Why I Do NOT want a Chuck Movie....Right Now

With the success of the Veronica Mars Kickstarter movie, there has been a lot of discussion about what other shows should have a fan-funded movie.  Usually these are fan favorites, cancelled too soon. "Chuck" has been thrown around a lot, as well as "Firefly" (which actually had a movie).  And even Zachary Levi, Chuck himself, waded into the mix.

I'm going to try to keep my disclaimers to a minimum, but just know the following:

1. I loved LOVED "Chuck".  (Okay, so not initially, but I grew to love it.  See "Chuck" Drinking Game and MFN Take on "Chuck" (podcast)).
2. I miss the show terribly and still watch old episodes.
   

But I don't want a "Chuck" movie.  At least not right now.

It's too soon.  The show only ended A YEAR AGO!  Come on, people.  We can wait a little bit longer, can't we?

I don't want to be disappointed or have negative feelings about any of the actors that aren't going to be able to be a part of the movie.  Hollywood is many things, but one of the things that it is most, is a constant producer of entertainment.  Projects are being cast every day and I wouldn't want one of the cast to miss out on the movie just because they were working on something else that would propel their careers forward, instead of backwards into nostalgia.

And I would be upset, too; I know that I would.  What "Chuck" movie could possibly be any good if it didn't have Jeff and Lester or Morgan or even Sarah?  But, what if those actors were working on something else when all of the pieces came together for the movie.  Remember how disappointed you (I'm talking to the fanbase now) were when Sarah Lancaster or Ryan McPartlin couldn't be at the "Chuck" panel at NerdHQ2012 (or that Yvonne Strahovski had to leave the before the second one started because she was working on "Dexter").  That's what I'm talking about.  We don't want that for the movie, right?

Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak.  A "Chuck" movie would not be written by the fans.  It would be written by the same two yahoos (I mean that lovingly, honestly.) that entertained, teased, enticed and infuriated us for 5 seasons.  By the way, for all of you (the fanbase) who think this might be a better send-off than the "Chuck" finale, remember Josh and Chris wrote the "Chuck" finale.  (Just think about that.)

It's not going to turn out the way we think it will.  I call this "The X-Files phenomenom" (but it can also be extended to "Firefly/Serenity").  X-Files has now had 2 movies made for the big screen.  And neither of them has satisfied the fans in any way, shape or form.  Let's not sour our love for this show by asking for something we're not going to like. 


Lazy interviewers.  I want interviewers to ask the actors different things than how they felt about the ending of "Chuck" or the fanbase of "Chuck" or whatever iteration of "Chuck" question is the laziest one they can come up with.  Regardless of whatever project they have done since the end of the show, any recent interview with Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski or Adam Baldwin has had a "Chuck" question.  And usually it's a dumb question (I blame the interviewer).

I realize that there is something to be said for keeping a memory alive and a shout-out to a very passionate fanbase, but I feel that we are allowing the interviewers to get lazy.  And I want to hear something new!  Either ask a different question, which let's be honest, the cast might not remember any more information than what they've already shared, or ask about something else. Like maybe their current project? Just a thought.

They don't need it. If I really believed that any of the actors from "Chuck" needed this movie to be made, I would be all about it, wholeheartedly.  But I don't.  They are all just fine, exploring and growing their careers and generally doing quite well for themselves.  We can wait.

The cast are not their characters.  Okay.  How to put this gently?  Zac, Yvonne, Adam, Josh, Sarah, Ryan and all of the cast of "Chuck" are great actors.  So much so that it is too easy (even for this longtime pop culture consumer) to forget where the actor ends and the character starts.  But, and this should be understood, at the end of the day, they are actors.  They are not their characters.  An on-screen reunion of Chuck and Sarah has nothing whatsoever to do with the off-screen relations of Zac and Yvonne.  Even my shipper heart (and it is strong and true on this pairing) can see this.   

Here is what I would like, at some point in the future (just so that this post isn't entirely negative)

I would love LOVE LOVE to see a Paley Festival type panel reunion.  Give it about 4 years.
Get all of the cast together to really talk about the show and what it meant to them and what they've never shared, memories that time has allowed to resurface, whatever.  Make it as geeky and unstructured as possible so that it is just a (taped) conversation among friends. 

I would also love (and will gladly pay whatever amount is requested) anniversary DVD sets (or whatever media we will be using in about 4 or so years).  I already have all of the "Chuck" seasons on DVD, but I will buy them all again if they have extra bonuses.  Like what extra bonuses, the studios and sponsors ask.

Here's what I would want on the Anniversary DVD sets:

• Episode commentary from some of the actors and writers we haven't heard from.  (I'm looking at you, Yvonne and Adam.)  
• Extended Blooper Reels
• Cut or Deleted Scenes

Now, after saying all of this, if a "Chuck" movie does get made, I will be one of the first in line to buy tickets and will see it on opening weekend.  (I am still a fan, after all.  I'm not going to boycott the movie.  Let's not get crazy here, folks.)  But I think we all (again, talking to the fanbase) need to take a step back and really think about what we're asking for when we ask for a "Chuck" movie.  And what we actually really want.

- Sis