Morgan Freeman is, clearly, a damn fine actor, but, for the most part, he seems to have gotten stuck into a rut of playing one of two kinds of roles: the kindly mentor (“Batman Begins,” “Evan Almighty,” “The Sum of All Fears”) or the villain (“Dreamcatcher,” “Wanted,” “Invictus.” OK, not “Invictus”…). However, he’s just attached himself to a new comedy spec, from writers Josh Cagan and Greg Coolidge, set to be directed by Peter Segal (“Get Smart,” “50 First Dates”).
The script, which is currently unnamed, but had the working title “Dirty Old Men,” follows an aging playboy who meets the love of his life, only for his best friend and wingman to try and break them up, and the tone is set to be closer to recent R-rated comedy successes as “Wedding Crashers” than to “Grumpy Old Men.” Warner Bros, who have picked up the script, want Jack Nicholson to reteam with Freeman, following their success in 2007’s “The Bucket List,” and it’s hard not to be excited by the idea of the two actors teaming for a bawdy comedy, rather than a saccharine Rob Reiner movie. Nicholson is apparently “aware” of the script, but isn’t yet attached, which perhaps doesn’t bode well.
The behind the scenes talent doesn’t inspire a ton of faith either: Segal isn’t the greatest comedy director out there by any stretch, (although we remember having something of a soft spot for “My Fellow Americans”) and the writers, while pairing for the first time, have previously been responsible for the likes of the Vanessa Hudgens-starrer “Bandslam,” “Sorority Boys” and the Dane Cook atrocity “Employee of the Month.” But maybe leopards can change their spots?…
It sounds like the sanitized version of Larry Charles’ “Winter’s Discontent,” a comedy about a sexually frustrated widower who moving into a retirement community with his best friend to get laid.
