Top 10 Worst Comedy Movie Remakes
They just can't leave well enough alone, can they? Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Worst Comedy Movie Remakes. For this list, we're looking at those remakes of classic comedy movies, or movies with comedic elements, that were considered unnecessary and terrible from a critical or commercial standpoint.
Special thanks to our users John MasterFall for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 10 Worst Comedy Movie Remakes
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They just can’t leave well enough alone, can they? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 worst comedy movie remakes. For this list, we’re looking at those remakes of classic comedy movies, or movies with comedic elements, that were considered unnecessary and terrible from a critical or commercial standpoint.
#10: “Fame” (2009)
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Both versions of “Fame” tell the same story: a group of young adults experiences life as students of the performing arts in New York. The problem is that they tell this story very differently. The 1980 original was filled with flawed, interesting personalities who actually acted like human beings. The remake, on the other hand, was filled with hollow characters that were watered down for the tween audience. The result was less a realistic portrayal of young adulthood and more closely resembling the later seasons of “Glee.” This remake ain’t gonna live forever.
#9: “The Ladykillers” (2004)
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Tom Hanks, J.K. Simmons, the Coen brothers. What could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot, apparently. A remake of the 1955 original starring the likes of Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers, this film follows a group of robbers posing as classical musicians while they rent rooms from an old lady. What could’ve been an interesting premise turned into unsubtle broad comedy in the remake, whereas the original had a sense of darkness and intrigue. Tom Hanks admittedly gives it his all, but the annoying comedy and pointless characters turn this remake into a farce that garnered mixed reviews upon release.
#8: “Guess Who” (2005)
Spencer Tracy and Sidney Poitier turn into Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher. Uh oh. The original film, 1967’s notable “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” saw Poitier as an African American man meeting his future, white in-laws. The remake, on the other hand, reverses the races, with Kutcher meeting his African-American girlfriend’s folks. But the reversal isn’t the problem: Kutcher and Mac make a boring pair, and the writing is so bland that any hints of cultural observations or thematic importance are instantly flushed away. Instead, we’re treated to tired racial jokes we’ve heard a million times, and an ending that everyone saw coming from a mile away.
#7: “The Women” (2008)
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Going back to 1939, “The Women” starred Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, among others, as two in a group of interconnected women who are dealing with romance. A remake was released almost 70 years later featuring a who’s who of Hollywood’s female royalty; however, amid all the stars the story loses almost all of its impact, and becomes just another lousy remake. With such a powerful cast behind it, “The Women” should’ve been a major hit, or at least a critical darling, but instead, it misses the point of the original entirely and becomes a boring, preachy lesson in feminism rather than a funny, yet daring story like the original.
#6: “The Stepford Wives” (2004)
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Part comedy; part thriller, “The Stepford Wives” tells the story of the questionable, all-too-perfect women of Stepford, Connecticut. While the original tilted more towards the horrific aspects of the story in an effort to criticize domestic perfection, the remake removes all the tension and intrigue, devolving into a flat comedy that doesn’t resonate with the audience. While the acting is good and the film looks great visually, the 2004 movie becomes just what the original was critiquing: something with a pretty exterior with no substance to back it up.
#5: “Swept Away” (2002)
A remake of a smarter and more ambitious 1974 Italian film of the same name, Guy Ritchie’s “Swept Away” follows a capitalist woman and a communist man who are stranded on an island together. The story allows for a wealth of possible directions and thematic observations – until you hear that Madonna, the director’s wife, is the leading lady. With her in the role, the character becomes something simply to look at rather than a complex, nuanced individual. Without any depth to its characters, the movie was a box office bomb that was awarded a total of five Razzies. It’s possible that with a different actress, “Swept Away” could’ve succeeded, but we doubt it.
#4: “The Pink Panther” (2006)
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Originating in 1963’s “The Pink Panther,” Peter Sellers’ French inspector Jacques Clouseau is one of comedy’s greatest creations. He’s bumbling and annoying, but all in fun and innocent ways, as he attempts to foil a jewel thief. For the 2006 remake, the beloved Steve Martin dons the signature trench and hat, and the results are...less than extraordinary. While Martin at least tries, the movie is filled with family-friendly slapstick that even kids would find uninspired, and most of the lazy humor derives from a fake French accent. The film was nominated for two Razzies, including one for “Worst Remake or Rip-off.” Did this film really call for a sequel?
#3: “Taxi” (2004)
Before landing his sweet gig on “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon was known for his constant breaking on “Saturday Night Live,” and for appearing in some subpar movies – including this one. Released in 1998, the original “Taxi” is a French film about a tarnished taxi driver chauffeuring a police officer. Released only six years later, the remake is entirely unnecessary and considerably worse in every way. Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon make an awful pairing, and the plot consists of nothing more than a bunch of hot babes and wacky car chases. Despite being a box office success, “Taxi” has been described as dismal and idiotic by critics. Make of that what you will.
#2: “Dinner for Schmucks” (2010)
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Another misguided attempt at remaking a French comedy, “Dinner for Schmucks” – a take on 1998’s “Le Dîner de Cons” – should work on paper with funnymen Steve Carell and Paul Rudd in the leading roles, but the execution is more than a little spotty. Receiving mixed reviews, the film follows a group of businesspeople who invite eccentric individuals to dinner in order to make fun of them. The result is incredibly mean-spirited situations and improvised jokes that never really land. When the best thing about your movie is a group of dead mice, you know something went wrong. Before we cringe from our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Death at a Funeral” (2010) Remake of “Death at a Funeral” (2007) “Around the World in 80 Days” (2004) Remake of “Around the World in 80 Days” (1956) “Alfie” (2004) Remake of “Alfie” (1966) “The Wicker Man” (2006) Remake of “The Wicker Man” (1973) “Cheaper by the Dozen” (2003) Remake of “Cheaper by the Dozen” (1950)
#1: “Arthur” (2011)
While Russell Brand was on a roll leading up to this film, “Arthur” effectively killed any momentum he’d conjured. This remake of the 1981 original, about a rich drunk with little ambition, saw Brand take over for the revered Dudley Moore, to less-than-stellar effect. His performance was called dull and painfully unfunny, and Brand agreed with the reaction himself, even calling his decision to star in the movie“a mistake.” The remake tarnishes the original’s reputation and was polarizing for critics; however, many did consider it one of the worstmovies of the year. Do you agree with our list? What do you consider to be an awful comedy remake? For more critical top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.