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Connections, in both directions
Best of all, she doesn’t ever once try to ape what Glenn Close did the last time Disney felt the need to live-action-fy Cruella de Vil (that’d be in 1996′s 101 Dalmatians, which I guess we all collectively decided to never mention again).
This iteration of the famous Disney villain’s story draws major inspiration from the 1996 live-action 101 Dalmatians starring Glenn Close (who is also an executive producer on Cruella ) and expands on the idea of her being a fashion designer.
Owning the character in a fashion (pun intended) far removed from what Glenn Close so fabulously created in the live action 101 Dalmatians (1996), Stone’s energy is palpable throughout, strutting across (and off) the screen with a devil-may-care attitude that is equally matched by the imposing Thompson who, as conventional her villainess may be, injects enough colour into a single note to paint a canvas the big screen can barely contain.
This live-action Disney production tells the origin story of the infamous Cruella De Vil, the villain of the animated — and live-action remake with Glenn Close — of “101 Dalmatians.”
So for “101 Dalmatians,” I was expecting them to crank out another iteration of the live-action version featuring Glenn Close 25 years ago, putting iconic villainess Cruella de Vil in the driver’s seat in a family-friendly romp.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by Frank Capra
influenced Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
Plot Themes
The movie spans some 30 years and is patterned after It's a Wonderful Life.
Similar in theme and content to Dead Poets' Society and It's a Wonderful Life, this movie persuades its audience that no life spent in a worthy pursuit is ever wasted.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Directed by Amy Heckerling
influenced Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Characters
Both of them are sad clones of a movie character: Jeff Spiccoli, sketched so spookily by Sean Penn in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Bill and Ted differ from Spiccoli, their "stoner" predecessor, only in that there are no drug references here to account for their allegedly jocular lack of ambition or interest in education or self-improvement.
Whiplash (2014)
Directed by Damien Chazelle
influenced by Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
Characters Themes
Unlike the humanly flawed Glenn Holland played by Richard Dreyfuss in Mr. Holland's Opus, Fletcher is maniacal and hard to connect with.
Forget about Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society, Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds , and Richard Dreyfus in Mr. Holland's Opus .
1994’s “Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book” and 1996’s “101 Dalmatians” would end up early test runs for the full-on blitz that began in 2014 with “ Maleficent .”
It’s a technique that can be traced back to 1996 with “101 Dalmatians,” but of late it has become a main part of the studio’s output, though until now it has involved substantial changes from the original (“Maleficent,” “Alice in Wonderland”) and/or derived from lesser past efforts (“The Jungle Book” and “Cinderella,” both of which also differed in dropping the songs entirely).
Scott Grimes as Will Scarlet is the funniest here (just like he was in Critters).
Point Break (2015)
Directed by Ericson Core
influenced by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Characters
Australian soap opera star Luke Bracey steps into the befuddled, macho role made famous by a post-Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure Keanu Reeves.
Ostensibly, The Internship uses Google and its products in the same way that The Mighty Ducks uses hockey — as a vehicle to create a world and a way to drive the plot forward.
Some of the acting also comes close to amateurish over-mugging, particularly Alex Winter of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" fame as Cusack's flunky and Tamsin Egerton as Emma's vapid friend who incessantly gripes about her gratis seat.
Your Highness (2011)
Directed by David Gordon Green
influenced by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Characters
Short of ending each line with 'dude', Franco plays it dumbly doe-eyed, evoking Keanu Reeves in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
The Flash (2023)
Directed by Andy Muschietti
influenced by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Characters
This point is particularly true with scenes that feature both past and present Barry Allen on screen, with Ezra Miller doing his best Ted impression for the younger Flash, ala 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure , that somehow manages not to overstay its welcome.
Uncharted (2022)
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
influenced by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Plot
Just think “National Treasure” (2004) meets “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (1989) but without intrigue or fun.
Ready or Not (2019)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
influenced by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Of note on Weaving’s future slate: she’ll play Alex Winter’s daughter in Bill & Ted Face the Music, the long-awaited second sequel to Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
American Reunion (2012)
Directed by Jon Hurwitz
influenced by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Sean Penn (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), Keanu Reeves (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure), and Jason Segel, Seth Rogen and James Franco (TV’s Freaks and Geeks) are but a few actors who started out as class clowns.
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
Directed by Dean Parisot
influenced by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Plot Themes
It's taken 29 years, but Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter have finally made a threequel to their much-loved hits, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991).
More frustrating, the overstuffed chain of events harkens closer to the weird 1991 sequel, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey , than the spirited 1989 original, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure .
It’s harder than ever to believe in the idyllic land of harmony foretold in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
She’s deliciously wicked enough to terrify children but rarely hammy enough to distract the parents in tow, bringing to mind Glenn Close’s turn as Cruella De Vil in 101 Dalmatians (albeit with a more carefully cultivated veneer of refinement).
Her black goo makeup and thick British accent reminded me of Glenn Close's Cruella De Vil, so that got me good.
The closest analogue to Jay Kelly is actually Mr. Holland’s Opus.
Dude, Where's My Car? (2000)
Directed by Danny Leiner
influenced by Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Themes
Yet another addition to the long line of ‘Stupid Movies’ that Hollywood insists on churning out – you can blame the Farrelly Brothers and Dumb & Dumber if you like, but Dude, Where’s My Car? has its roots as far back as Cheech & Chong’s pot-smoking comedies from the 1970s, as well as in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure in 1988.
Yes, the Enterprise’s presence in the past is the sort of bootstrap paradox that’s built on the same logic that powers Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.