(Fake) Trailer arrives for 'Monopoly' movie

When “Alien” director Ridley Scott announced that he’d be doing a movie based on Monopoly, members of the sketch comedy group Half Day Today shook their heads. First Liam Neeson in “Battleship,” now another film based on a classic board game?

“Our goal was to get a trailer out before the studio [released] theirs,” director Matthew Stubstad said. “We wanted to make fun of how Hollywood is kind of grabbing anything they can to make a movie out of it.”

So the same creative minds that brought us the “Oregon Trail” trailer and the Tiger Woods Voicemail Slow Jam produced a trailer for the “Monopoly” movie. Except this one stars Half Day Today actors Al LeVine and Evan Bregman, and is featured on FunnyOrDie.com instead of on the big screen.

The concept for the trailer, which was written by Gabi Conti, “started off simple,” Stubstad said. “But it ended up being a sort of ‘Tron,’ ‘Jumanji,’ ‘Wall Street’ and ‘Inception’ hybrid… hodgepodge.”

In just over two minutes, Half Day Today manages to fit in quite a few cringe-worthy Monopoly references, from “Do not collect $200” to a stripper’s “Community Chest.” The filming and editing took months –- a lot of work for a crew that doesn’t get paid. So what’s the point?

“The point is I’m being interviewed by CNN right now,” Stubstad said with a laugh. “The game has kind of changed for directors, I feel. We kind of need these blockbuster viral videos to get noticed.”

And if Scott needs a hand producing the real thing, Stubstad says the members of Half Day Today are available. References upon request.

Post by: CNN.com senior associate producer Jacque Wilson
Filed under: movies

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soundoff (12 Responses)

GodIsDead

Man this looks better then most of the manure we get these days.

April 19, 2011 at 9:38 pm | Report abuse | Reply
Amy

@boring – I thought this was pretty funny and cleaver, especially the community chest reference. Anyone that grew up in the 80's should be able to appreciate this simply because it was a part of their childhood. Sometimes you just need some good old brainless fun.

April 19, 2011 at 7:20 pm | Report abuse | Reply
boring

this trailer was retarded... not clever or funny, rather boring.

April 19, 2011 at 2:42 pm | Report abuse | Reply
T

LOL ! Very funny ! Love Parodies !
If they gonna make a film out of board games, how about "STAY ALIVE" ?
That old board game with colored marbles with slots that one pulls a lever until one color marble is left...
Does Anyone remember that game where at the end of the commercial, the kid says "I'm the sole survivor." ?

April 19, 2011 at 1:52 pm | Report abuse | Reply
Susie

Do guys do know this isn't an actual movie trailer right? It's a joke!

April 19, 2011 at 1:07 pm | Report abuse | Reply
Professor Plum

Atleast they designed Clue into a movie at the right time. Now that movie was a sucess!

April 19, 2011 at 8:49 am | Report abuse | Reply
Beautiful Vixen

I hear ya. Are they that brain death in Hollywood that they can't think of new movie scripts

April 19, 2011 at 6:28 am | Report abuse | Reply
madhater

J/k

April 18, 2011 at 9:39 pm | Report abuse | Reply
madhater

Very clever guys.

April 18, 2011 at 9:38 pm | Report abuse | Reply
Evel Knievel

I'd pay to see a version of Hungry Hippos if they got Oprah to play the pink hippo.

April 18, 2011 at 3:50 pm | Report abuse | Reply
- MloveJ
  
  Oh my gosh. That's horrible, but hilarious! ;D
  
  April 20, 2011 at 9:57 am | Report abuse |
Superhiro

Another remake? Man, they should just remake Hollywood.

April 18, 2011 at 3:40 pm | Report abuse | Reply