Movie News

Garelick to Turn Baywatch Into a Comedy

July 7, 2009

Paramount Pictures has set Jeremy Garelick to rewrite and direct Baywatch, a big screen comedy based on the syndicated series about lifeguards who patrol a beach in California, says Variety.

The film marks Garelick's directing debut. The writer, who most recently did an uncredited rewrite of The Hangover with Todd Phillips, has written Murray at Large for Phillips to produce and possibly direct at Warner Bros., and also scripted The Insane Laws at Columbia

DreamWorks bought the remake rights in 2005 and got a script by Jay Scherick and David Ronn that was heavy on action. Though he never saw the original TV show, Garelick saw an opportunity to turn it into broad comedy.

"It felt like the template to do a movie that was similar to 'Stripes' and 'Police Academy,' the comedies I loved growing up," Garelick said.

The script now focuses on two unlikely lifeguard candidates trying to catch on alongside the buff bodies that will be as abundant in the film as they were in the TV series.

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COMMENTS (23)

Posted by:

Mitchell

July 7, 2009

It sounds better than the show to me if the idea is to go with a "Stripes" style training camp comedy. They just need to make sure that first and foremost they have the slo-mo running.

Posted by:

James

July 7, 2009

"turn it into a comedy"?? What, it was such a dramatic piece of art before?? Baywatch was always a comedy! I laughed during every episode

Posted by:

Angel

July 7, 2009

@ James:

That's so true! I don't think anyone thought Baywatch was any high drama. It was always pretty silly so it shouldnt be too hard to make it into a comedic movie. I think it could be pretty funny.

Posted by:

Spike

July 7, 2009

i only watched the show without sound. it was like a soft porn. loved that. never even heard one line of dialoge. pictures were nice. but there was one chick, she was ugly what was she doing in there?
theres no baywatch without the hoff...

Posted by:

Puck

July 7, 2009

I didn't like it the first time I saw it - when it was called "Son of the Beach."

Posted by:

Little Lebowski

July 7, 2009

reminds me of the the Futurama joke about Baywatch the movie being the first movie to be filmed entirely in slow motion. And Pam Anderson winning an Oscar for it.

Posted by:

My Two Cents...

July 7, 2009

This has huge comedy potential. Get the Hoff! He would be hilarious. Comedy is a much better way to go than the "heavy on action" approach. Who the hell takes Baywatch seriously?
BTW, I'm so glad to hear u finally met the tall man of your dreams Oliver. Go find somewhere else to spruik your newfound love, Spamface!

Posted by:

My Two Cents...

July 7, 2009

Oh great, Oliver the Tall Man Lover's spam comment was removed just as i posted mine just to make me look stupid. Could this day get any worse?

Posted by:

gilramos75

July 7, 2009

they should get will ferrell

Posted by:

senorashish

July 7, 2009

Um, yeah, I don't know about anyone else, but to me "Baywatch" was always a comedy. Albeit unintionally. I know the show tried to be a "drama," but the acting and stories were so horrendous that the show didn't leave any room for anything other than camp.

I mean, seriously, if you were a "Playmate of the Year," you AUTOMATICALLY had a spot on the show. In fact, thinking back, I think all the female cast members were Playboy Playmates. Oh man, was this show a joke or what! HAHAHAHA!

Even though I wasn't a fan of the show, I still feel that if Hollywood is to make a movie, they should do it right. I mean, having "Baywatch" be an "action film" or a "broad comedy" would be a disaster. The film needs to be like early 1990s action-dramas -- films in which everyone gave their all, but in the end, the result was unintentionally cheesy and campy. I hope they stay true to the spirit of the show.