vodyclueless

Earlier this week it was reported that Universal was in final talks to acquire the rights to 152-book series Sweet Valley High for Academy Award winning screenwriter Diablo Cody to adapt to the big screen. At the time, I wasn’t at all excited about the potential project as the source material just doesn’t appeal to me (and probably shouldn’t since it never was meant to target my demo). But in the last 24 hours I’ve somewhat rethought my stance on the project, and Cody has spoken up to clear the air about some concerns about the adaptation, which I thought was worth sharing.

Earlier today I re-watched Amy Heckerling’s Clueless, which has to be one of the best Hollywood-produced teen movies of all time. While I was watching Alicia Silverstone spout off created phrases and slang words, it occurred to me that Cody’s Sweet Valley High might be the perfect setting for her stylistic dialogue. Unfortunately, Cody has said on Twitter that she is “Thinking I might play it straight” instead of using made up slang. I probably already know your answer, but what do you guys think?

And as I said before, if Jennifer’s Body proved anything (other than that Megan Fox can’t open a movie on her own), it is that Cody is good at writing relationships between teenage girls. The strongest part of Body was the friendship between Fox and Seyfried’s characters.

Cody has also clarified a few things for SVH fans on Twitter. For those of you who might care, here is a round up:

Diablo says that the film will be set in the 1980’s, much like the original novels: “Don’t feel like brokering some deal with T-Mobile to give Enid a Sidekick.” It wont be anything like the 1990’s television series based on the books. The story will be a “sharp comedy/satire” but will feature “plenty of ’sincere’ SVH moments too.” “No werewolves. Plenty of Todd.”

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  • Arupadhatu
    "...if Jennifer’s Body proved anything (other than that Megan Fox can’t open a movie on her own)"

    !!!let's call spade a spade, Cody didn't deliver (period)
  • CyT
    Diablo Cody should get Pauly Shore into the movie as a teacher or something. Can you imagine him re-vamping the diablo'logue wearing happy pants :)
  • e_dog
    FYI: The world already has a "1980s-set Clueless." It's called "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
  • Octoberist
    BTW, finally i'm kinda glad that people are loosening up on this 'backlash' on Diablo.

    Maybe it's because some of the haters had no idea how hot she was. Think about it: a hot female geek is a geek's fantasy.
  • Octoberist
    For some odd reason, I don't mind seeing this. call me crazy.
  • She's original and refreshing. How high must anyone's expectations be to bitch about those qualities? Like it or not, you can't deny her kudos.
  • itsAshame
    so we get to look forward to another piece of trash piece whose story has been stolen from someone else's concept...cool. Stephenie Myer and Cody should hook up. They both have tendencies to do that.
  • bonchampion
    example?
  • jasonb26
    jennifer's body was a fun film - not the best - but i don't think it was trying to be anything other than a fun b-film teen horror flick.

    what i found most interesting, was that the worst part about JB was cody's gimmicky dialogue. here, it was just contrived as all hell. and while that type of banter was perfect in both clueless and juno, we didn't see the clueless writers force that way of speaking into the mouths of every character they ever created afterwards.

    and therein lies cody's fatal flaw.

    her dialogue - that some rave about (???) - worked fine for the universe that existed in juno. and though it was a strong stamp there, watching her force it into every f-ing script she ever writes will be the "m-night-twist" of her career. IT DOESN'T WORK - NOR IS IT NECESSARY - FOR EVERY STORY!!

    so if instead of myspace & facebook namedrops, we'll be getting madonna and z cavaricci jokes...we are all going to be in for a loooong and sad ride. i think SVH was a bad pick in the first place. she should make us miss that banter, while she does play it straight for a script or two.

    but what do i know? i'm just a narrow minded talkback geek.
  • I hear what you're saying, Jason, but whatever happened to cheering when a writer emerges that has a strong voice?

    Are we no longer excited by the prospect of a film existing in a world where the heightened reality is conveyed by language? It's not like Shakespeare (no, I do not think D.C. is as good as Shakespeare that's not where I'm going) was writing in the market-speak of his day.
  • jasonb26
    hands down - yes i agree absolutely that we are to be excited by strong voices from new writers.

    i think what i'm saying is that i really hope cody's 'voice' isn't restricted to transient catch phrases and cool words of the week. rather than enhance the character or culture of a script, dialogue like that (for me) only proves that the writer has seen the daily show, watched the hills, or browsed rolling stone magazine.

    im just one viewer who is really distracted by those gimmicks, and it sadly reminds me of those god awful 'epic/date/disaster' movies, where all that occurs is a rip on/off of whatever current pop culture trend is hip during that time. as an oscar winner and recipient of hefty accolades, i expect/want more from cody.

    i fucking adore 'the united states of tara', which i know she has a hand in, and that's the kind of genius i want from her every time she puts ink to paper! i know that's a tall order, but we've all seen that she's more than capable.
  • Well Said...Spoken like a True Trooper aka Talkbacker hah...
  • chris3532543
    "the source material just doesn’t target my demo".

    Who talks like that?
  • Joshua
    Seriously haha, I found that weird too.

    I think this is the perfect film for her to write, and it would be insane for her to drop her trademark writing style for something BEGGING to be written like that. It didn't work at all in Jennifer's Body because it wasn't believable that anyone in that world would talk like that, but in Juno and SVH I think it's completely appropriate, and if they can get actors that can handle the slang then it'll turn out to be pretty awesome. I'm all for this, I just hope they don't cast anyone from the cw or any mtv reality show....
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