As 'Spooks' And 'Entourage' Make It To The Big Screen, We Celebrate Those TV Shows That DID Survive The Jump To Film
The TV Shows That DID Survive The Jump To The Cinema
The Huffington Post UK
|
Cinema today is in the Era of The Adaptation, with studios looking to TV for their big ideas. It’s not surprising – the cost of making a film these days necessitates a level of high-confidence about its chances, and a built-in fan-base goes a long way to ensuring that bums hit seats upon release. What is a surprise, however, is how few films are based on television series. We’re unlikely to ever see Jon Hamm’s Don Draper on the big screen, and the chances of a Friends-reunion dips with every passing year. Poor Joey may never get his Hollywood break ...
There are many reasons for the lack of this particular adaptation. Television show runners are notoriously protective about their product – resenting the idea of hot shot Hollywood producers putting their fingers all over their carefully cultivated creations. Then there’s the issue of actors too, feeling that the role has run its natural course. But the most significant, is that everyone involved understands the hugely delicate balancing act of ensuring that the film doesn’t alienate the television show’s original fan-base – a passionate audience that may have invested a couple of hours a week into a series over many years – all whilst expanding to reach a fresh new audience.
Open Image Modal
'Entourage' is one of the two latest big TV-to-film projects coming to cinemas
There have been some clangers over the years. Live-action recreations of children’s classics in particular have proved hit and miss at the best of times. There is something inherently strange – nay, creepy – about grown adults sporting the clothes of cartoon characters: which is probably why it is only really acceptable on Halloween. Thunderbirds (complete with Busted themetune), The Flinstones, and Sarah Michelle-Gellar-starring Scooby-Doo all drew ire from television viewers. (And nobody mention 'Sex and the City 2' during this conversation!)
Two more cabs off the block are 'Spooks: The Greater Good' (out today in cinemas) and the upcoming, highly-anticipated 'Entourage Movie'. Both have secured plenty of plenty of their original series' DNA, with superspy Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) returning to the 'Spooks' film, and Vincent Chase, brother Drama, driver Turtle, manager 'E' and their impassioned agent Ari Gold all staying within the 'Entourage'.
Open Image Modal
Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) is surprisingly under suspicion from the organisation he used to run in 'Spooks: The Greater Good'
From first viewings, both these films have managed the rare feat of keeping the original beloved chemistry of their shows intact, while expanding and pushing the narrative further on to justify a big screen outing.
In 'Spooks: The Greater Good', it is intelligence chief Harry Pearce who has been pushed outside the system, suspected of treachery and having to rely on his protege Will Holloway ('Game of Thrones' star Kit Harington) to clear his name.
Over in 'Entourage: The Movie' (on release from 19 June), it looks like Vince's dreams will all come true, when his former agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) is made the head of a studio, able to greenlight all and any project. He wants Vince... ah, but Vince wants to direct.
To mark the arrival of these two hopefully great films, we've compiled our top ten favourites of those TV shows without so much as a bump... cross fingers both 'Spooks: The Greater Good' and 'Entourage: The Movie' do at least this well.
TV Shows That Became Films
21 Jump Street (2012)(01 of10)
Open Image Modal
If John Hughes slid in next to Michael Bay and the Farrelly brothers at the school cafeteria table, 21 Jump Street would possibly be the product of that lunch hour chitchat. Cook the awesome-80s television series with the spitfire comedy of Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’s fish out of water wallops to the funny bone, and you get a crisp take on that pair of underachieving, undercover cops sent back to high school to take down a synethic drug ring. While critics initially discounted the need for a movie adaptation of Johnny Depp’s breakout series, the silver-screen comedy ended up being, ‘like, a totally tubular’ success, depicting a radical departure from the TV show’s overly dramatic tone. Safe to assume Korean Jesus answered executive producer Jonah Hill’s prayers?
Borat (2006)(02 of10)
Open Image Modal
Jagshemash! This great success movie-film hardly needs an introduction. Elevating (or lowering) the outrageous comedy of Da Ali G Show to glorious new levels, this satirical and controversial shock-umentay, which documented merrily offensive Kazakh “journalist” Borat’s real-life American road-trip encounters, caused thousands of theatrical audiences to gasp and grin in disbelief ... Particularly at the sight of Sacha Baron Cohen rocking that infamous neon sling bikini (we wish we had a batch of so-called ‘gypsy tears’ with which to burn the memory). Perhaps the most shocking of all, however, is the fact that the film won universal critical acclaim for its achievements in filmmaking – bringing attention to issues of prejudice and ignorance – and was even nominated for an Oscar. Very nice. High-five!
Mission Impossible (1996)(03 of10)
Open Image Modal
Adaptation: Successful. Based on the 1960s/70s-era television spy series of the same alias, Tom Cruise (literally) turned the franchise and the action genre sideways with new heights of death-defying activity. Should you choose to watch, Mission Impossible dominates as the genre superpower, having set new cinematic targets for imaginative stunts (Ethan Hunt’s classic vault scene stole our breath away) and earned more travel miles than James Bond thanks to the trend of shooting exotic and dangerous locations. And, before he was jumping up and down all crazy on couches, Agent Tom defected from Hollywood tradition by jumping up and down all crazy off skyscrapers and helicopters as his own stunt-person – a big first. Now let’s just hope this list doesn’t now self-destruct...
