Ugh, body switching comedies. I don't know if there's any one in particular that's ever struck a chord with me, and they likely never will. But studios keep making them, even though they tend to be hit or miss at the box at the box office. For every Freaky Friday that turns out to be a hit, you get a handful of flops like The Change-Up. But when these movies score, they tend to score really big.
So that's probably the thinking behind Dreamworks' decision to remake All of Me, the 1984 body-switching comedy that starred Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. Actually, it's due to the two comedy legends that the film isn't flat out awful, but it's hardly the best for either of them. Directed by Carl Reiner, the story has a terminally ill millionairess(Tomlin) accidentally transferring her soul into the body of her estate lawyer(Martin), and comedy ensues from there. Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein(The Vow) are writing the script, with the plan to reverse genders this time, having the guy's soul enters the woman's body. I don't think it matters, but whatever.When this project was still at New Line, they had it set up as a starring vehicle for Queen Latifah. I'm actually surprised Dreamworks isn't pursuing her harder, while trying to lure a still-spry Steve Martin back for the remake. It would be a reunion of their $160M(!!!) grossing hit, Bringing Down the House, so why not see if lightning can strike twice? Don't be surprised if this is the direction they ultimately end up going. [THR]
