerner and Christine Ebersole make the most of blustery supporting roles.
MY FAVORITE MARTIAN
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Walt Disney Pictures
a Jerry Leider/Robert Shapiro production
Credits: Director: Donald Petri; Producers: Robert Shapiro, Jerry Leider, Marc Toberoff; Screenwriters: Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver; Executive producer: Barry Bernardi; Director of photography: Thomas Ackerman; Production designer: Sandy Veneziano; Editor: Malcolm Campbell; Costume designer: Hope Hanafin; Music: John Debney. Cast: Tim: Jeff Daniels; Martin: Christopher Lloyd; Lizzie: Daryl Hannah; Brace: Elizabeth Hurley. MPAA rating: PG. Running time -- 93 minutes. Color/stereo.
Based on 1960s TV series "My Favorite Martian", created by John L. Greene and produced by Jack Chertok, director Donald Petri's fantasy starts cheerfully with the revelation that seemingly dead Mars boasts at least one spectacular city teeming with bustling aliens.
One such bug-eyed adventurer (Christopher Lloyd) crash lands on the beach in Santa Barbara, Calif., and causes comic mayhem when he befriends bedraggled TV news pro Tim O'Hara (Jeff Daniels). It's E.T. meets "Broadcast News", with Lloyd's grumpy creature-in-human-form possessing cute little antenna that pop up from his head.
The filmmakers don't do much with the lead's powers of invisibility and other minor wizardry, but there is a lot of imagination in the sequences where he outwardly transforms into other characters and aliens, with the help of magical bubble gum. Likewise, a lot of superior craftsmanship went into the comic-relief character of the Martian's animated spacesuit.
Taking on the identity of Tim's Uncle Martin, the alien visitor struggles to repair his ship -- which can be shrunk into the size of a football or smaller -- while Tim loses his job by humiliating the boss' daughter and girl of his dreams (Elizabeth Hurley) on air.
Friends with supportive, honest Lizzie (Daryl Hannah), Tim first tries to tell the world about Martin, then scrambles to stop Hurley's hard-charging character from breaking the story. Meanwhile, hot on the trail of Martin are scary government sleuths Wallace Shawn and Ray Walston (star of the original TV show), with the latter approaching his obvious nostalgic casting with wry dignity.
In one tough spot, Martin shrinks Tim's car and they escape down a sewer. A little dose of "Back to the Future" almost saves the day, but overall the scenario is lacking. Lloyd is mostly upstaged by the effects and Daniels' character is too bland. Hurley vamps it up with gusto, while Shawn is not at his funniest. Hannah proves reliable as the girl next door. Michael Lerner and Christine Ebersole make the most of blustery supporting roles.
MY FAVORITE MARTIAN
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Walt Disney Pictures
a Jerry Leider/Robert Shapiro production
Credits: Director: Donald Petri; Producers: Robert Shapiro, Jerry Leider, Marc Toberoff; Screenwriters: Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver; Executive producer: Barry Bernardi; Director of photography: Thomas Ackerman; Production designer: Sandy Veneziano; Editor: Malcolm Campbell; Costume designer: Hope Hanafin; Music: John Debney. Cast: Tim: Jeff Daniels; Martin: Christopher Lloyd; Lizzie: Daryl Hannah; Brace: Elizabeth Hurley. MPAA rating: PG. Running time -- 93 minutes. Color/stereo.
- 2/16/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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