cuba gooding jr Tagged Articles at Cinematical

No matter which direction you look lately, at least one Breslin family member is landing a big role. The Hollywood Reporter tells us that Spencer Breslin (big brother to the adorable Abigail Breslin) has signed on to star in two upcoming films. First up is the high school comedy Harold, opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. Breslin will star as Harold, a prematurely balding student who's finding it tough adapting to life at his new school. Based on my own experiences as a prematurely balding student, I can totally relate. Gooding Jr. will play a janitor at the school who befriends our balding teen and helps him adjust. Look for plenty of cruel jocks and bald jokes to be featured prominently throughout.

Additionally, Breslin has also signed to star opposite Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and, now, John Leguizamo in M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening. In that film he'll most likely play Wahlberg's son, and part of a family who find themselves on the run after a natural disaster threatens to destroy the planet. I hate to say it, but if something is going to destroy the entire planet, there ain't many places to run to. Breslin describes his role in that film as being "a typical teenage boy, a bit of a smartass." Apart from that, however, he hasn't been "clued in" to other aspects of the film. Thus, we're not positive whether he'll be playing a Wahlberg offspring or just some wiseass kid they meet along the way. Harold begins its filming this month in New York, while The Happening kick-starts its production next month. Both films are due out next year, with the latter already scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 13, 2008.

No, they're not remaking that classic Rodney Dangerfield flick (although I wouldn't be surprised if a remake shows up once Vince Vaughn ages a bit more); the Hollywood Reporter tells us that Cuba Gooding Jr. has signed on to star in a new edgy teen comedy called Harold, which some are saying is in the vein of Napoleon Dynamite. Pic will be produced and financed by City Lights Pictures (The Ten, Brooklyn Rules) and M.E.G.A. films. The deal was announced during the Cannes fest, and the powers that be are hoping to begin filming in August with intentions to finish the flick in time for the Sundance Film Festival. Five months ain't a lot to work with, so I imagine a cast and a director will be announced fairly soon.

The film follows this dude named Harold; a "premature balding young teen" who's finding it hard adjusting to life in high school. (Um, excuse me, but if this is going to be based on my life then I think I'd like a little compensation.) Cuba Gooding is said to be playing the school's janitor who befriends Harold and helps guide him through this rigorous time in his life. I'm not sure what's worse: losing your hair at 16 or knowing that your best friend in the world is the janitor at school? Sheesh, talk about a prequel to The 40 Year Old Virgin. Although he won an Oscar for asking us to "Show him the money!," Cuba Gooding was, instead, shown a number of crappy roles. Rat Race? Snow Dogs? Boat Trip? Someone stop me before I become dizzy. With Daddy Day Camp (directed by the very awesome Fred Savage of Wonder Years fame) on the way, it doesn't appear his slate is improving anytime soon. That is, unless Harold becomes the next Napoleon Dynamite. Hmm, perhaps Jon Heder and Cuba Gooding should team up on Show Me How to Build A Successful Career Off One Good Role?

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