Walt Becker has managed to make one reasonably successful movie—last year’s surprise winter hit Wild Hogs-- but for some reason people keep giving him projects like his name instantly means box office gold. Guys, he directed Van Wilder! Don’t get too excited!
Becker’s next project, with Fox New Regency, is called Little Big Wars, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The studio blatantly admits they’re trying to make something similar to Night at the Museum, so that takes away my claim that the plot—a family fights against war toys that come to life—is totally contrived. But there’s no mention of the fact that this sounds exactly like Jumanji, so I can hold on to that at least.
When I was a kid I was always convinced my toys came to life when I was asleep—come on, I’m not the only one!—so this sounds like a movie I would have enjoyed back then. I’m still not sure why Walt Becker is suddenly a Hollywood sensation, but if he pulls this of—along with the three or four other movies he’s got in development—maybe he’ll convince me that America didn’t go totally insane when we made Wild Hogs a hit.
