While watching Friday
, the brilliant urban comedy from waaaay back in 1995, I commented to my girlfriend how this was when Chris Tucker was actually funny. Before he got all rich and religious and a little bit lazy. He only got out of bed to make bad movies with Jackie Chan, etc. It's been four years since he teamed up with the kung fu star in Rush Hour 3
, but lately Tucker's name has been popping up quite a bit. A few months ago he was rumored to be making his comeback as the lead in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, before that role ultimately went to Jamie Foxx. Now Tucker's name has come up again for two big time flicks that'll be the most substantial thing he's done in years.Variety reports that Tucker is in talks to join The Silver Linings Playbook, the next film from David O. Russell(The Fighter
). It stars Bradley Cooper as Pat Peoples, an ex-high school teacher released into the care of his mother after a stint in a clinic for depression. He tries to win back his ex-wife, but ends up in a relationship with an eccentric neighbor, played by Jennifer Lawrence(Winter's Bone
). Robert De Niro is set to play Cooper's father. If signed, Tucker would play Cooper's best friend who is also in a mental facility, frequently escaping so they can hang out.At the same time, Tucker may need to limber up his funny bone as he's circling a role in Neighborhood Watch, which would see him back in the realm of comedy heavyweights like Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill. He'd play Jamarcus, a divorcee who joins the neighborhood program so he can get out of the house and spend time with the fellas. I'm assuming he gets wrapped up in the "end of the world" plot with everybody else.Akiva Schaffer(Hot Rod
) is set to direct, with production set to begin in the fall. It's good to see Tucker back in the saddle because he does have a unique voice(literally) and his comedy has been missed. He's not going to be the $20M star he used to be, though.
