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« Today's News: Our Take
Betty Does Dallas: Brady Buncher Plays J.R. for Laughs
Larry Hagman courtesy CBS Television/SOAPnet
Betty Thomas, the director who delivered two tongue-in-cheek Brady Bunch movies to the cineplex, is in talks to seize the reins of the big-screen Dallas remake, which at this oft, oft-delayed point still has John Travolta attached to play J.R. Ewing. Screenwriter Pam Brady (Hot Rod, and perhaps related to Cousin Oliver?) is taking a fresh, fresher crack at the script.
Over the course of the assorted delays, such once-eyed stars as Jennifer Lopez (as Sue Ellen), Luke Wilson (Bobby) and Shirley MacLaine (Miss Ellie) have bailed on the adaptation. Meg Ryan was the latest name bandied about to tackle Sue Ellen. A January 2008 start date is now being targeted.
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Aug 24, 2007 4:59 PM
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I wish they would just let this horrible project die already
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Aug 24, 2007 5:02 PM
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Oh yes, when I think of a Jennifer Lopez type, or even a Linda Gray type, my mind immediately goes to Meg Ryan???
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Aug 24, 2007 6:12 PM
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 CinderAngelkc! So true!
And Lisa, my gut tells me you're absolutely right. I think a Dallas movie would be as big a train wreck as most of the other attempts to do TV on the big screen! Bewitched! Dukes of Hazzard! Starsky and Hutch! How many times does Hollywood need to prove to itself that that it hurts the franchise to do these horrendous films? Since they are mostly train wrecks, what about Supertrain: The Movie!!!?
On the other hand, in my opinion, the only movies that were done right were the two big screen Brady Bunch movies. They were respectful enough to the original, yet hilarious in their sendup of the times. They let fans in on the joke, rather than what the other movies I've cited have done.
If Betty Thomas were to do a Dallas movie, though, she shouldn't Brady it up. She should make it a fairly straight adaptation, but use humor as dryly and effectively as the original series did. Remember the malevolent delight with which J.R. used to smack down Cliff Barnes? The juicy yet subtle insults that used to fly across the dinner table at Southfork? I think if anyone can do it, Thomas can.
Again, though, the question is whether anyone should!
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Aug 24, 2007 7:21 PM
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Meg Ryan would be 1000% better as Sue Ellen than John Travolta as J.R.
But turning Dallas into a comedic farce? I wouldn't pay to see it.
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Aug 24, 2007 7:24 PM
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You have got to be kidding? Meg Ryan as Sue Ellen???????? I could see her as Pam Ewing but definitely not Sue Ellen.
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Aug 24, 2007 7:44 PM
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I won't make a decision on whether or not to see it until.....
1. It actually is made and in theaters (or straight to DVD).
2. I find out who is playing the various roles - and if I think I can tolerate it!
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Aug 24, 2007 8:43 PM
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She should make it a fairly straight adaptation, but use humor as dryly and effectively as the original series did...the malevolent delight with which J.R. used to smack down Cliff Barnes...The juicy yet subtle insults that used to fly across the dinner table at Southfork? - TV Gord
Gord, I agree!
I've been watching the original series lately (I'm in the middle of Season 6), and there are so many wonderfully sly and funny lines on the show.
But they aren't just cheap laughs -- they come from the characters' personalities and the situations.
As a huge Dallas fan, I was happy at first to hear there would be a big screen adaptation -- I think it could be spectacular, with the right cast and script.
However, every piece of news that has come out about it sends shudders down my spine -- with two exceptions.
I thought Shirley MacLaine as Miss Ellie was acceptable, and Meg Ryan is a much more plausible choice as Sue Ellen than Jennifer Lopez. (I disagree that Ryan should play Pam -- she's a little too old for that character.)
Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy always claimed that they wanted to do a Dallas parody movie.
In a 1996 interview with Susan King of the Los Angeles Times, Duffy said, "We even considered at one time, and I still think it would be a great idea, to do the Airplane! version of Dallas as a feature film and just go for right-off-the-wall humor."
Thankfully, that never got made -- and this misbegotten clusterfumble shouldn't either.
The part I find most unfathomable is that the creators of the original series would sit still for this.
