While never approaching the realm of a genre classic, even the most ardent detractor of Brett Ratner had to be surprised by 2011's “Tower Heist,” his most competent and enjoyable film since “Rush Hour 2.” Alan Alda and the return of Eddie Murphy, Actor, helped that film greatly. But meanwhile, Ratner has also found success in the producer's chair, shepherding projects such as “Catfish,” “Mirror, Mirror” and “Horrible Bosses” to fruition, and now it seems he's set his gaze on remake territory for his latest endeavor.
Just as the Coen Brothers' remake of “True Grit” seemed an absolute perfect marriage of filmmakers and material, so has Ratner with his decision to produce a remake of Garry Marshall's 1984 comedy, “The Flamingo Kid,” for Walt Disney Pictures. The original starred Matt Dillon as a high school grad who scores a job at a beach club, and is mentored by the owner (Hector Elizondo) into a world of privilege, debauchery and convenient life lessons. The film certified Dillion's career as a heartthrob, and Ratner likely aims to do the same with a fresh newcomer in the lead.
Nzingha Stewart — who wrote and produced “For Colored Girls” — will pen the script, and the original film's legendary producer, Michael Phillips (“Taxi Driver,” “The Sting”), will return once again for the remake. While Ratner's choice of project is unlikely to inspire knee-jerk antagonism in the same sense of his other promised reboot, “Hong Kong Phooey,” it simply remains a waiting game of exactly how Ratner, via his Rat Entertainment banner, infuses 'Flamingo' with his own inimitable stamp. But his remake isn't the only game in town as 'Flamingo' is also being turned into a stage musical. [Deadline]
