Stop killing the classics! Sure, some people
wouldn’t call The Incredible Shrinking Man a classic. But for its time (1957), the film holds a special place in the sci-fi canon.
Part special effects extravaganza, part think piece, Richard Matheson’s original story and script explores the effects of a strange gas upon a man. As he slowly begins shrinking, ordinary household items and tasks take on, literally, monstrous proportions. His battle to survive the existential evaporation leads to wonderful soliloquies about man’s place in the cosmos.
And then, horror of horrors… They’re doing a remake!
Hmm. Well, with the advanced digitized effects, perhaps this could be good. And with all our scientific progress, they could noodle about inner and outer space, maybe explore some profound philosophical issues. Right?
Not so fast.
According to The Hollywood Reporter…
- Eddie Murphy will star.
- Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant (Herbie: Fully Loaded, Taxi, Balls of Fury, Night at the Museum, The Pacifier and Let’s Go to Prison) will write the screenplay.
- Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2, Rush Hour 3) will direct.
*Groan*
According to THR, the “updated” storyline concerns a famous Las Vegas magician who is put under a spell that causes him to shrink. He must find a way to reverse the spell before he gets so small that he disappears. Uh, and these guys make how much money? Oh well, perhaps playing a disappearing man is appropriate for Mr. Murphy.
I dunno. Turning a smart, philosophical sci-fi classic into a slapstick family film sounds like another disappointment. Memo to Mr. Ratner: Whatever you do, do not touch Them!
