Thursday, January 06, 2011

Script review – “The Bodyguard” by Lawrence Kasdan

I never liked the film much but it was enormously popular – Kevin Costner at his peak, Whitney Huston making an impressive debut, the soundtrack. I also think there is something in the basic idea that struck a chord with men and women: men wanting to protect, be stoic and heroic; women wanting to be famous, desired, and powerful, plus be a great mother – but also be looked after by a handsome hunk who falls in love with her. “The Reagan thing” stuff sounds silly (I’d love to know what was in the 1970s drafts – the JFK thing? George Wallace thing?), but it’s a great star vehicle for a tough white guy and singer. Steve McQueen and Diana Ross would have been great; Ryan O’Neal wouldn’t have been quite right. The theme song in this script is “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” rather than “I Will Always Love You.”

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