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The internet is thrilled today with the announcement that Michael Cera has officially signed on to reprise his role as George Michael in the Arrested Development movie. And this is certainly good news in the sense that an Arrested Development movie WITHOUT Michael Cera would be bad idea jeans. No one wants to see Rory Culkin working the banana stand. No touching!
But just because Michael Cera has signed on to rejoin the cast doesn’t mean this movie is an automatic WIN. There are so many ways in which this thing could falter. Look, no one wants to have some wonderful Arrested Development laffs more than me. I’m just saying Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose, but with an emphasis on Clear Eyes. The script isn’t even written yet, you guys. Real Talk.
After the jump, 5 Reasons the Arrested Development movie might be bad.
5.Trying Too Hard
There is a sense in the Arrested Development fan community that somehow the show was cut tragically short. That may or may not be true, but the fact of the matter is that as far as television is concerned, it is over, like it or not. It would be a mistake to try and conclusively round out the series with a movie postscript. It will have to be its own thing. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t have jokes and references that tie back to the show (duh), and lots of easter eggs for the superfans, but still. The war is lost. This is just a bonus battle.
4. Detracting From The Legacy
In a similar vein, there is the fear that if the movie is just good, or even really good, it will still detract from the impeccable legacy left by the epic series. That’s what happens to cult classics. Revisiting them takes some of the secret club shine. You’ll walk out of the theater feeling like the door has been closed in your face for a second time. “That’s it?” you will ask. “That’s what I’ve spent all this time hoping for?” To counteract that, the movie will have to be epic. A classic. I’m not saying it won’t be. I’m just saying the bar is very high now.
3. Relying Too Much On The Past
In countervalence to the Trying To Hard “Reason,” is the over-reliance on past success. If the movie becomes a ham-handed trip down memory lane, it will be a pandering success for low-ambition fans who want nothing more than to see those guys again. But in the long run it will be detrimental to Arrested Development. The movie will be a disappointment, the memories will be tarnished. The George Lucas Effect. It’s that fine line between needing to create something new while incorporating just enough of the classic to tie the thread.
2. A Rare Miss, Arrested Development
The good news is that we’re dealing with all the same people. The whole cast is on board. And Mitch Hurwitz, the show’s creator, is writing the script. But what if lightning doesn’t strike twice? This is the most pessimistic and admittedly unfounded of the “Reasons,” but it’s just possible that Team Magic will turn in bad product (for the first time). Whatever. No they won’t. Right? No they won’t. But they might. But they won’t. But they might.
1. Historical Precedent
The fact of the matter is that movies of TV shows are usually disappointing. They are two different mediums, with different narrative structures, and to condense something as sprawling and cumulative as Arrested Development into an hour and a half is wide open to failure. It happened to the X-Files, and it happened to The Simpsons, and it could easily happen here. (UPDATE: It also happened to Reno 911! and Strangers with Candy. Others?)
AGAIN, I want nothing more than for there to be a never ending series of incredible Arrested Development movies. Our generation’s Police Academy, but actually funny (although a cameo by Michael Winslow is not discouraged). I’m just saying, the road is long. The Arrested Development movie is basically on the Oregon Trail right now, and we need to remember that even if you don’t break a wagon axle, everyone could still die of Cholera.
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I completely agree….
But also, what with Obama’s election and junk, I’m trying to be more hopeful and optimistic. And if I’m going to have to trust anyone in this country, it’s going to be Mitch Horowitz.
Plus, I’m excited about the idea of people dressing up, standing in line the night before, reinacting famous scenes (chicken impressions, boy fights, so many choices), and being ubernerds the night before the premire.
But The Brady Bunch Movie was definitely better than The Brady Bunch.
Wasn’t the Brady Bunch movie one big satire?
i love when you guys refer to the internet as a sovereign entity with feelings and intent – it’s so anthropomorph-y and I love it. it really tickles me pink – which is hard to do because I’m Black. so congrats.
I thought your observations were hysterical. Keep blogging.
So is there any evidence that Michael Cera was ever going to hold out from this movie, other than that interview on MTV where he said he was holding out?
Because that interview seemed to be in line with the type of “I’m-really-important-so-I’m-going-to-big-time-the AD-movie” character I could see him playing. In other words, I thought he was completely joking. Couldn’t it be that the question was whether the movie was going to happen at all, and that it never really had to do with Cera playing hardball at the negotiating table?
You don’t know what you’re saying!
Come on!
