by Linda Holmes

When we talked about Heathers as part of the Summer Of '80s Movies series, there had been news that there might be a Heathers musical.

But now, there is to be a Heathers television show, too. If you watch the clip above (caution: language not suitable for blasting in your cubicle), in which Veronica (Winona Ryder) meets J.D. (Christian Slater), you will note that there is some darkness to the comedy here that would be difficult to replicate on television.

(That's in addition to the fact that all the characters are said to be returning, which will require either some revisionist history or a prequel, if you know what I mean.)

Still, the concept of remaking Heathers doesn't fill me with as much dread as the prospect of some other remakes. Depending on where it winds up, a TV show could certainly manage some dark comedy about high school. It would probably need a different central thrust than the bumping-off of the popular kids, simply because that doesn't seem like an arc with a long lifespan. But the gang of mean girls with the unhappy member who's involved with an outsider and harboring viciously violent tendencies? That has promise.

I'm a little puzzled by the involvement of Jenny Bicks, whose major credits are Sex And The City and Men In Trees, but I'm willing to withhold judgment. Which is better treatment, I'd point out, than most remakes receive.

categories: Movies, Television

1:45 - August 27, 2009

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