Russell Brand becoming 'Drop Dead Fred'

By Sarah Sluis

One of my favorite childhood movies, Drop Dead Fred (1991), is being remade for the next generation. Phoebe Cates, who I only now recognize as the "Fast Times at Ridgemont High girl," starred in the original as a down-and-out grownup who loses her job and her husband

and moves back home, only to be greeted by her very real, very

invasive, long-lost imaginary friend, Fred, played by Brit Rik Mayall. The premise understates the totally bizarre, gross, and comic interactions between Cates and Mayall that ensue, so I'm not surprised to hear that the movie was "critically drubbed and commercially unsuccessful." However, the repeated viewings of my cousins, brother and me did not go unnoticed, as THR pointed out that "it did achieve a certain cult status and is considered a film that fell short of its full potential."

I can see why. At the time, the movie really bothered me, both because Cates vacillated between covering for her imaginary friend Fred so she wouldn't appear crazy, and unsuccessfully explaining his presence, and, most importantly, because Drop Dead Fred would be so mean to her and cause so many problems in her life. The very fact that these choices made the film so uncomfortable to watch also made it appealing to see again and again, as if finally, this time, it wouldn't bother you so much.

What really makes this project sparkle is the choice of British funnyman Russell Brand to play Drop Dead Fred. I can't think of a better star to lead this project. For those who haven't seen him in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, watched a red carpet interview, or paged through his bestselling memoir My Booky Wook, Brand is Drop Dead Fred: self-involved to the point that he's destructive to others, irreverent and insulting, but absolutely entertaining to be around. Like many great comedians, he is a bit unhinged, just like the imaginary friend. Dennis McNicholas (Land of the Lost, "SNL") will write the screenplay, which plans to expand the idea of "imaginary friends" into a universe. I think the film could be helped by having a more complete cinematic world, since the first film played very loose with the "rules and regulations" of imaginary friends. Still, that openness that drove me nuts was the very reason I watched the film again and again. I'm sure the choice will make the remake more likely to be a commercial hit this time around, but feeling satisfied, instead of maddened, at the finish might preclude it from becoming a cult hit.

Clips abound on YouTube, check out the British-accented Fred wreaking havoc here.