How bad have the intervening years been for them that they would sell the rights for their most prized creation and allow it to be turned into a joke?
As J.R. himself would say, "Those boys are dumber than ol' Cliff Barnes -- and let me tell you, Barnes is pretty dumb."
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Aug 24, 2007 10:03 PM
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 John Travolta, Meg Ryan make terrible choices for Dallas, which should never be made into a comedy.
If poorly made, it will be another flop.
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Aug 24, 2007 11:37 PM
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Hmmm John Travolta could be good. He was great in Primary colors...so he could do this. As for Sue Ellen...well lets remember she was a beauty queen. And Jennifer Lopez still looks good. Sue Ellen had that kind of Life worn ya down kind of way so im gonna get drunk. So really the better choice would be Susan Sarandon? Really if you are gonna play John Travolta off someone, lets not make it someone who looks 15 years younger than him.
As for Pam and all that....Pam was young. So someone like an Anne Hathaway might be good. Billy Bob Thorton could be Ray Crebs, and Bobby needs someone who can project honesty and frustration well. Joaquin Phoenix? As for Miss Ellie. Well Barbra Bel Gedes I think was the original Maggie the Cat in Cat on a hot tin Roof...(And no not the movie) So why not Elizabeth Taylor? She needs a job.
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Aug 25, 2007 1:05 AM
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I can see Joaquin Phoenix as Bobby and Anne Hathaway as Pam, jessicafreels, but beyond that, I'm afraid I have to disagree with your casting choices.
John Travolta has been great in lots of things, but he's all wrong for the part of J.R. Ewing.
Billy Bob Thornton has also been good in many things, but he has a creepy quality that just doesn't suit Ray Krebbs.
Susan Sarandon is just plain too old to be Sue Ellen. On the original series, Sue Ellen was seemingly younger than J.R. (Larry Hagman was 47 when Dallas started, and Linda Gray was 38.) I would say Sue Ellen should be about 35 in the movie. Sarandon is 61.
Elizabeth Taylor is not acting anymore due to health problems, but even if she were, I don't see her as Miss Ellie.
I've been trying to come up with some suggestions of my own, but I'm drawing blanks. This is a hard movie to cast.
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Aug 25, 2007 2:45 AM
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jessicafreels
i have been catching up on DALLAS on the soap net channel and i have some opinions here...
BILLY BOB THORNTON as Ray Krebbs is F***ING INSPIRED HONEYCHILE!!!!!!
i am into the idea of shirley mclaine as miss ellie although i don't think that would be loyal to the show. miss ellie was not shirley tough. shirley is a bad ass OKaaaaaaaaay????
i think MISHA BARTON FROM THE OC should play Pam. whenever i watched that show and saw her -- i would think of Pam! 
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Aug 25, 2007 5:44 AM
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I was really looking forward to a take on Dallas as more Enron-type corporate intrigue - it was my understanding that the Enron collapse is what fueled talk of the big-screen adaptation to begin with.
As far as casting it should be Texas natives Dennis Quaid and Matthew McComeherehoney as JR and Bobby. Catherine Zeta Jones would have been my Sue Ellen (she's a former Miss TExas - do you know how beautiful you have to be to win Miss TExas? Think of all the women you are competing against - you must be drop-dead gorgeous) and J.Lo as Pam. Pam was the result of an affair Pam's mom had when married to Digger - think of how much more messed up that would be if she were hispanic? REmember, we are talking about the Ewings here..... and there are just too many good actors in their 60's and 70's who could play Jock and Miss Ellie.....
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Aug 25, 2007 2:15 PM
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I think it would be fun to have Brad Pitt as Ray Krebbs, since he was on the original series, playing one of his step-daughter Charley's boyfriends. A sly little wink to the longtime fans. l-)
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Aug 25, 2007 2:32 PM
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Well how about Gene Hackman as Jock? Or Robert Duvall?
That being said, you know Gena Rowlands played off Duvall in "Something to talk about" And they were great. So she could be a good Miss Ellie. Kira Sedgwick was in that and she might be a GREAT Sue Ellen.
But I think you need a little slimy to play Cliff. How abhout Vince Vaughn?
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Aug 25, 2007 4:15 PM
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