Amph 'Jem' set to get a truly outrageous live-action film

Director Jon Chu is hoping to go a perfect 2-2 when it comes to adapting beloved 80s toy/animation properties into mediocre live-action films as filming begins on Jem and The Holograms. The very cute, but not quite grrr-worthy, Aubrey Peeples (Sharknado. 'nuff said) has been cast in the title role.

In case you don't know, Jem tells the story of record executive Jerrica Benton who, with the help of holographic technology, assumes the identity of Jem, lead singer of a rock band called Jem and the Holograms.

I know this likely won't interest many of you, but you might be surprised to learn that Jem actually has a rather sizeable and passionate following. Large enough to spawn its own annual fan convention called JemCon.

 

Still prefer the meme of Strawberry Shortcake, She-Ra, and Rainbow Brite doing the Coyote Ugly thing.

 

Didn't they try and fail to make Josie and the Pussycats into a live action movie? Why bother?

 

Nostalgia, pure and simple.

(Say what you will about the Josie and the Pussycats movie. Tara Reid was perfectly cast as Melody, who was the '70s cartoon version of the "dumb blonde" stereotype).

 

I just checked its wiki, and yeah, it bombed big time; a $15 million dollar gross on a $40 million dollar budget. But a couple of things.

- Jem has a much larger and more passionate fan base than J&TP. As far as 80s cartoons go, Jem might be second only to My Little Pony in terms of female-skewing properties (off the top of my head). Personally, I consider J&TP a huge success, if for no other reason, than it gave us Rachel Leigh Cook in kitty ears. Meee-ooow.

- Jem is apparently being made on the super cheapy-cheap. Like indie budget cheap. It's been thrown together rather quickly, as Chu was originally attached to an adaptation of Masters of the Universe, then left that to work on G.I. Joe 3, and then put that on hold so that the writers could work out the kinks on it and took on Jem to knock out in the interim. Dwayne Johnson has claimed that Paramount is now looking for a new director for G.I. Joe 3. I guess we'll see. At this rate, Chu's next flick will be Teddy Ruxpin and The Care Bears in: Silverhawks - Ducktales of the GoBots.

 

A couple of things working against Jem:

-Hasbro hasn't had any Jem toys on store shelves since the late '80s, so it only really has name recognition for those 25-30 and older.

-While the old Jem and the Holograms cartoon has aired on The Hub in recent years, today's kids probably might find it full of '80s kitsch, which might do more harm than good for the film. Not to mention Jem being the subject of ridicule on a couple of Robot Chicken sketches, and I think you might know where I'm going with this.

Just my thoughts.

 

I never watched this show.

 

I did, only because I wasn't really picky what I watched until I was a teenager, especially cartoons.

I watched Beverly Hills Teens, for crying out loud!

 

It works better as a Disney television movie like Camp Rock.

 

ive never heard of this. josie and the pussycats, by contrast, was deffo a part of my childhood via cartoon network reruns

 

This thread ****ing reeks of neck-beard.

 

now that you mention it, i havent shaved in two days...

 

i remember this shizz. the misfits were the better band, if memory serves.

 

The only question is why this took so long.

 

IIRC, they did a very special episode where one of them turned out to be illiterate,and because she didn't want to be made fun of in front of the others, went behind their backs to learn how to read.

(I told you I watched this show)

 

Hopefully this is good. Jem was a part of my childhood.

 

Yeah and I bet the villains instead of the misfits will be either the Donnas or a band fronted by Joan Jett

 

This. GI Joe, Transformers, Ghostbusters, Duck Tales and Ninja Turtles FTW.

Ah, the many joys of being a boy in the 80s

 

Good points. I assume what they're going to try to do is work the nostalgia angle to get women 30 and over, and at the same time try to appeal to the Disney Channel watching tween crowd. The press release said, in part "...for a whole new generation with themes of being true to who you are in a multitasking, hyperlinked social media age.". It's a fine line, as I assume the 30 & up crowd don't want to see two hours of Jem and Co. twerking and Tweeting.

It's my understanding that the budget is pretty low; perhaps even Disney channel movie low. If so, it won't have to rake in much to turn a profit.

They were also much hotter, but bad girls always are.

Truth be told, I've never watched it either. I saw bits and pieces thanks to my step-sisters, but never a full episode. I'm just an 80s cartoon/toy aficionado. If it's 80s, I tend to love it by default.

 

Yep.

 

Many have complained that Micheal Bay raped their childhood when he made Transformers, but it appears to be nothing in comparison of what I witnessed from the Jem and the Holograms trailer. It looks like a rehash of Hannah Montana.

 

There seems to be a noticeable lack of holograms in Jem and the Holograms. Wasn't that the entire point of the show? She would have a holographic body double so that nobody knew her real identity?

This trailer looks more like the "based on a true story" of how Stefani Germanotta created Lady Gaga.

Yarp. At least Michael Bay had the decency to hire Peter Cullen.

 

I want to meet the studio executives who green lit this project. Will I get banned if I post a giant picture of a turd?

 

Jem was one of those shows that was on while you waited for something else.