I really need to see "The Positively True Adventures of the (Alleged) Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom" now. I’m afraid I can’t help with the mystery of Michael Ritchie’s decline. I didn’t do any book research before writing this post, but I did google around a bit and didn’t find much.
I searched in vain for even a single interview. It was much easier to learn about Jerry Fielding. My best guess echoes what’s already been said here – that Ritchie never fit under that 70’s auteur umbrella in the first place.
I never thought the kids in either version were horrible brats, but maybe that’s just me; I find toddlers much scarier. As to which version kids would rather watch today – I haven’t a clue. All I know is that I saw the first one at seven and it made perfect sense; I saw the remake at 37 and thought it was confusing.
I agree that movies can’t help but reflect the era in which they’re made, and to be fair, any remake has its work cut out for it, but I did think if anyone could have pulled it off it would be Linklater. Sort of like I don’t know if this Dirty Dozen remake is a good idea, but Tarantino feels like a good fit if it’s still in the works. On the remake’s audio commentary, Linklater and the new screenwriters said that the original got away with a lot and pushed limits (something I never really thought until now) and so in updating it they tried to push things in their own way.
I don’t really see how they did this aside from bringing in a sexual element – the Bears are sponsored be a strip club and Billy Bob takes them to Hooters instead of Pizza Hut and they all sing “Cocaine.” Still, it all seemed pretty safe to me. And finally, since this dead horse is mine I’ll beat on it some more.
Walter Matthau has two angry outbursts that are quite effective. The first is after the team has decided to quit – all of them except Tanner Boyle who when asked says “Crud no, I wanna play ball.” They’ve all taken a vote and Buttermaker throws some equipment against the dugout wall and yells “Goddamnit!
I’m the only vote that counts around here. Now get your asses out there!” The second outburst is the one I already mentioned when he throws some beer on Amanda.
Both of these moments are soft-pedaled in the remake. My guess is that because the new coach is an edgy bad boy instead of a loser, these moments might have come across as more frightening coming from Billy Bob’s Buttermaker. That’s when parents would be yanking their kids away from this guy.
Also, at the end of the remake Amanda kisses Kelly Leak, whereas there’s really no romance in the original. Amanda loses a bet with Kelly at air hockey and she has to go to a Rolling Stones concert with him, but that’s it. I really need to see "The Positively True Adventures of the (Alleged) Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom" now.
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