Time to go on a 'Business Trip' or to the 'Burlesque'?

By Sarah Sluis

With The Hangover a success, and its sequel greenlighted, one Hollywood screenwriter had the perfect pitch: the female version. Today, Variety announced that writer Stacey Hartman, who has sold some screenplays but has yet to see any of them made, will write the script Business Trip. It will follow a group of women who go on a corporate outing/conference/pitch. Of course, "anything but" ensues. The production company behind The Hangover, Benderspink, will produce, along with Universal Pictures.

I'm always itching to see female-oriented comedies that aren't centered on romance, so I'm totally on board with the plot. Plus, this would be a great chance to cast some up-and-comers in comedy, just as The Hangover cast rising faces like Zach Galifianakis alongside actors usually cast in supporting roles, like Ed Helms. Benderspink is currently producing romantic comedy Leap Year, which stars Amy Adams, so this project seems like a good way to blend the sensibilities of a "crazy night" comedy with a romantic comedy.

Another project that will star women, Burlesque, added Cher to its cast. She will play the owner of a modern burlesque club who mentors her new hire, a small-town girl (Christina Aguliera). The film will be a backstage musical, and both Cher and Aguilera will sing in their roles. Screen Gems, which mainly produces horror films and some comedies, is overseeing the project, which makes me wonder if this will be more genre/exploitation than an arty musical like Chicago or Moulin Rouge. The director, Steve Antin, is an actor who has recently transitioned to writing and directing. He directed a reality competition series about burlesque-style pop group The Pussycat Dolls, "Girlicious," so he's well-versed in filming costumed singing and dancing. Susannah Grant, who penned projects that have great female appeal, like Erin Brockovich and Ever After, revised the script. I'm uncertain about the vision of this film, especially if it's going to try to appeal to one gender over the other. Since shooting starts in November, we'll find out soon enough.