The Next Reel Film Podcast

With such a strong curriculum vitae in comedy films, having Jay Roach direct a remake of Francis Veber's Le Dîner de Cons looks great on paper. But when it comes time to write, direct, and release the movie, does it hold up as well?

Show Notes

"Maybe you're a penguin, Tim, but Julie's not a penguin. She's a lioness. Don't try to mate a lioness with a penguin. Ever.”

Aside from a few dips onto other genres, Jay Roach generally sticks with comedies, and seems to fare well when he's doing big, broad ones. Take the Austin Power films, or perhaps Meet the Fockers. With such a strong curriculum vitae in comedy films, having him direct a remake of Francis Veber's Le Dîner de Cons looks great on paper. But when it comes time to write, make, and release the movie, does it hold up as well? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Francis Veber and His Remakes series with the remake of his 1998 film Le Dîner de Cons with Roach's 2010 film Dinner for Schmucks.

We talk about the general vibe that this remake feels so American, and what that means to the farce in the translation. We look at the construction of the characters and why we preferred them in the original. We chat about comedy beats that worked really well for us and gave us a sense of the Roach we were wanting. We discuss the nature of Veber's films and why they seem so translatable. We talk about the actors, notably Paul Rudd and Steve Carell, but also Bruce Greenwood, Octavia Spencer, Stéphanie Szostak, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement, Lucy Punch, and more. We touch on Theodore Shapiro's always great comedy score. And we touch on the title and how it compares to the original.

It's an interesting concept for a film that doesn't hold up to the original, but it still allows for a great conversation. So check it out then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Creators and Guests

Host
Andy Nelson
With over 25 years of experience in film, television, and commercial production, Andy has cultivated an enduring passion for storytelling in all its forms. His enthusiasm for the craft began in his youth when he and his friends started making their own movies in grade school. After studying film at the University of Colorado Boulder, Andy wrote, directed, and produced several short films while also producing indie features like Netherbeast Incorporated and Ambush at Dark Canyon. Andy has been on the production team for award-winning documentaries such as The Imposter and The Joe Show, as well as TV shows like Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Dentists and Nat Geo’s Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers. Over a decade ago, he started podcasting with Pete and immediately embraced the medium. Now, as a partner at TruStory FM, Andy looks forward to more storytelling through their wide variety of shows. Throughout his career, Andy has passed on his knowledge by teaching young minds the crafts of screenwriting, producing, editing, and podcasting. Outside of work, Andy is a family man who enjoys a good martini, a cold beer, a nice cup o’ joe. And always, of course, a great movie.
Host
Pete Wright
#Movies, #ADHD, & #Podcasting • Co-founder @trustory.fm🎥 The Next Reel Family of #Film Podcasts @thenextreel.com🎙️ Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast @takecontroladhd.com📖 Co-author of Unapologetically ADHD • https://unapologeticallyadhdbook.com

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

A show about movies and how they connect.
We love movies. We’ve been talking about them, one movie a week, since 2011. It’s a lot of movies, that’s true, but we’re passionate about origins and performance, directors and actors, themes and genres, and so much more. So join the community, and let’s hear about your favorite movies, too.
When the movie ends, our conversation begins.