ROTTEN TOMATOES: Happy Madison Developing Remake of The Toy

Happy Madison Developing Remake of The Toy

by Fred Topel | October 16, 2007

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There's a new addition to the growing list of old movies getting remade: The Toy, a 1982 Richard Pryor vehicle about a rich kid who buys a black man to play with. Writer Tom Brady (The Hot Chick, The Animal) is at work on the script for Adam Sandler's Happy Madison production company.

"I'm still in the early writing stages," said Brady. "A slightly different take than the Richard Pryor one obviously, but kind of a current, more fully fleshed out version of that premise."

Brady is also drawing on a more modern source. "It's got a little bit of this new cool book out called Dangerous Book for Boys. It's all about boy stuff, everything from paper airplanes to clubhouses to fishing to pocket knives. It's about celebrating what it is to be a boy. That's the premise to get you in and what happens is he bonds with this kid and they both learn from each other."

Happy Madison projects can go to anyone from Sandler to Rob Schneider or Allen Covert. Brady sets his sights high. "In my mind, it's for Adam so I'll keep shooting at that target."

Either way, it won't be a black guy. "The racial stuff is in there, I can't really say how, but it's from a different source. It's still edgy in that way."

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(1-20 of 24 posts) | Reply

Rock_The_Luau writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:31 PM

Lame.

(Reply to this)

GreenBastard writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:33 PM

****.

(Reply to this)

dracus writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:50 PM

Happy Madison projects can go to anyone from Sandler to Rob Schneider or Allen Covert. Brady sets his sights high. "In my mind, it's for Adam so I'll keep shooting at that target."

Fred, you wrote that above line with such passion and sincerity. If that's not the sign of a great writer, nothing is LOL!

(Reply to this)

blinkybrown writes:
on Oct 16 2007 08:08 PM

Fantastic...another pointless remake. Not that Sandler's original films are any good anymore. At least his comedies. Punch Drunk Love rocked.

(Reply to this)

Cmedic79 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 08:17 PM

Sandler has developed into a fine actor and is constantly growing. Watch reign over me. Just remember Tom Hanks did do a movie with a donkey show in it durring his early career. I think if done right and with Sandler as the lead this could be a really nice feel good movie. Miss watching those

(Reply to this)

dontdoghb writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:07 PM

Good luck topping Ricahard Pryor. Why can't people come up with original ideas anymore?????

(Reply to this)

killermonkey8822 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:39 PM

that is...... one of the worst ideas.... i have heard in a... very long time.

(Reply to this)

kungfu_sage writes:
on Oct 16 2007 10:04 PM

well if the guy isn't going to be black than whats the point, the original, though a comedy, was meant as social commentary based around some one owning a black man.

(Reply to this)

0LDB0Y writes:
on Oct 17 2007 01:39 AM

Rob Schneider is best in the business. Just look at all his Oscar films! The list goes on and on. This remake can only survive with Rob's incredible talent and his devotion for quality films.

We love you Rob!

(Reply to this)

jaggs writes:
on Oct 17 2007 04:51 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197136)
killermonkey8822 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:39 PM

that is...... one of the worst ideas.... i have heard in a... very long time.

Well said James T. Kirk

(Reply to this)

Pilgermann writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:31 AM

"I think if done right and with Sandler as the lead this could be a really nice feel good movie. Miss watching those"

Cmedic79, please look at who's writing this film. This movie won't be anything like that. THE TOY sucks in the first place, but with the writer of THE HOT CHICK and THE ANIMAL on board, I don't picture this being much better...it'll probably be worse (I did notice that he wrote a few episodes of THE CRITIC, so maybe he isn't a total idiot, but I still have zero interest in this movie).

(Reply to this)

brokendesireltd writes:
on Oct 17 2007 07:16 AM

There is no talent left in Hollywood, no new ideas, no execs willing to take risks on new ideas, and no one in mainstream America willing to pay for a movie ticket for anything that doesn't have a 2,3,or 4 after the title.

(Reply to this)

Y4USay writes:
on Oct 17 2007 09:17 AM

Every time someone has a new spin on a old idea people start complaining about there's no new ideas. It's not that you're wrong, but seriously shut up already. Every time one of these remakes are mentioned someone feels they have to say it for the millionth ****ing time and I think we all get it. Just don't even remark. Or do remark and just sound like another brain dead idiot without your own new ideas.

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bluestar50 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 09:42 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197404)
Just get David Spade a role too. He's starred in a lot of Oscar movies with Rob Schneider. One other thought for a supporting role, Cuba Gooding.

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taran72 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 09:51 AM

Bluestar50, that's an awesome idea. David Spade as the snotty rich white guy, and Cuba Gooding as the thinly-veiled slavery metaphor. Rob Schneider can be the rich son, in full "Clifford" mode. Sandler can executive produce, to add the name and the cherry on top. Man, if that movie did not make $100mil, then my faith in humanity would be absolutely shattered.

(Reply to this)

jlf278 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 10:48 AM

Rob Schneider is an average guy down on his luck, but then duhr dee dur-duhr Rob Schneider durh dee duhr is a stapler!

(Reply to this)

dahluzz writes:
on Oct 17 2007 10:49 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197671)
dude, the guy's name is 'Broken Desire' clearly he doesn't have a lot of fresh, optomisitic thoughts on his mind. and now you're complaining about him not having any new ideas. ha!

(Reply to this)

jaggs writes:
on Oct 17 2007 11:32 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197820)
haha that was a funny episode. they say truth is often stranger than fiction but sometimes truth can be just as funny too.

(Reply to this)

gruesomewilleh writes:
on Oct 17 2007 05:13 PM

I think we should all just look at what other movies Tom Brady has made..."The hot chick", and "The animal"....Dear god people...why do you still go to the movies...?

(Reply to this)

Cmedic79 writes:
on Oct 17 2007 06:37 PM

In reply to this comment (#1197471)
Pilgermann: I see your point with Brady's last screenplays but I recently read the Dangerous Book For Boys and feel that Brady might be able to draw a lot from that book. This will never beat the original in my eyes but it might just produce in the end. Not all remakes are horrible. Guess I'll just have to keep my fingures crossed.

(Reply to this)