Nothing spells disaster like arrogant filmmakers attempting to update classic movies or shows. They did a terrible job with the TV versions of The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie, a so-so job with The Sound of Music, and—to my mind—a weak remake of the 1961 masterpiece A Raisin in the Sun. And why? Because, aside from having limited vision, they didn't have Robert Preston Dick Van Dyke, Gwen Verdon, Ray Walston, Ruby Dee, Diana Sands, Sidney Poitier and any of the other unique talents that made these originals original. Now the latest insanity is to update Damn Yankees, a musical that was great because of its innocent times and brilliant creators Jerry Ross and Richard Adler. The plan is to write new songs (which will never be as good as the originals) and star Jim Carrey as the Devil (a tempting over-the-top role) and Jake Gyllenhaal as Joe Boyd. I don't know why these egotistical producers can't find something new to produce instead of trying to improve something that they can't improve.
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