MacGruber: Because 'SNL' Movies Have Such a Great Track Record
Filed under: Comedy, Casting, Deals, Scripts
Why not make a movie based around one of the unfunniest recurring characters of late, the normally likeable Will Forte's MacGruber? Yes, it's true. Monika wrote in May that Lorne Michaels said he's considering a feature-length film version of the Saturday Night Live MacGruber sketch, and now Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are confirming that the wheels are in Mac-motion. They are also reporting that Val Kilmer and Ryan Phillipe could join Wiig and Forte in this comedy of errors, which is being written by Forte and fellow SNL writers John Solomon and Jorma Taccone, who will also direct.The MacGruber skits on Saturday Night Live poke fun at the popular MacGyver TV series, which aired from 1985 to 1992 and starred Richard Dean Anderson as a secret agent who concocted useful devices from the objects around him -- hence the term MacGyvering. MacGruber, who is MacGyver's long-lost son, is not as successful as dear old dad at defusing situations or bombs, and ends up getting himself, his assistant Vicky (Kristen Wiig), and whoever that week's hapless guest host is blown up.
According to THR, the plot is as follows: "The legendary, much decorated MacGruber is pulled out of retirement as a monk in Ecuador by a colonel, who needs him once more to fight on behalf of his country. This time the mission involves going up against the evil Cunth, who has a nuclear warhead; the mission is personal because Cunth killed MacGruber's bride." (Cunth! Get it? Evil Cunth?!)
While many writers and actors have gotten their start on SNL, very few of the skits themselves have translated successfully to the big screen. Will Ferrell was able to shake off the stench of A Night at the Roxbury well enough to make a slew of really funny movies and is now also writing and exec producing; he also started the viral video site FunnyorDie.com with writer/director Adam McKay. However, his would-be summer blockbuster Land of the Lost had a weak box office showing, to say the least, and some fans and critics have been complaining it's time for Ferrell to try a different schtick. Another SNL-er made great is Tina Fey, whose 30 Rock has earned her and the cast oodles of accolades and diehard fans. There have been many other standouts, of course, but those are my two favorites.
Another problem with the MacGruber movie is that it won't have much of an overseas audience. Who in any of the major international markets would be interested in a movie that caters to such a small part of US audiences (who will be, I suspect, rather indifferent themselves)?
Would you pony up $12 (plus snacks!) to see a MacGruber film in theaters? Do you even watch SNL any more?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-08-2009 @ 10:18AM
Eric said...
This is the worst SNL film Idea. It barley works as a 3 min skit. how the hell can they make this a 2 hour film.
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7-08-2009 @ 10:57AM
MarkH said...
I think the MacGruber skits are the funniest things on SNL these days. And also that a movie version would be a black hole of fail.
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7-08-2009 @ 11:36AM
Sam said...
I can't imagine this being a high-budget film, so with the possibility of DVD sales, it's worth a shot.
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7-08-2009 @ 12:21PM
Heavytoka said...
I am very interested in seeing how they will pull this off
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7-08-2009 @ 12:29PM
Mangorilla said...
Haven't watched SNL on any kind of regular basis in years. Once Will Ferrell left, and the cast started laughing at themselves during the sketches because they knew how bad they were, I lost interest. And now that they're releasing the "Best of" dvds, it seems to make more sense to just pick up the best of the funny people still on the show. Here's hoping they release full seasons of the 90's era shows though. Meyers, Carvey, Farley, Spade, Sandler, Hartman, etc. To me, the golden era of SNL.
As for the movies, Wayne's World was great, and Superstar is a guilty pleasure of mine. I imagine Macgruber will be on the level of The Ladies Man...
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7-08-2009 @ 12:30PM
Jonathan Kuhn said...
Considering that the entire joke of the skit is that he wastes time instead of defusing the bomb and then everyone blows up, I fail to see why they're even bothering to call the movie MacGruber when it will obviously have to be so different.
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7-08-2009 @ 12:33PM
Mike said...
Will Forte was okay when he first started on SNL, but he's increasingly gotten on my nerves as a performer. The one good part of this idea is that it basically kills any further adventures of MacGruber on SNL.
A MacGuyver spoof in and of itself isn't a bad idea. I just doubt this is going to be the best team for the job.
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7-08-2009 @ 1:04PM
Insert a name said...
So, they are doing a movie version of MacGyver (Speaking of which - have they cancelled it?) and its parody at the same time? Funny.
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7-08-2009 @ 1:02PM
Rod said...
I couldn't believe my eyes when I stumbled upon the title of this article. I can't believe anyone with even a small portion of a brain let alone any inkling of a sense of humor could think this would be worth pumping significant $$ into it for an attempt at the big screen.
For the record, I do thoroughly enjoy watching some of Kirsten Wiig's skits. Will Forte's... not so much, lately. But in my opinion MacGruber is by far one of the worst skits in SNL's current rotation!!! I think the only other skit lately that Will Forte is even MORE annoying in is "Gilly."
If Lorne Michaels insists on turning a current skit into a movie he should focus more on Wiig. Hell, without even knowing what the possible storline(s) could be for her I'd gladly say that I'd pay to watch "Penelope" or "Target Lady" on the big screen way before I'd ever consider "MacGruber!!"
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7-08-2009 @ 1:13PM
Wexler said...
This is definitely a horrible idea and bound to be a waste of people's time and money. How about laser cats?
Ok maybe not, but if I were to give anyone on SNL the opportunity to make a movie it would be the Lonely Island Crew. Personally I think the digital shorts they put out are the best part of SNL and I thought Hot Rod was one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time.
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7-08-2009 @ 2:54PM
Jenni Miller said...
Agreed on both laser cats and hot rod. Cool beans!
7-08-2009 @ 1:53PM
Billy said...
Jenni needs to shut her yap, Macgruber is one of the funniest things on SNL of late. I'll agree that a movie may be a bad decision, but still, hands off the sketches.
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7-08-2009 @ 3:30PM
Monika said...
Philippe might not be a hot Hollywood commodity ... But I REALLY want to know what's inspiring him to take this on. Surely he can't think this will help his career?
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7-08-2009 @ 3:37PM
Mike said...
It's not even really a sketch, so much as it is a 30 second filler. This would almost be more like making an SNL movie out of one of their commercial parodies. Although that might be a better idea.
If only Farley were still alive so he and Sandler could team for a Schmitt's Gay movie.
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7-08-2009 @ 4:15PM
Baxter said...
I think Will Forte is a genius. He's so surreal and daring. His work on Tim & Eric is inspired. The Brother's Solomon is one of the funniest comedies I've seen in recent years. It clearly won't be for everyone, but I am definitely the target audience for a MacGruber movie.
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