DROP DEAD FRED remake to star Russell Brand

No, this is not a very late April Fool's Day gag. According to The Hollywood Reporter, British comedian Russell Brand will star in a remake of the 199o Phoebe Cates/Rik Mayall bomb about a woman who rediscovers her childhood imaginary friend.

While I'm getting really burned out on remakes, I can actually see some potential in this idea. The original film had an interesting premise and some really appealing actors in the leads, but squandered it all with lackluster direction and a truly atrocious script. Great movies don't need remakes, but a Drop Dead Fred has potential. And while Brand can be irritating, I've seen him in action on UK TV and he can exhaustingly funny, he hits you with a joke every three seconds or so and has a frenetic energy that reminds me of the early Robin Williams. Plus, he already looks like an imaginary character. The Reporter says they're aiming for a Tim Burton feel with the remake, and that sounds about right. It's an idea with the potential for a lot of cute/grotesque stuff in the Burton vein.

But, what's this? The script is co-written by Dennis McNicholas, one of the writers of Universal's upcoming Land of the Lost remake? Whoa. Not a good sign.

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