Mark Perez Tagged Articles at Cinematical

There have always been those great Hollywood stories about how people got their big break. We all know the one about Lana Turner being discovered in a drugstore, and Steven Spielberg sneaking onto the lot in his Dad's suit (even though it never happened). But, how about the guy who's famous for writing a song about 'F**king Matt Damon'? Variety reports that Wayne McClammy has been hired to direct the comedy Cool School for 20th Century Fox.

Up until now, McClammy was best known as one of the writers behind the original comedy song with Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon. But, he was also responsible for the slightly less funny response from Jimmy Kimmel and Ben Affleck. McClammy was a *writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live and worked as a director for The Sarah Silverman Show. Other than a few comedy shorts, McClammy has mainly worked in TV, and School will be his feature film debut.

Cool School centers on a group of ad-men in their 30's who feel like they have become out of touch in their middle age. The group is shuttled off to high school in hopes of learning how to be 'cool'. The story was written by Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman and casting will begin as soon as a final polish on the script has been completed.

*Correction: McClammy was a field director for Jimmy Kimmel Live

Slowly but surely, Ricky Gervais is climbing the Hollywood ladder. After co-starring in films like Night at the Museum and the upcoming Stardust, Variety reports Gervais has landed a lead role in Early Retirement for Warner Bros. What, did you think he was calling it quits early; hanging up his comedic hat while he was still ahead? I know a few folks who would quite literally hunt the man down and force him to return to either the big or small screen if that were the case. He's just too good at what he does, and it would be a real shame to lose him at this stage in his career. The film is based on a pitch from Mark Perez, who previously wrote the Justin Long comedy Accepted, and will make his feature directorial debut on a film called Cellmates for New Regency.

In Early Retirement, Gervais will play a father who decides to quit his job in order to spend more time with his family. Perez calls it "the opposite of most family comedies," pointing to the fact that the majority of films in this genre tend to end with the main character quitting something (be it an annoying hobby or a highly-stressed career) to be with their family. In Early Retirement, the film will begin that way instead. Fun! I imagine problems will arise when Dad realizes that staying home with the fam is far from an enjoyable experience. Next up, Gervais will be co-starring alongside Greg Kinnear and Tea Leoni in David Koepp's romantic comedy Ghost Town.

If you're like me, you read that headline and immediately thought of What About Bob?, an almost perfect "comedy of the uncomfortable" that starred Bill Murray and a never funnier Richard Dreyfuss. Unfortunately, the new film is not a sequel, but it still sounds promising. The gorgeous and funny Elizabeth Banks will star in and produce What About Barb, a romantic comedy about a socialite who is forced to let her uncouth cousin be her maid of honor in order to have her rich uncle pay for her wedding. The movie will be written by Mark Perez who also wrote the immediately forgettable college comedy Accepted, with Justin Long and Lewis Black.

Banks is busy these days, you'll see her next in Spider-Man 3, she's got a lead role in Fred Claus with Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti, and she was recently added to the cast of the Eddie Murphy vehicle Starship Dave. I first took notice of Elizabeth Banks in Wet Hot American Summer, which I consider one of the funniest films ever made. I was smitten at first sight, even when her face was covered in barbecue sauce. She was adorable in her brief role in Catch Me If You Can, hilarious as the secretly kinky Beth in The 40 Year-Old Virgin, and played a difficult part perfectly in the nifty horror/comedy Slither. The article doesn't mention whether she'll be playing the socialite or the "uncouth sister" in Barb, but here's hoping for the sis. I really love Banks as a character actress, and I'd hate to see her off-kilter charms watered down.