Sonnenfeld Hopes You Won’t Remember Men in Black
Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on December 18, 2008
Our bff’s over at ComingSoon.net are reporting that Barry Sonnenfeld will be directing and producing The How-to Guide for Saving the World – a film that feels suspiciously like most other world-disaster action/comedies.
The script was written by newcomer BenDavid Grabinski, who also has a project called Imaginary Barry set up through 20th Century Fox.
Sonnenfeld described the pitch:
What would happen if, one afternoon, the secret group that protects Earth from alien invaders was wiped out? Fortunately, they left behind an instruction manual for saving Earth. Unfortunately, a non-action-hero guy not unlike me, in terms of manliness, and a woman who hates him, find the book, and have to save the planet from an impending attack.
I don’t have any snarky remarks regarding the plot concept. I just have a few questions for Mr. Sonnenfeld:
1. What would would happen if there were a vast universe of alien cultures unbeknownst to Earthlings, but there was a survival guide-type instruction manual for making your way around that galaxy that came in handy if your planet was destroyed? Luckily, a non-action-hero type gets off the planet in time with a girl that doesn’t exactly like him, and they find a way to save Earth.
2. What would happen if, one afternoon, the secret group that protects Earth from alien invaders while wearing hip Ray-Ban sunglasses was taken over by a wicked alien bent on finding an object that – unless it leaves Earth – will cause Earth’s destruction? Luckily, one agent enlists the help of a former agent who is now a non-action-hero type, not unlike Barry Sonnenfeld in terms of manliness.
3. What would happen if, there was no secret group that protects Earth from alien invaders, and a campy alien dictator decided to kidnap a mom before blowing up the planet? Luckily, a non-action-hero type dad heads to outerspace to save his wife and the planet. Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy!
All jokes aside, I’m really looking forward to Men in Black III, whatever cheesey faux-rap theme song Will Smith is planning for it, and I suddenly have an incredible, yet inexplicable, urge to watch Mom and Dad Save the World.
Editor’s note: A very loyal reader to the site pointed out that I failed to mention the screenwriter. Add that to the already-lengthy list of failures in my life.
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