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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Girls Only! Diablo Cody to Write and Direct Sweet Valley High Adaptation

Posted by Alison Hallett on Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 4:07 PM

sweet_valley_high_cover_11-20.jpg

I don't understand why this is happening. Not that I have any real attachment to the Sweet Valley High books (I am embarrassingly versed in the particulars of the universe, but let's be honest, I only read them because as a second grader, they were the raciest books I could get my hands on)—but doesn't the existence of Gossip Girl, The OC, and, well, contemporary teen culture, kind of render these books obsolete, even if they DO get a trashy punk rock makeover courtesy of Diablo Cody?

I'm firmly if predictably entrenched in the Diablo backlash camp, but it's possible that I'd feel more warmly about this project if I hadn't read about it first on Jezebel, whose post sets a new standard for obliviously off-putting writing:

Maybe it's because I grew up in New York. Or maybe it's because I read Anais Nin and Kurt Vonnegut at an early age. Or perhaps I just always chafed against "All-American" high school depictions in books and movies, since many key staples of the genre: Suburbs! Dates! Sports! Cars! Everybody's white! seemed a little boring, a wee retro and rather narrow-minded to me.

She is so totally Stacey!!!1!! And being more of a Kristy myself, I kind of want to punch her in the face. But BSC-themed threats aside, I don't share Jezebel's conviction that what Sweet Valley really needs is a "fresh look." The Wakefields are lumped in with Nancy Drew in my mind, ridiculously wholesome even when they're being "bad," and plopping them into a contemporary teenage milieu doesn't seem to offer even a slight possibility of updating the characters in an interesting way. I'd frankly rather see a period piece that plays up the kitschy naivete of that era (a la The Brady Bunch movies) than another entry in the kids-today-are-slutty-and-mean genre. But damn if I'm not going to see it anyway—my friend Miranda (hat tip!) put it succinctly: "I am excited and resentful and annoyed."

 

Comments (5) RSS

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1
http://twitter.com/kiala/status/4318938114
Posted by kiala on September 23, 2009 at 4:49 PM · Report
2
"Say something nice about Diablo Cody!"

"I...envy the tattoo artist who had that huge canvas of arm fat to work with."
Posted by CH on September 23, 2009 at 5:45 PM · Report
3
Oh, honest to blog, Diablo! How daring!

Someone should remake the ORIGINAL Degrassi Jr. High. The one from way back with a united colors cast where everyone looked and talked like awkward, dorky spazzy teens and not little cookie-cutter porn stars-in-training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d57D2MSSFzk
Posted by TSW on September 23, 2009 at 7:22 PM · Report
4
I don't think the original Degrassi needs remaking. It's still more relevant and awesome than just about anything on TV these days, and I doubt it'd be improved. (Although, I do not hate the next generation. Just sayin'.)
Posted by Alison Hallett on September 24, 2009 at 12:04 AM · Report
5
Perhaps so. It'd be hard to replicate that greatness. The amazing Freaks and Geeks may have come closest.

Admission: I'm with you on the next gen. Relative to all the others of its ilk, it's still pretty decent.
Posted by TSW on September 24, 2009 at 7:53 AM · Report

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