For weeks now, I've been thinking I oughta weigh in on the whole Robert Downey Jr.-as-Holmes thing. I could just never work up enough enthusiasm for it, though. (For weighing in, that is.) So what a break for me that I no longer need to bother thanks to Rafe McGregor over at The Rap Sheet. He makes every point I would have plus a good bunch more, and he makes them very well indeed.
Nicely done, sir! Now would you mind blogging about my newest book? I can never work up much enthusiasm for Blatant Self Promotion, either....
Steve Hockensmith
July 13, 2009
Some good points...I think.
I like the movie poster...given it's something of a "capitalize on RDJr. while he's hot" piece.
Posted by: Richard Prosch | July 16, 2009 at 11:02 AM
I have the same attitude about the movie I try to have toward life in general: skeptical, but willing to keep an open mind. I'm not going to get a bee in my deerstalker just because someone has a "new" take on Holmes. On the other hand, I do look at the preview and think, "Gee, that reminds me a lot of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Van Helsing." And that is not a comforting thought.
You're 100% right that Robert Downey Jr. is the primary reason this movie's being made at all. If it tanks, he's blown all his Iron Man momentum. If it's a smash, the studio might have him to thank (if, let's say, the movie's kinda lame but he saves it through his irrepressible Downiness).
And if the movie's really, really good and is a big hit and spawns a new wave of Holmes movies and books and TV shows and action figures and Pez dispensers etc.? Well, then we all win.
So why not hope for that?
-Steve
Posted by: Steve | July 16, 2009 at 11:47 AM
"Irrepressible Downiness" --LOL.
I believe that's the slogan Sam came up with to explain to Larry and the feather mattress client why she had a duck (Darrin, naturally, under a spell by Endora) at the dinner party.
Posted by: Richard Prosch | July 19, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Awwww, man -- now the theme song from "Bewitched" is gonna be echoing in my head all day.
Dooooo doot. Doot doot doo-doo doot. Dooooo doot. Doot doot doo-doo doot....
Oh, wait. I think that's the theme from "I Dream of Jeannie."
-Steve
Posted by: Steve | July 20, 2009 at 01:15 PM
Yes, "Bewitched" would be: Dooooo-doot. Doo-doot. Do-doot-doot-dootilly-doot.
(That "dootilly" was my own jazz-like improv.)
Posted by: Richard Prosch | July 20, 2009 at 03:08 PM