Baywatch Movie Going for (More) Laughs

Published by Jeff Leins on: July 8th, 2009

Paramount has hired Jeremy Garelick to rewrite and direct a movie based on the 90’s TV series “Baywatch.”  But before you roll this in with all the other bad ideas for small-to-big screen adaptations, this particular bad idea started in 2005.

DreamWorks purchased the feature rights four years ago for seven figures and commissioned a script that was heavy on the action (explosions, not “action”).  The studio kicked around ideas and Jessica Simpson was rumored at one point for a signature red swimsuit.  When DW and Paramount parted ways in February 2009, the latter kept the rights (lucky them).

The Variety article says Garelick has never seen the original TV.  It also makes snarky jokes about a “well-rounded cast” and adding some “giggle to the jiggle.”  That’s the kind of top-notch journalism they teach you in school.  Someone threw this movie a life-preserver, am I right Variety?  High-five!

Garelick, who contributed as an uncredited writer on The Hangover, wrote a 37-page first act to show executives the sort of Police Academy feel he wanted to create.  He was hired to not only redo the script, but to direct his first feature film.  The story will now focus on two unlikely lifeguards trying to learn the ropes next to the veteran hot bodies on the beach.

Well, we know David Hasselhoff is available, so they should bring him back.  This movie’s going to do great in Germany.