4/2/07

To: Kevin Church, April Sloof, Bob Shaye
From: Alvin Coolidge
Re: Lawyerbear: The Move Script Notes

Thanks for the opportunity to throw my two cents in on this script, guys.

First off, Kevin, let me say: I think it’s great. I wouldn’t change a THING.

Here are a few suggestions:

–Love interest. I understand the instinct to have Lawyerbear fall in love with a human woman–a GREAT part for a Scarlett Johansen or Maggie Gyllenhall–but what about a character with more long-term merchandising potential?

I’ve got my guys in design working on a mock-up of Ally McEel, who I think would make a great romantic foil for our Lawyerbear. Plus, there’s some legitimate character tension there: Usually, Lawyerbear might EAT an eel. What happens when he falls in love with one?

–Action. Lawyerbear’s a lawyer who is a bear. I get that. And sure, the courtroom scenes crackle. Judge Horsey McEquine is a GREAT adversary for Lawyerbear. That doesn’t mean we can’t spice things up with some action scenes. I’m craving a sequence where Lawyerbear takes down some poachers in the woods who are threatening his fellow bears, or a scene where Lawyerbear is in a local bar, just trying to enjoy a beer after work, and he ends up having to eat the arms off a couple of redneck thugs who are making unwanted sexual advances against a local girl. The local girl–there’s another candidate for love interest. Maybe a part for Jessica Simpson?

–Have you given any thought to the soundtrack? Jessica and I are tight (we play in the Tuesday night bowling league together at Lucky Strike on Hollywood and Highland) and she slipped me a copy of some tracks she’s working up. One of them, “Hot & Scared,” just BEGS to be rewritten as “Laywerbear.” Check these lyrics, yo:

Lawyerbear
You caught me unprepared
Just stroke my wet, wet hair
And I am hot

That’s got top forty all over it.

–Laywerbear’s family. How do his parents feel about Lawyerbear going off to law school and joining the human world? Do his parents have personalities too? What if his mom is a bear, but his dad is Danny DeVito? Danny’s a personal friend–just say the word and I’ll make the call.

–Love to see a cameo by Shatner as Denny Crane from Boston Legal. Bill and I do Sunday horse training together–again, just say the word.

That’s it at the moment. I’m gonna keep noodling on this, send you more when I have it.

Thanks.

Alvin