Has Kevin Smith Gone PG?!?
Filed under: Action, Comedy, Warner Brothers, Celebrities and Controversy, Movie Marketing
If nothing else I guess you can never say that Kevin Smith doesn't learn from his past. Just a couple of days after Erik brought us the news that Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan were rumored to be starring in Smith's action comedy, A Couple of Dicks, Variety has confirmed that Willis and Morgan are on board, but there's been a slight change. The film has now been given the much more 'billboard friendly' title of A Couple of Cops (doesn't exactly have the same ring to it, now does it?). I mean, we're all adults here, has it really gotten to the point where even a pun as vanilla as a variation on 'Private Dicks' is too much for audiences?I would've thought after all of the MPAA's prudishness over Zack and Miri Make a Porno that Smith would surely be headed for another battle royale. Remember, last summer, there were fights over Zack and Miri posters, the title, and even the film itself. Heck, there was even trouble when it came out on DVD thanks to the family-minded folks at Wal-Mart. But I guess Smith (and Warner Bros., for that matter) isn't interested in another fight with theater owners or enraged special interest groups, and this time he's just going to go with the flow (or maybe this time he's just a little tired of tilting at windmills). But, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise if you consider the fact that he's making a lot of changes in his career lately. Not only is he directing someone else's script, but he's working with a major studio and his longstanding relationship with The Weinstein Co. seems to be a little on the rocks.
But, as a long-time fan, I'm willing to have faith that even though the packaging may have changed, all of Smith's filthy goodness will remain intact. What do you think about them changing the title? Could this be the end of the smutty Smith we know and love? Will Warners force him to go PG-13 in order to draw in more people? Sound off below...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-04-2009 @ 1:46PM
Mike said...
I have to say I find a couple of element of this whole situation a bit surprising. First, the title change. "A Couple of Dicks" is an interesting title. You've got the double entendre but also, I would have thought, the built-in defense that "dick" is both an actual name and slang for an investigator. To me, it's a better title than "Zack and Miri Make a Porno". "A Couple of Cops" is stupid and generic. It just sounds like another buddy cop movie.
Second, and what I found most disheartening, was Smith's quote in the article linked to in this piece - "I know it works. I know we brought the goods. I know it wasn't our fault that it didn't connect the way it could have."
Not only does that sound like he's passing the buck on the film's failure, I also happen to disagree. I've been a loyal fan of his since Mallrats, having seen every one of his proceeding releases in the theater and buying nearly all on DVD (even some of his lesser efforts). But I was probably more disappointed by Zack & Miri than I was Jersey Girl. I had higher expectations, especially with that cast and subject matter. However, I found Smith's attempt to break away from his View Askewniverse to be almost, I hate to say it, lazy. So to hear him blame the film's theatrical failure on the marketing is not only insulting to the studio, but also to fans like myself. Because no Kevin, I did not think you brought the goods on this one.
Plus, as I recall the film was fairly heavily marketed. Why wouldn't it be, with Rogen being as popular as he is right now? So I don't think Kevin has much of a leg to stand on. I'm disappointed that he would put the blame onto someone else, instead of accepting the fact that maybe the film wasn't as good as he thought it was.
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3-04-2009 @ 1:47PM
Eric said...
Everyone who wants answers, all you have to do is listen his weekly Smodcast (Listen to #77 if you want the scoop on why he is doing this). He has been talking about this for awhile. Also Scott Mosier is directing his own film soon.
check out Smodcost here
http://www.quickstopentertainment.com/
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3-04-2009 @ 1:55PM
Eric said...
Sorry guys I mean Smodcast # 76
3-04-2009 @ 1:52PM
StanleyNickels said...
It wouldn't shock me if he's intentionally doing it PG-13 to free himself of both his reliance on his own writing style and the filthy goodness.
I'd say it's about time for him to take a crack at something new. I wasn't crazy about Zack and Miri in general, and the Weinsteins absolutely dropped the ball on marketing it.
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3-04-2009 @ 4:52PM
Jennifer said...
Zach and Miri was a much better movie once I realized it was a romantic comedy centered around making a porn, which happens to be one of my fav subjects. It also helped that one of my fav porn stars were in it.
Agree about the Weinsteins dropping the ball, but it's not like they havent done it before...
3-04-2009 @ 5:09PM
Melanie Addington said...
A Couple of Cops? That doesn't sound like that would help with any sort of marketing plan. At least A Couple of Dicks may scream, hey, fun Kevin Smith film - fans, come see it. But A Couple of Cops? Why does it sound like Paul Blart: Mall Cop Part 2? Blart Teams Up With Another Cop? Funny antics ensue. Sigh.
But then again, I wonder - could another recent film, Good Dick, be helped to draw in a larger crowd with a different title?
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3-04-2009 @ 5:49PM
Monkeydog said...
Well Smith is only directing, he didn't write the movie.
I assume that would make all the difference.
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