The classic 1930’s musical farce is alive again in ‘Ain’t We Got Fun?!’ and it’s headed to the Cannes Film Festival. Producing partners Kathy Rich-McFarland, David Alan Ruben and Jon Tosetti of Common Time Pictures present a golden-age throwback made during the height of a global pandemic, and it’s a Coen Brothers meets Mel Brooks feature film.
Directed by David Alan Ruben, ‘Ain’t We Got Fun?!’ follows film producer Frankie Dushinsky who returns to LA after a 9-month mental retreat in India only to discover that he greenlit and produced the wrong picture. With the ‘Foreign Distributors” out for blood should the film not premiere in 24 hours’ time, and the unions threatening the same if it does, Frankie opts to flee to his remote vacation home with the film.
Nothing is ever that simple: Frankie is kidnapped by a brothel madam, a ditzy moll, and an Irishman, and taken to his own cabin due to kidnapper incompetence. They are not alone: His jealous, vodka-soaked wife and maid have retreated there, as has a jailbird, in bunny slippers and an affinity for song-and-dance, camped out.
The late-night arrival of Frankie’s oblivious and naive screenwriting nephew, Brutis Thornbottle, eager for accolades on his recently completed script, complicates matters more. As everyone attempts to steal the canister for his / her own end, danger looms when the distributor’s best man (a woman, obviously) arrives to take control by any means necessary to make the premiere.
“I wanted the quips to fly a mile a minute.” says Ruben. “I wanted “Ain’t We Got Fun?!” to have enough Mel Brooks schtick, George Kaufman wit, and Irving Berlin class, all served up on a Roger Corman budget. I imagined the whole thing starring Madeline Kahn, Groucho Marx and heck, Rin Tin Tin – and during a pandemic, that’s what we did (Although the dog is a stuffed animal … ). I made this with my ensemble – my family. Now I am getting schmaltzy. Sorry! ‘Ain’t We Got Fun?!’ is classic stuff and I can’t wait for folks to enter this absurd, nostalgic little world.”
The Common Time Pictures producers, Kathy Rich-McFarland, David Alan Ruben, and Jon Tosetti will be at the Cannes Film Festival in July with their movie ‘Ain’t We Got Fun?!’ and other upcoming projects.
‘Ain’t We Got Fun?!’ – The 1930’s wants their comedy back!
