It’s an opinion that borders on cultural treachery, but this writer, who is British, actually prefers the U.S. remake of “The Office” to the Ricky Gervais original. The latter is obviously a pretty extraordinary piece of work, but the NBC series somehow seems richer. Clearly, it’s partly because, at almost ten times the length of the BBC version, they’ve had more time to develop and expand the characters, but it’s also because of the depth and range of the comic ensemble, many of whom (Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Ed Helms) have gone on to big screen success.
Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam on the show, has yet to have an unqualified triumph on film – she’s been appealing and funny in the likes of “Blades of Glory” and “Walk Hard,” but the films weren’t much cop. Nevertheless, she’s taking another stab, joining the cast of the Farrelly Brothers comedy “Hall Pass.” As previously reported, Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis will pay two best friends whose wives give them ‘hall passes,’ which entitles them to have extramarital affairs. Fischer will play Wilson’s wife, and filming will start in Atlanta on February 23rd.
It sounds enjoyably mean-spirited, and not a million miles away from season four of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Having said that, it also sounds a little close, in tone at least, to the disappointing “Extract,” and that’s without taking into consideration the presence of the less-than-consistent Farrelly Brothers, who are helming this before finally taking on their long-promised “Three Stooges” movie. Still, it’s a good cast, and, as ever, we live in hope…