Last week I wrote about The Karate Kid remake and one of our longtime readers made the comment that Screen Rant seems to be warming up to the idea of Hollywood doing remakes. My response – if we didn’t follow remakes then we would run out of things to right about very quickly. It’s true though, the amount of remakes coming from Hollywood lately is mind-numbing. Up next on the remake conveyor belt is Weekend at Bernie’s.
Back in 1989, when Arsenio Hall became a late night talk show host, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hit it big and Rob Lowe was caught on tape with an underage girl, one movie quietly opened in theaters and became wildly popular – Weekend at Bernie’s. The story followed Larry (Andrew McCarthy) and Richard (Jonathan Silverman) as they get invited to their boss Bernie Lomax's (Terry Kiser) extravagant island home for the weekend. They assume it’s a “thank you” for finding an error in the accounting books, but it’s actually a way for Bernie and his mob associates to “deal” with Larry and Richard.
Instead, Bernie ends up dead as soon as they oblivious pair arrives at the island and the rest of the movie is spent with them trying to convince all of Bernie’s friends and neighbors that Bernie is still alive. Great hilarity ensues as Bernie throws parties, plays games and even hooks up with a young college co-ed.
Now Gladden Entertainment, the original studio behind the film, is dusting off Bernie and bringing him back to life for a Weekend at Bernie’s remake. It was just a couple of weeks ago that Gladden announced it would be remaking its other popular film, Mannequin, which oddly enough also starred Andrew McCarthy. I have a feeling, though, that neither McCarthy nor Silverman will return to reprise their roles. Instead, a couple of young up-and-comers will most likely fill their shoes. My suggestion – James Roday and Dule Hill from the popular USA show, Psych.
The two guys have plenty of chemistry together, along with the comedic chops to make a remake of Weekend at Bernie’s almost enjoyable. But who would play Bernie? Moviehole suggests that Burt Reynolds would fit the role nicely, and that is a pretty good suggestion, but I’m wondering if Reynolds would be up for playing a role where he is dead and limp 80% of the movie? Even though it’s a title role, I can’t see ol’ Burt agreeing to sit there with little to no speaking parts.
What do you think (besides about remakes being a bad idea) about having another go at Weekend at Bernie’s and who would you suggest for the roles of Larry, Richard and Bernie?
No release date of Weekend at Bernie’s because the film is still in development.
Source: Moviehole
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