I was looking at the poster for The Tooth Fairy trying to think of a joke that wasn’t completely obvious – when it occurred to me that we have two new movies in theaters this weekend with winged protagonists.
Okay, okay. Paul Bettany’s Michael from Legion is a fallen angel who cuts off his own wings, but you know what I mean. It’s kind of a weird coincidence, don’t you think?
And seriously, what is up with making Paul Bettany a bad-ass and sticking The Rock in a piffle of a kids movie? I understand this softening of action heroes is a great way to reach a new audience, but The Rock hasn’t kicked ass on screen since when? Doom? That was five years ago. Does that even count?
Remember when The Rundown came out and there was that passing-of-the-torch moment between The Rock and Arnold Schwarzenegger? Does anyone feel like The Rock has been given the opportunity to live up to that promise? Because I certainly don’t.
Look, I get it. The Rock has charisma. You can plug him into virtually any scenario and he makes it work. That’s why he’s in been in movies like Be Cool and Planet 51. I get it.
But can we mix in a few more action roles? Because The Tooth Fairy looks suspiciously like The Game Plan from a few years ago – a hard-nose, selfish sports guy learns about life and love through an unusual set of circumstances. They’re practically typecasting him at this point. Just my .02 cents.
Incidentally, as it relates to the comic, this isn’t the first time I’ve suggested a mash-up between films. Check out this jem from 2002 when I suggested they combine Star Trek: Nemesis with Maid In Manhattan. HILARIOUS!
That’s about all for me today. Are any of you planning on seeing The Tooth Fairy? Who thinks The Rock makes a better action star than a family film star? Is anyone aching to see The Rundown 2? Leave your comments below!
Does it make any sense that Paul Bettany gets to play a bad-ass while The Rock is stuck in a kids movie?
The should have just done a mash-up and called it a day.
Are you here for my toof?
I am here for your immortal soul.
The Rock certainly could have said no. At least Arnold waited until the biceps started deflating before he did Twins. I totally agree with the Rock/Arnold torch-passing, but I think that Rock made the switch too soon. Didn’t help that he never had that break out action role, though. By this point in his career, Arnold had 2.
Part of me just wonders if it’s the movie landscape that’s preventing The Rock from finding the kind of action roles that we want to see him in.
I mean, when Tobey Maguire is Spider-Man and Shia LaBeouf is in everything from Transformers to Indiana Jones, what has traditionally qualified as an action hero has shifted.
How about a remake of “Walking Tall” that lasts more than 86 minutes?
I think Dwayne made the jump to kids movies too soon. Vin D made the same mistake with The Pacifier. Arnold tagged it right. Make a slew of kickbutt action films and THEN widen the audience after you’ve already established yourself as a credible action star. That way you can vacilate between the two genres. Granted, Dwayne has taken bigger risks (Southland Tales, anyone?) and is, in point of fact, a better actor, but I think he’s already bee in too many Disney-targeted-audience films…
It’s not that I particularly mind that he’s doing the Disney family movies.
Just doing them back-to-back-to-back doesn’t seem smart.
It’s just as I said I was gonna do on Facebook. I laughed my butt off. Thanks for this comic. Though I saw a small clip on morning TV and thought that The Tooth Fairy looks a tad humorous.
well, could you picture the rock playing spidey, indy or the role in transformers? 😀 these were roles that specifically called for kinda-regular-people, not a huge guy like the rock. and on the other hand, could you imagine him carrying a terminator role? i think not, and neither can producers i guess. i also can’t see him in hancock or whatever.. he’s just never… right. guess it’ll have to take another mummie for him to get back.
I assume that his agent could put together an action film in a day if that was what Dwayne wanted to do. I’ve always assumed that Disney pays him super well and that he must enjoy them. I admit I would love to see him star in a kick ass action adventure film.
The Rock seems to be doing a lot of kids movies lately. And even though it looks like crap, there’s something about an army of angels with guns that just tickles me in all the right places.
Regarding Legion – We we got into a sneak preview last night and it was horrible. Bad acting, cliché dialogue, and an ending that was DESPERATELY trying to be Terminator 2. I almost hate to say it but people might be better off seeing The Tooth Fairy. Okay, well maybe it wasn’t THAT bad, but lord knows it wasn’t good.
The Game Plan made a ridiculous amount of money, and I think that’s the real reason The Rock is in more family fair.
Maybe The Rock is too gentle looking facially so he fits the Disney “form” so well.
eddie murphy… steve martin… jackie chan… now the rock…. another one bites the dust
it happens sooner or later.
But… but… He never really had any blockbuster “action” films like Stalone or He-Man (Arnold). He had a couple of decent lifelike actioney flicks, one terrible scifi flick, and then a buncha Pacifiers. I just wanna see him in a role that will let him playact like his WWF days. He was genuinely entertaining then! Go back and look at some of The Rock’s best performances, they’re nearly classics at this point! This is a man who turned nonsense and everyday phrases into CATCHPHRASES! “If you SMELLLLLLALALALALALALALALALALALA what the Rock Is COOKIN!” “And the Rock Means No-one!” “Finally, The Rock HAS COME BACK to (insert town name here)”. He cut the best promos the business has ever seen. I just wanna see him in that role again, he was just too much FUN in those things!
I just got out of Legion – it was terrible like Tremors was terrible. But Tremors had a sense of humor about it, this was such a serious picture. For all the blah, blah, blah about angels coming down to smite the wicked, it was more like a zombie survival situation. Those angels were dumber than a sock full of soup. The action was essentially Bettany shooting his gun off into the dark for an hour, followed by a brief angel on angel showdown and concluded with “… and they all lived happily ever after(‘cept those who died)”. Enjoy or not – I didn’t.
I wonder when the Rock will run for president, or maybe governor after the Governator leaves office.
I have to say that panel 4 is incredibly badass Tom. Your art has come a long way.
I’m just hoping they don’t change the laws otherwise Arnold could become president and then demolition man will actually be the future.
Okay, this is the second time I read this comic, and I cracked up for the second time. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the last two panels…the innocent, naive kid, and “I am here for your IMMORTAL SOUL” is just great.
This comic is the shining example of why I read Theater Hopper. Once again you have come through and produced a Masterpiece. Now, I just can’t wait for this to get published in a book.
Catching up on comments from the weekend… I just wanted to say thank you to Lagann and musicalfingers for the kind words. I appreciate it!