Given the immense success of the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise, it was only a matter of time before another major Hollywood theme traded on the concept of piracy – and ta-daaaaa! It arrived today, with news that Frank Coraci has signed on to direct 20th Century Fox’s high-concept adventure comedy, Part-Time Pirates.
The film, based on a pitch and subsequenct script by Jordan Cahan that’s been knocking around since 2004, will revolve around a group of beaten-down office workers who decide to put one over their rich bosses by, erm, taking to the high seas and stealing stuff from their yachts. In the process of becoming modern-day pirates, they find themselves and become real men. No, really. Oh, and obviously, hilarity ensues.
We’re not terribly sold on the premise, to be honest, but at least it's not a straight Pirates copy. Fox also seem confident and in Coraci, they have a director with a good box office track record (even if the quality of his output has been a little questionable). We’ll ignore Steve Coogan-Jackie Chan flop Around The World In 80 Days, and focus on his trio of Adam Sandler films, The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy and last summer’s huge hit, Click, as evidence that Coraci knows where audiences’ collective funnybone (and wallet) is.
No word yet on stars for Part-Time Pirates, though. Sandler is busy with the bizarre Mossad-based comedy, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, so that would seem to rule him out. Time to fly from the Sandler nest, Frank? As ever, we’ll keep you posted.