I was kind of looking forward to a Cera-less A.D. movie (mainly because of all of the needless speculation). It’s a no-brainer that if Cera decided not to become involved that they could’ve been all ironic and meta about it within the story.
I’m so excited, I’m so scared.
Oh I understand. More than you’ll….never know.
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No, once he dons the button up short sleeve shirts and dockers, it’ll be like old times.
but lyke, nick and norah’s infinite playlist was s0o0oo good <3
Oh man, this is the sort of comment that used to get downvoted to oblivion? 2009 was a more innocent time on Videogum, y’all.
i think this is entirely fair. also, i don’t know why AD superfans are hesitant to admit that season three was sort of uneven and that the MRF shtick was dumb.
i do hope the movie is great though.
I hated the entire Mr. F storyline.
The Mr. F storyline was classic. Whenever any of my female friends do anything patently stupid now, someone will sing “Mr. F” in that breathy English voice.
What?! Crazy! Who are you!?
I think most people hated the Mr. F. storyline.
I did not
Charlize Theron was wonderful
what else was michael cera going to do? play “michael cera” in four more mediocre movies this year? you know i’m actually a little miffed that at some point in the near future i’m going to have to sit through another movie at the multiplex featuring this aloof caricature. I’m feeling kind of hateful today. Call me when he’s NOT playing the role of George Michael, maybe then I won’t have so much pent-up anger. As for all of these thoughts that it could be a bad movie, you said it yourself, “The script isn’t even written yet, you guys. Real Talk”. relax with the reactionary, PRE-release backlash.
Lots wrong with your comment, but the one I’ll mention is that “mediocre” is spelled incorrectly. It’s”mumblecore.”
The major problem is that a lot of TV shows feel the need to go “R” when hitting the big screen and it causes lots of strange out-of-character plots and “new” jokes that fall flat from “R-rated” punchlines.
I think it’s okay to have reservations about any big screen adaption of a TV show that many love dearly; however, I do have a good feeling we will be fine with Arrested Development The Movie.
To clarify. The guidelines/restrictions of primetime TV can result in consistent writing and, albeit limiting, characterization. This is how we have grown to know all the characters and most of us will be unwilling to accept change here. Just because you can do more in a movie doesn’t mean you should.
I loved the subtly of many of the jokes and I don’t want that to be ruined because “you can do more in a movie.” that’s all.
The Scott Pilgrim movie. That’s his big “I’m not just Michael Cera!” thing that’s coming up. And with the talent signed on, it could be really, really good, I think…
But again, he’ll have to do something a bit different to make it work. But I’m a Cera fan, so I think he can.
The two-step process for people on the internet writing about Arrested Development::
1. “Oh please please please make a movie! The show was so good and killed before it’s time! Please make a movie!”
2. “Oh my God they’re making an Arrested Development movie! It’s going to suck! I knew it!”
i don’t think that was the point of this post.
we want it to be hilarious but there are some concerns.
NUANCE.
I thought the beginning of season 3 was a little uneven but still arguably better than any comedy on TV. I’m glad the movie is getting made but it’ll be at least a year before it comes out. No point getting excited now. Oh yeah, most TV shows that get made into movies tend to disappoint but I recently saw Serenity, the movie that wraps up Firefly, and thought it was awesome.
Speaking of Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose… Friday Night Lights recap, anyone? No regrets.
its hard to see if you’re fan, how it won’t not be great. me fail english? thats unpossible.
I don’t understand this, and I won’t respond to it.
Gabe’s right. The precedent has been set for TV shows turned into movies, and it is no es bueno. I mean, Reno 911: Miami? Maybe they should shoot it as three back-to-back episodes.
That might be true in general, but Arrested Development had a structure that was closer to most dramas than comedies, with a through-plotline that developed each week (and had numerous callbacks even between seasons). A show like Reno 911 is made up of primarily self-contained and stand-alone episodes (as evidenced by the fact that they cobble the show together out of bits they shoot out of order).
Agreed – when Fox aired the last 4 episodes back to back I thought it actually worked. Plus, I don’t know that I’ve ever watched a single episode off the DVD without immediately watching a second and a third (at least!)
Does anyone remember the “Strangers With Candy” movie? THAT is what we’re afraid of.
WOAH, Season 3 was the weakest season? We’re really breaking some ground here, aren’t we?!?!?! What’s next? The Office hasn’t been as good since Jim and Pam hooked up! Our best scientists are on this!
