Released in 1995,Tommy Boyhas gone on to become a comedy movie staple and cult classic. StarringSaturday Night Livecastmates and close friends David Spade and Chris Farley, the film played off of their undeniable chemistry and likely wouldn’t work if one person were taken out of the equation. This could be why a sequel never came to fruition, given the passing of Farley in 1997 from a drug overdose at the age of 33. Still, that didn’t stop Spade from receiving a pitch for a sequel, and he’s now revealing his response to a potentialTommy Boyfollow-up.
During an appearance on Theo Von’s podcast, This Past Weekend, Spade reveals that he was pitched an idea forTommy Boy 2, and it’s something he turned down without hesitation because he can’t imagine a sequel without Farley. Not only were Spade and Farley co-stars in the film, they also shared the stage onSNLfor five years and became great friends in the process, which led toTommy Boybeing a possibility. Essentially, without Farley, there could never be a sequel to the cult comedy classic.
“I was pitched a Tommy Boy 2, which was our characters' kids are together. I was pitched this two years ago, and I was like I can’t find a scenario with no Chris Farley. He was the whole movie. It would be too much of a sell out. I can’t imagine it. No one could do that. It was our kids and it was about them and I was going to help them on the road. Listen, it was about Chris. If we did another one back then it would’ve been a blast.”
What Is ‘Tommy Boy’ About?
Directed byPeter Segalfrom a screenplay by Bonnie and Terry Turner,Tommy Boyfollows the emotionally immature Thomas R. “Tommy” Callahan III (Farley), who goes on a journey of self-worth and friendship following the death of his father and a cross-country road trip with Richard Hayden (Spade), a childhood acquaintance who worked for his father as an assistant and has very little love for Tommy’s immaturity. The film also stars Bo Derek, Julie Warner, Dan Aykroyd, Brian Dennehy, andRob Lowe.
Chris Farley’s ‘Tommy Boy’ Joke Was Too Dirty to Even Send to Paramount
Director Peter Segal spoke with MovieWeb as ‘Tommy Boy’ turns 30 with a new 4K release and looked back on his Chris Farley film.
WhenTommy Boywas released, it received negative reviews from critics, registering a 42% on Rotten Tomatoes with a consensus that reads, “Though it benefits from the comic charms of its two leads,Tommy Boytoo often feels like a familiar sketch stretched thin.” Despite the reviews, the film became a hit with the target audience, grossing $32.7 million on a $20 million budget, before going on to become an even bigger hit on home video.
The pair would team up again onBlack Sheepjust a year later, and even though the film was also met with less-than-desirable reviews (29% on Rotten Tomatoes), it practically matched the box-office gross ofTommy Boy, pulling in $32.4 million by the end of its run. Both films remain classics among comedy lovers, and particularly fans of Spade and Farley’s comedic chemistry. Even though they never got to share the screen again due to Farley’s death, Spade has continued to respect the memory of his friend, ensuring that his legacy lives on.
Source:This Past Weekend
