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Chris Rock Writing & Producing Comedy Remake 'Elisabeths'

by Ethan Anderton
January 13, 2010

After seeing the painstakingly unfunny trailer for the remake of Death at a Funeral from Chris Rock, it pains me to hear that he's now set his sight on foreign films as Variety reports the once-groundbreaking comedian has nabbed the English-language rights to write and produce a remake of the French film La Premiere etoile (or The First Star). Even further evidence that Hollywood is desperate to remake anything and everything, the original was only released last year. Retitled Elisabeths, the comedy follows a black family who leaves their working class hood to take to the ski slopes and shake things up in a stuffy resort.

The comedy is said to have broad social points, which I interpret to mean having the same social and racial commentary that Rock has instilled in his stand-up and feature film ventures. And while that hasn't always been a bad thing (at least in his stand-up venues), almost all of his self-produced/written films have been lacking in quality comedy. However, if Rock can continue making more unique films akin to his successful documentary Good Hair, then I might be inclined to show some excitement for any of his forthcoming projects. But for now, I remain uninterested. You guys have any love for Chris Rock's film career?

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beavis

chris rock is a brilliant comedian as far as his stand-up work is concerned. but,i can't stress how awful this movie sounds.
Vincent

Screw you Ethan I liked the Death at a Funeral trailer by Rock.
Xerxex

yeah, no...ever since his most recent stand-up I find myself not liking him at all.
Stan 'The Viewers Choice' (Facebook me)

I like the Funeral Trailer and the first one too, it might not be that bad, it will be WAY better than that Wolverine Bullshit...
http://www.modelmayhem.com/kevjohnphotography kevjohn

As much as I love Rock's stand-up, I can't say I ever bought him as an actor. I do disagree with you about the Death at a Funeral though. His version looks pretty good, considering how hard it is to translate British comedy for a U.S. audience.
http://www.firstshowing.net Ethan Anderton

@ #5, But that's why you don't try to translate British comedy for a U.S. audience. That's why American made remakes of television shows are so crap. The only show that's ever been successfully remade from British television that wasn't a reality show or game show was The Office, and even that series struggled in its first season because it was a carbon copy of the first series of the British version. British humor is funny to a select American crowd, and that crowd will seek out the British film rather than watch the American remake. I can understand wanting the story to reach a bigger audience, but at least try to do it with some quality comedy. And it's that quality comedy that I don't see in the Death at a Funeral remake, and why British comedy should be left to the British.