Perhaps we should all take a page from David Cross and NOT blame AD Season 3 on Hurwitz & Company but on Fox for cutting the series off at the knees and forcing the show to wrap everything up in the last 4 episodes. And yet it was still better than anything else on television.
That being said, I believe that Cera secretly hates the fact that he has basically had to play George Michael in every movie he’s been in since AD was cancelled. The role is his golden handcuffs. METAPHOR!
3 doesn’t worry me at all. Just because the show referenced itself doesn’t mean it’s going to do so for nostalgia. The show never gave a shit about itself. That’s the charm of it.
The question is, how will they account what will be close to a decade since the end of the series – the movie will be out next summer at the earliest. Saved by meta?
I’m not usually a dick about these things, but the show’s only been off the air for three years. Next summer makes it 4.
My bad. My brain set it back about two or three years.
While I am hesitant about the movie being anywhere near as great as the show, I will be there on opening day wearing cut-off jean shorts & possibly painted blue.
Just cause no one mentioned it, the Twin Peaks movie sucked too.
I guess I have to respond to a Twin Peaks comment. People may have booed and walked out of Fire Walk With Me at Cannes, but I enjoyed it. If you watch it before you watched the TV show it would be awful for many reason – I do agree there. It wasn’t perfect, but I found it to be a decent fix for fans of the show. I think that’s really all you can ask for in the TV-show-2-Movie path.
I tried to find the kid with the paper-mâché mask as my icon, but no such luck.
Exactly! Even though the movie probably won’t live up to expectations – which by now are so high, nothing could live up them – it’ll still be better that most.
Opening night: so there.
Regardless of what happens, I still wish Mitch Hurwitz had taken my virginity.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me didn’t suck and the Simpsons Movie didn’t suck. South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut also far from sucked.
I’m pretty hopeful here.
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Just to clarify, by “ahead” do you mean canceled?
No, I mean extremely popular….
All required for this movie to surpass acceptability and avoid rabid backlash is for Tobias to reprise his Mrs. Doubtfire disguise.
fuck you, internet. fuck you.
Onion?
I think Futurama escape the curse of reason #1.
Onyon?
The big-screen Strangers with Candy was pretty lame for at least three of the reasons Gabe cites. Or four, if “unnecessary celebrity cameos” count as Trying Too Hard. (Also for a sixth reason, the mysterious disappearance of that red-headed girl’s hotness. Speaking of which, re: 30 Rock, wow that girl got hot again.)
TV shows should not become movies, and movies should not become TV shows. Period. Why doesn’t anyone get that? It just never works. Either a story works well in many short periods, or in one long period.
Clear eyes, Full hearts…
Friday Night Lights sure works as a movie and a TV show. I’m gonna go ahead and be a nerd about it and say Star Trek worked too.
And Mash.
I’m old.
I love me some Mrs Featherbottom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKXkfLhn6pA
gabe worries too much, maybe we should kiss to teach him a lesson about obvious!
Heyyyyy Brother
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Just a thought but another Fox cancelled show Firefly that got a movie after the cancellation and was FANTASTIC! It worked as a stand alone movie for newbies and paid homage to the die hard fans with many references to the original series. That said it was in a similar boat as AD is now…. Rabid loyal fan base, full cast participation, and original writers scripting / directing. I am definitely excited about this and until they surprise me with something bad, give them the benefit of the doubt, COME ON!
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I just want to say that I’m really happy you referenced “bad idea jeans” in your post, Gabe. I say that all the time and no one knows what the hell I”m taking about.
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i think censored profanity is funnier than uncensored profanity. i don’t know why, but i’m twice as likely to laugh if i hear the bleep.
agreed. the buster rant where it beeps for like 15 seconds and you can just see his hand motions is pure genius.
Why are you doing this? Don’t do this!
All I know is the script needs something that says…”daddy likes leather”.
something that says “leather daddy”?
Saddam look-alike that behave like Uday look-alike, “I\ll put a fig in my mouth”, I’m no scar.com- Iraq plotline was awesome.
you got it right. i have the three seasons on DVD and somehow i would feel much more comfortable if this whole thing was now released on DVD. I don’t want them to do a big premiere, expect people to actually go to the theatre and see it. Most of the comments here are dead on about Michael Cera. Is he now reconsidering his new found Superbad fame after that lame ass playlist movie. I just can’t explain it, can somebody help me, why am i not excited at all about this movie? Sometimes is just good to see good things come to an end.
or maybe they can do a series of DVD releases like Futurama and everybody will be happy. This movie will make no money in the theatres and will be a total disaster, it will only give me the feeling of the series being cancelled all over again.
