To say that films based on Saturday Night Live characters, or indeed that simply feature SNL performers in leading roles are a mixed bunch is sort of like saying Genghis Khan occasionally liked a scrap. For every Wayne’s World and Ghostbusters, there’s a Night at the Roxbury or It’s Pat. Or The Ladies Man. We could go on… But that isn’t stopping SNL overlord Lorne Michaels, who is looking to launch one of the current performers – Kenan Thompson – on to the big screen with Party Starters.
Or maybe we should say re-launch, because it’s not like he’s new to the game. He’s been working in films since 1992’s D2: The Mighty Ducks, had the lead in Fat Albert, got menaced by slithery reptiles in Snakes on a Plane, lent his voice to Space Chimps and has provided his tonsil talents once again to this year’s The Smurfs as Greedy Smurf.
Michaels, though is looking to put him front and centre in a high concept comedy written by Live scribe Bryan Tucker. There’s no word on what the plot will be about, but we’ll take a wild guess and say that parties and getting them started might be involved.
As of right now, it’s just in development with no studio attached, and it remains to be seen if it makes it to our screens. To his credit, Thompson delivers good performances when he’s given the right material, so it has a chance, at least…