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)(04 of10)
Open Image Modal
And now! At last! An adaptation completely different from some of the other films on this list which aren’t quite the same as this one is. Setting the cinema back 900 years, the illustrious British comedy troupe of Monty Python mime-trot their way, against the serene sound of banging coconuts, off of their popular BBC television programme and onto the silver screen for this tale of King Arthur, his knights, and their low-budget search for the Holy Grail. Extraordinarily hilarious and blithely ridiculous,this cult classic has mopped up best comedy lists on both sides of the pond, and inspired the hit Tony Award-winning musical Spamalot.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)(05 of10)
Open Image Modal
It’ll be difficult to make it through this entry without using a pun or four... Here’s an adaptation that packs great punch and spunk: Although ABC expunged its series Police Squad! after only six episodes,the movie adaptation, which sees Leslie Nielsen’s Clouseau-esque Detective Drebin bumble his way through foiling an assassination on Queen Elizabeth II, became an instant cult classic. With its fast- paced slapstick comedy and countless visual and verbal gags and puns (there are 100), the film is widely considered across critics’ lists to be one of the best comedies of all time. And with Ed Helms of American 'The Office' fame cast as Drebin in the upcoming reboot of the film series, pundits are forecasting a 50/50 chance of the film being next year’s big Oscar winner, although there’s only a 10 percent chance of that.
The Blues Brothers (1980)(06 of10)
Open Image Modal
We wouldn’t necessarily take this cheeky musical comedy to church, but that doesn’t discount it from having a huge cult following. Developed from Saturday Night Live’s popular “The Blues Brothers” musical sketch, this tale of brotherly redemption is a treat for the soul and for the ears, pulsating with the R&B and blues stylings of musical archangels like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles.With John Belushi’s on-set partying, drug use, and destructive car chases, and Dan Akroyd’s original 324-page free-verse screenplay, the production of this film proved to be a mission from God in itself. Brutally brilliant from start to finish.
The Inbetweeners Movie (2011)(07 of10)
Open Image Modal
If American Pie had a pluckier and cheekier younger British cousin, it would this coming-of-age comedy based on E4’s much-loved late-‘00s sitcom. With A-levels and their years at Rudge Park Comprehensive in the bag (so long and good riddance, Mr. Gilbert!) the film picks up where the television series left off, seeing the not-so-ace gang off on an impromptu graduation trip to Crete. It’s not The Inbetweeners without lad’s lad misadventure, and there’s most definitely plenty of alcohol- and-hormone-infused action to go around. Surprisingly, however, the film performs well as a solid sunblock against the pervasive rays of that overbearing teen summer holiday formula, providing some truly tender bro’ moments. Enjoy the trip, but just don’t get so excited that you punch a fish to death.
The Untouchables (1987)(08 of10)
Open Image Modal
Any film that stars both Robert De Niro and Sean Connery is obviously going to be the bee’s knees, let alone the cat’s pyjamas. The two bosses of the silver screen headline this nifty gangsta talkie that sees a federal agent and his team attempt to high-hat legendary mob boss Al Capone during prohibition- era Chi-KAW-go. ABC’s 1950s/1960s-era television series of the same name was a landmark in police dramas (the keen ol’ granddaddy of the Law and Order empire, perhaps?), and the film does the same level of justice to the gangster genre – despite Sean Connery sporting history’s most dubious Irish-American accent.
Transformers (2007)(09 of10)
Open Image Modal
There’s more than meets the eye in this colossal summer sci-fi blockbuster that brought the action of the Transformers toy line to life. Combusting larger-than-life special effects with a witty and surprisingly human storyline, Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg give the 1980s animated television and film series of the same name a serious new coat of paint. Despite robots dodging this way and that, the flick is anything but a kiddy movie with its military-grade explosions, Japanese craftsman- style “product” design, and Megan Fox forever winning fan-boy hearts from her very first scene. With three sequels already on the market and another on the horizon, it’s clear that this summer franchise will keep trucking along.
Wayne's World (1992)(10 of10)
Open Image Modal
Hurtling onto our list and into the number one slot, it’s (cue head-banging) Wayne’s World! Wayne’s World! Party time! Excellent! A regular chart-topper on all-time best comedies and most quotable movie lists, we’re not worthy of the legendary Saturday Night Live skit’s rad-tastic spin-off that tailgates two slacker friends and their mullets as they try to promote their public-access cable show. Head-banging moments include witnessing Mike Myers’ comedic prowess for the first time ever on the big screen (again – we’re not worthy!), and that epic takedown of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in Garth’s AMC Pacer – a blockbuster moment in itself. Never mind its star status in the best of television-to-film category – this film is clearly responsible for spawning an entire generation of YouTube sensations. Schwing!
'Entourage' Series 1 to 8 is available on DVD boxset and digital download.
'Spooks' fans can find Season Eight of the spy spectacular, which enjoys its channel premiere on Sony Entertainment Television (Sky 157, Virgin 193, BT and TalkTalk 454) on Tuesday 12th May, from 9pm, and plays weekly.