3/3/92 (Sci-Fi--Clement/la Frenais) Script Discussion

[Redstar]

Here's the OFFICIAL forum for discussion of the 3/3/92 Dick Clement & Ian la Frenais Script.

Overview: Acclaimed British screenwriters Dick Clement and Ian la Frenais (Flushed Away, Across The Universe) were brought onto the project to steer the story closer towards the directors' vision of a more adult-oriented adventure. The result was a draft somewhere between Bennett and Runté's comedic sensibility and Clement and la Frenais' own "mature" and action-packed take.

The overall structure of the previous script remains intact, with only the tone drastically changed due to the removal of comedic timing or genre self-awareness. Many elements and concepts from Parker & Terry's earlier draft remain, though are now re-imagined more sincerely or satirically. The one (misguided) attempt at humor is a scene in which Bruce Willis, in homage to Die Hard, cameos in the air ducts of Koopa's Tower.

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Click HERE to download the script or HERE to read our other early scripts!

[1upmushroom]

Well look at it optimisticly. We have an idea of what an SMB movie without humor would like.

[Serum]

This script is...not very good. I don't know why everyone says it's "humorless," when it's thickly coated in plumbing puns, wordplay and gags. The writers were obviously working with very little of the previous draft, and what did make it in seems out of place compared to the following draft, which would be a fully matured version of this and the Bennett/Runte draft.

I liked that they kept Toad's chameleon powers, and the scene where they uproot the antenna and go between the two towers, but other than that, this script doesn't have much going for it.

As far as the humor goes-- they were trying way too hard and it came out like a 1960s episode of "Batman," only with the Mario Brothers instead of Batman and Robin...no wait, that's it! That's what this script reminds me of! The 1997 Joel Schumacher schlock-fest "Batman & Robin," which, admittedly, I saw in theaters twice and actually own the two-disc DVD and have a soft spot for...but that's this script-- Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" meets "Super Mario Bros." Ridiculously bad, cringe worthy and schlocky.

[Redstar]

This script is...not very good. I don't know why everyone says it's "humorless," when it's thickly coated in plumbing puns, wordplay and gags. The writers were obviously working with very little of the previous draft, and what did make it in seems out of place compared to the following draft, which would be a fully matured version of this and the Bennett/Runte draft.

There is humor, certainly, but for the most part it's just completely out-of-place. When Dick and Ian did attempt it they usually didn't succeed-- case in point, the Bruce Willis cameo; that's just weird.

[Serum]

There is humor, certainly, but for the most part it's just completely out-of-place. When Dick and Ian did attempt it they usually didn't succeed-- case in point, the Bruce Willis cameo; that's just weird.

I thought that was a very "Family Guy" moment, seven years before "Family Guy" ever came on the air-- I actually sort of chuckled upon reading it.

However, I don't think this script was influenced by "Die Hard" at all, despite having a "Die Hard" reference. From a writer's point of view this resembles the 1960s "Batman" television series starring Adam West and Ceaser Romero. I was actually looking forward to a lot of "Die Hard" references when I read the description (Because it says "Die Hard Inspired") but was let down by an ultimately campy and goofy experience that just made me want to watch "The Super Mario Brothers Super Show," because if I wanted bad puns and camp from Mario, that's where I go to. This script seriously made me thirsty for an icy beer.