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How Accurate is The Viral Cycle in ‘Osmosis Jones’?

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Let’s face it, the average person knows nothing about the spreading of disease, but Bob and Peter Farrelly attempted to nail it back in 2001 with their animated sleeper Osmosis Jones.

The world is currently living through one of its worse pandemics. Television news and social media are alive with updates, rhetoric, and doom speak.

Osmosis Jones kinda puts everything in perspective (although inaccurately) as far as human pathology and anatomy, complete with a very scary villain. Along with Contagion and Outbreak, it couldn’t be more timely.

Here’s a synopsis of Osmosis Jones:

Out-of-shape, middle-aged, and slovenly Frank DeTorre (Bill Murray), contracts a deadly virus after consuming an egg off the ground invoking the ten-second rule (which I always thought was a three-second rule).

The virus, named Thrax, is a serial pathogen attached to the egg and makes it his mission, like any other virus, to wreak havoc on the human body.

This would seem easy if it weren’t for Osmosis “Ozzy” Jones, a white blood cell whose job it is to protect Frank by killing off foreign bodies.

The truth is, the body has three lines of defenses against foreign bodies not just the white blood cells, but that wouldn’t make for a suspenseful action-adventure mostly aimed at children.

Osmosis Jones moves between live-action and animation. The latter is inside Frank’s body that resembles a big city (named Frank) and is populated by anthropomorphic microorganisms. It’s the perfect setting for the Farrelly Brothers signature brand of gross-out storytelling.

Mayor Phlegmming (William Shatner) oversees the metropolis, who appears to have been modeled after the character Mayor Larry Vaughn from Jaws because, despite all the warnings, Phlegmming still wants to put Frank in danger by increasing his urges to eat junk food and compete in the “Chicken Wing Festival.”

Thrax leaves his mark on Frank’s throat upon entry which causes inflammation. Frank uses a cold capsule to ease the effects. This capsule named Drixenol “Drix” Koldreliff (David Hyde Pierce) soon joins Osmosis in an investigation to find and rid Frank’s body of the deadly virus.

In this time of COVID-19 when many people are so confused about how a virus takes hold and what it can do to elderly people or people with underlying health issues such as obesity Osmosis Jones is like a flow chart, albeit flawed, of the viral lifecycle.

My limited knowledge on how a virus works is this:

Basically it enters the body, it takes a cell hostage and uses it as a host. Once inside the cell, it commandeers the cell’s replication code and begins to copy itself. After the host cell has outlived its purpose, it dies and the virus moves on to another one.

Osmosis Jones takes an artistic approach here. Thrax isn’t trying to copy himself and to my understanding, he is independent of any viral replication tactics, although he does employ some very inept henchmen. Could this mean he’s a bioengineered virus developed for warfare?

Then there’s the body’s defense system. As mentioned before our bodies have three lines of defense against a virus, the white blood cells (check), macrophages, and finally our body’s specific Cell-mediated response and Antibody-mediated response which if working correctly targets the infection and kills it.

Osmosis Jones leaves out a lot scientific truths but even at its most basic, the film creates interest in its intended younger audience about the human body.

They learn about the importance of hygiene, that a virus can enter by way of the mouth, nose or eyes. Even though the City of Frank is a metaphor, the film explores human anatomy in clever ways which kids will find amusing.

As for adults, the movie has beautifully animated sequences, directed by Tom Sito and Piet Kroon, they are pretty gorgeous; a combination of computer rendering and hand-drawn cells.

And of course, this is brothers Farrelly film and contains plenty of body fluid humor both in the animated world and in the practical one which should entertain both kids and adults.

One problematic aspect is that even though Frank has a strong white blood cell fighting off the infection, some people don’t have a hearty Osmosis in their body and therefore the contagion might be dire for them.

Not scientifically accurate, Osmosis Jones gets some bonus points for humor and pseudo-science. It might not get a lot of things right which probably isn’t helpful right now, but what is helpful is that it gives us a chance to laugh which they say is indeed the best medicine.

Osmosis Jones is currently available to stream on Starz.

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The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location

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beetlejuice in Hawaii Movie

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.

In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:

“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and it’s quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”

Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.

Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”

Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.

“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going, Beetlejuice and the Haunted MansionBeetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”

Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows,  Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.

During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.

Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers  Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.

Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.

It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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