Dude! The Simpsons Movie was awesome!! [Hums spider pig...]
Serenity was a great movie that continued on from the (very) short lived TV show Firefly that was also canceled by Fox.
Both the show and movie are excellent.
also happened to dead like me.. that movie was BAD
Agreed whole heartedly… that show was fantastic… I loved every second of it and when it ended I was so very sad… then I saw there was a movie… a glint of hope appeared! at last some closure! But the replacement of Laura Harris as Daisy the unfortunate unpresent Rube, and the horrible story was what made this movie a huge black mark on the series. The other thing that bugged me was that alot of the characters changed their personalities in the movie. Daisy became this desparate drug and alcohol addled mega floosie who would sleep with not just movie stars, but ANYONE. Even Mason kind of became a sniviling limey shadow of his former character.
In conclusion, the movie sucked, the series was great, I miss Dead Like Me.
I don’t know. One one hand I want to see the story develop but on the other hand the way the show was filmed to would make for a bland movie. The best thing for us Arrested Development fans is to hope & pray. Just like the article said “the George Lucus effect”. And I was pissed then & better not feel ripped off here either.
When are studio execs going to figure out that most of us would rather just have four or five new episodes. And if they want to release them all together and only in theaters — that would be fine, I’d gladly pay $9 to see that. That’s how TV-to-movie should be done with shows that no longer exist.
Is it the accumulated bong resin in my musty old claptrap of a brain…or did the original idea for an AD movie come from a joking reference to it on Defamer? It seems like an idea that sort of got carried away with itself.
they actually referred to it in the last moment of the series finale. Ron Howard said “I don’t see it as a series… maybe a movie.” the speculation started there.
The Simpsons movie is better than any episode from the last 8 years. Not that it’s that great, but compared to the abysmal quality of recent episodes, I would hardly call it a failure.
In my opinion the X Files movie was a success, but I agree that it usually doesn’t work out for t.v. shows trying to make it on the big screen. In terms of the actors, like Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, ect., it won’t impact their careers if the movie does poorly, because they have already established themselves (and their characters) in the few short seasons of the show. I mean this comes down to making money, and people will go see it. The industry does not care if they tarnish the legacy of the show. I mean Comedy Central’s South Park hit the nail on the head with their Indiana Jones show. They just don’t care.
run ronnie run…
I’m pretty sure it will be t3h amazings no matter what, because I have no taste in movies.
There is literally no chance that the Arrested Development movie will fail.
I understand the fear of this upcoming movie, underachieving the hilarity of the original series, but the fact of the matter is that the cast of this show is filled with incredible actors and comedians (Will Arnett, David Cross, Jason Bateman, and Jeffrey Tambor) to name a few. Im sure Mitchell Hurwitz is just as witty and creative as ever. And in my opinion, the show can be taken soo much further plot wise. Maebys relationship with George Michael now that they have discovered that they are not actually cousins, Lucieles involvement in the company’s fraud. And shit… lets not forget the random stupidity and hilarity that charachters like Tobias, Gob, and Buster would provide. The fact of the matter is, the opportunity to give closure to the supporting fans of this timeless classic is just to good to pass up.
i’ve been harping on this point for months now! i’ll still see the movie, but i dont have high hopes
Just like the SATC movie was…different than the show (a serious sandwich of 80 min with good ol’ sassy fun bread)….and the same with simpsons and the like, it will not make us forget the awesome that is and will always be the TV show.
I say for shows that seemed to have unfinished business, they could do a movie every other year just to remind us how much we loved these characters and resist living without them. and it’ll be less on ratings and more on dvd sales, right? right??
I’m still crossing my fingers.
Five reasons you maybe an idiot for posting this.
1. You compared Police Academy to Arrested Development, what’s next, are you gonna compare Apples to some fruit no one’s ever heard of?
2. You compare Arrested Development to Reno 911!, have you even watched AD?
3. If the movie is three mediocre episodes of the show, it’s still better than anything on TV or at the movies!
4. The movie is going to be great!
5. Cause you’re an idiot
I’ve made a huge mistake.
that sucked. what a waste. write something better next time. i think YOU just ruined arrested development. and the internet.
Can you taste the happy?
I just hope it makes our bananas stand.
There’s money…. IN the BANANA STAND!