Australian director Stephan Elliott (“Easy Virtue,” “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”) is set to direct the comedy “A Few Best Men” for Arclight Films. “Death at a Funeral” producers Laurence Milkin and Share Stallings will be on the project, along with the writer Dean Craig. The film is about “a groom and his three best men who travel to the Australian outback for a wedding.” So “The Hangover” down under? Given the creative team behind this, chances are this will be less raunchy and more cheeky than the aforementioned comedy gold-mine.
The team seem to have their formula of modestly budgeted, moderately successful films in place. The UK “Death at a Funeral” ended up making nearly five times its cost worldwide, while the remake, albeit budgeted a little heavier at $21 million, seems to be heading that way after almost making it back this past opening weekend. It’s clear that the team know how to fill seats and make the most out of whatever money is given to them, playing to the strengths of their ensemble casts. One hurdle for “The Best Men” may be the overly simplistic plot, as both “Death at a Funeral” films had an interesting title and premise going for them aside from a strong cast. Without anybody officially in line for this new film, it is unclear if they will put together some all-stars or line up of some lesser known talent.
Stephen Elliott might be able to make to spruce the idea up a bit, as his early comedic films “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” and “Welcome to Woop Woop” were both in Cannes, the former winning the Best Costume Design Oscar. Hopefully the humor in the new film is a little more inspired than the jokes in 2008’s “Easy Virtue,” Elliott’s previous film, in which Jessica Biel sits on the family dog and then requests a shovel. There’s also a scene where she also goes on a family hunt riding a motorcycle. As much as we all love those crazy hijinks, we’re not particularly eager to sit through anything like that again. Fingers crossed, production begins in Queensland, Australia in August of this year.
