Movie audiences have suffered big screen adapatations of little-screen favorites for some time now. Some good, some bad, but most of the time at least the idea of these reimaginations make some sort of sense. The Brady Bunch, Charlie’s Angels and most recently Starsky & Hutch are examples of adaptations that, great or not, mostly worked. Some films like The Avengers, The Mod Squad and Dragnet, not so much. But word comes down today from Variety of the worst idea for a TV-to-movie treatment I’ve heard yet (subscription needed).
I know it’s been in development for years, but seriously, there is no good reason why they should make a film out of The Love Boat. The appeal of that show was those specific characters in that specific place and then the rotation of C-list (sometimes B-list) guest stars. The show was already a satire of itself, and in fact, I would venture to say UPN already proved that magic can’t strike twice when it launched The Love Boat: The Next Wave. Granted, that was a completely new crew, but even a Brady Bunch like reimagination of The Love Boat is so unappealing. I don’t want to see anyone else play Captain Stubing, Doc, Gopher, Isaac or Julie. The show was cheesy fun in its day, but it’s day is done.
According to Variety:
Producer David Permut has ramped up development of the project, aimed as a broadly comic reinvention of the hit TV series with the Bermuda Triangle as a destination. He’s seeking writers and planning a hip-hop version of the skein’s theme song, originally sung by Jack Jones (“Love, exciting and new…”).
“The Love Boat” is “unique among series in that it has worldwide recognition, having been broadcast in over 70 countries,” Permut said. “We have a unique and irreverent take that will turn this innocent show on its head.”
I’m not sure how you reinvent something in a broadly comic manner when it was that way the first time. And the Bermuda Triangle? Been there. Done that. SOOOO many times. First, I’ll just hope this project remains in development hell. Should it now, I’m putting money right now on a flop of Titanic proportions.
Actually, there’s one way I’ll want to see this movie. If it reunites Bennifer, then it might be a classic!
Out of Focus 