The Legendary “Airplane”!
Director David Zucker has shared his take on why many modern films are struggling, and it might not sit well with the executives. He believes that fear of taking risks is a major issue in Hollywood.
“The studios are very intimidated by people who are afraid to take risks,” he explained thoughtfully. “In fact, I’ve written about the 9% rule—9% of people lack any sense of humor. It’s like they have zero comedic instinct. And, unfortunately, studios tend to cater to those folks.”
Zucker, known for classics like “The Naked Gun,” “BASEketball,” and “Top Secret!,” pointed out that cancel culture is still quite prevalent in the industry, and it’s largely fueled by overly cautious studio leaders.
Cracked Rear View
He likened the current industry mindset to “driving through the rearview mirror.” This prevailing attitude leads to uninspired films that recycle old concepts with jokes that miss the target.
Zucker didn’t have to search far to illustrate his point. The recent reboot of “Naked Gun,” which he wasn’t involved in, came to mind.
Blocked Call
He recounted his surprise when he discovered that Paramount would not consult him for the reboot, despite having pages of jokes ready. Instead, they turned to “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane.
Zucker shared his frustration: “I’m excluded from that. I reached out to him, but he didn’t return my call. It’s all very confusing, but that’s Hollywood for you.”
Interestingly, Zucker mentioned that once production was complete, MacFarlane did reach out to him to express admiration, saying, “It’s tough to get upset with someone who keeps calling you a genius.”
“Painful” Viewing
Despite the compliments, Zucker has no plans to watch the new incarnation of “The Naked Gun.” He recalled a painful experience with “Airplane II: The Sequel,” in which he had no role.
He compared it to a personal dilemma: “If your daughter went into an undesirable profession, would you want to watch her work?” he asked. “It’s just too painful to witness. Others are making these films, and frankly, they don’t know what they’re doing.”
Zucker critiqued Hollywood’s cautious approach, particularly in comedy. “If a comedy doesn’t land, there’s no hiding it,” he remarked, noting that a recent film he didn’t specify must have been tough to endure.
It seems unlikely that Zucker will have a hand in the upcoming reboot of “Spaceballs” either. He wasn’t fond of the 1987 original, viewing it as merely an attempt to imitate “Airplane.” “I can’t recreate what I did decades ago. That style was fresh back in 1982,” he chuckled.
Looking forward, Zucker aims to advance the pun-filled, slapstick comedy genre he helped popularize. He hinted that his next project will bring a fresh and humorous twist to film noir.
