Round Table - More Returning to the Return Movie

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

My attention was hijacked by the topic of the Return Movie, that little bit of MFU that either disappoints entirely or piques one's interest in the possibilities of something different.
I don't hate it, don't love it.  I do find it interesting and, as many who might read this will already know, I have a series of stories based around it and the whole Vanya thing.  As for the movie itself, I found this article and think it's worth a read as a prelude to a discussion; you can find it HERE
One of the things the writer points out is how different the two main men were in their appearance, primarily how well each had aged.  As we mostly will agree he mentions that David McCallum is looking very good, not much different from his 60's Kuryakin, while Robert Vaughn seems much older than 50.  I'm paraphrasing but that's the gist of it.  And I agree, and I wonder what kind of a difference that made to the success of the film; was RV just too removed from his days as the young and dashing Napoleon Solo to satisfy the viewers?
Of course that has nothing to do with the script or the fact that the two main characters spent so little time on screen together, which was the whole point of a reboot of the series.  Their chemistry is what made the show work, so to lose that to a miscue in the scriptwriting department was very disappointing.
Having said that, the McCallum scenes are gold to me, I watch the movie and fast forward to every frame that features him.  I know I can't be the only one doing that.
So, anything you want to say or discuss about this not quite engaging movie?

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

The article pretty much hit the nail on the head with everything. So many nots to 007 and not enough to the original UNCLE. If it really was an attempt to reboot the series, they forgot one word...'cool'. The movie was definitely not that. I agree that Robert didn't look that good in it, unlike David. They have aged differently but are both still very handsome men to this day.

A weird side bar; I've always wondered why Robert switched parting his hair to the other side. I think he always looked better with the way he parted it while filming the original series.

I guess actors try to do somethings to change their appearance to disassociate themselves from previous roles, like the way David grew his hair so long (not a good look for him, but neither were those awful checked or plaid jackets he wore either. week)

[vmccooley.livejournal.com]

I agree that Vaughn looked much better with the "Napoleon Part." The difference between his look in the pilot and the rest of the series is striking.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

The article hits all the points. It's just too bad that no one seems to have ever been able to do MFU except the original team, and all of us who write fiction of course. :D

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Okay, trivia fact about the Napoleon part: Originally RV did part his hair the other way from the "Napoleon side". Shortly after filming the pilot for MFU, he changed hairdressers and that resulted in the changed side for the part. But that hairdresser was one that was actually murdered with Sharon Tate in the infamous Manson killings. So I think after the series had ended, RV returned to the original side of the part because the other was a bit too reminiscent of the slain man.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Now that's creepy... Wasn't Vaughn actually invited to that infamous party and decided not to go?

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Yes. He mentioned that in his autobiography.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting little bit of information. I do prefer that 'Napoleon part' however, it was flattering.

[carabele.livejournal.com]

I prefer it as well.