Oh, Tom Cruise, that comedian. He’s made us laugh so many times in recent years. Jumping on couches. Setting up home with the star of First Daughter. Wielding the word "glib" like a battle ax.
Well, it seems, he’s ready to be wacky again — though this time he actually means it: TMZ is reporting today that Cruise may appear alongside Ben Stiller in The Hardy Men, an updated version of the Hardy Boys mysteries, which finds the junior crime solvers all growns up. Funny. Now, get this: While his personal life has devolved into a bit of a punchline in recent years, Cruise has never starred in a bona fide comedy before. (Yes, there was that Austin Powers cameo, and, no, it doesn’t count. Neither do Jerry Maguire and Risky Business.) So this is something of a first.
And, you know what? I applaud it. I’ve been waiting for a big-screen teaming of Cruise and Stiller ever since their hilarious "Tom Crooze" sketch at the 2000 MTV Movie Awards. ("Let’s call it Kickin’ Impossible!" Brilliant.) The action star proved the perfect foil by showing a willingness to make fun of himself. Which is a big reason why a comedy like The Hardy Men sounds like a good idea for a star who’s spent so much time lately being laughed at. You know, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Moreover, maybe muted domestic box office for Mission: Impossible 3 ($134 million) means a bit of a career shift is in order. Still, I wonder: Is this a mission you’re willing to accept?
Let me get this straight. We’re going to put the craziest man in Hollywood in the same movie with the guy who will do any movie if it means a large paycheck for him? Wow…well, I might’ve wanted to see it back in 1997, but now? Sorry. Then again, I had no interest in either War of the Worlds or Night at the Museum. Based on box office grosses, I’m probably in the minority.
Tom’s acting range consists of only 2 gears…”intense” and “cocky.” He doesn’t shift into comedy or ironic very well. One of the hardest scenes to watch in recent years was his “show me the money” embarrassment from JERRY MAGUIRE. He is not believeable doing something funny. HE’s not funny. He’s scary.
You’re telling me I get not one, but TWO of Hollywood’s most annoying!? Where do I sign up. Sign up for a suicide booth that is.
Please no! But I could be biased. I don’t want to see Tom Cruise in anything, let alone a comedy.
Sure, in theory. If it’s good. I loved Mission: Impossible III despite knowing that Tom Cruise is a wacko. I don’t think it affects has on-screen persona all that much. Russell Crowe chucks telephones at hotel clerks and beats people up in bars if they look at him the wrong way and people still love him (myself included), so I don’t get why Tom Cruise is suddenly Public Enemy Number 1 for jumping on couches and acting like an idiot about psychology. There’s a long history of celebrities acting unbecoming of their star status. In this tabloid age it seems a lot more scandalous than it really is, but I’m pretty sick of all the headlines about what people do in their private lives.
Sure I’d go, it would likely be a funny movie. I really don’t care what stars say or do outside of their films.
Mel Gibson hates Jewish people, I liked Apocalypto. Matt McConaughey does nothing wrong in his life, but his movies suck really bad. I like to judge them on their work.
not no, but hell no….
Would I see Tom Cruise in a comedy with anyone? I don’t even want to see him in a coffin. Looking at him kills my heart. Theoretically, a comedy would be a great choice for him and would do a lot to save his career, but it would have to be one freaking good comedy. The only way it would work is to cast Tom as a real loser who stays a loser because if he does it with hubris, then you’ve got another “Starsky & Hutch” on your hands.
I think Cruise would be wise to get away from the action thing and try a comedy, but a smart comedy. Who wants to see a big-screen version of “The Hardy Boys,” let alone with 40-something Hardy Boys. The prospect of Cruise and Stiller pairing is fine for a little skit on MTV, but not a feature-length film. Or Cruise should try an entertaining thriller like “The Firm” again, but not this. Hell to the No!
I guess the idea gave him a raging clue…
Kind of playing it fast and loose with the word “hilarious”…
To be fair Mak, I’ve ALWAYS hated Tom Cruise, even when he was Hollywood’s darling boy.
The last comedy Tom Cruise did was Jerry Maguire, and I would not call that movie a comedy. Risky Business was decent, but that was what, when he was twenty-two?
Yes Sara….the Hardly Men will both have raging clues….
I would love to see Cruise team up with Stiller. Maybe not the Hardy Men, which does sound like more of a skit than anything else (it was already done as well as it could be with raging clues), but I could definitely see something between these two guys working well.