Name that toon
ANOTHER week, another genre. Everyone loves cartoons, whether it's grown-ups using their children as an excuse for watching The Simpsons, or memories of Sunday afternoons spent with classic cartoons in the company of Glen Michael's Cavalcade. Animation is enjoying a resurgence as a premium source material for film making. Especially if it involves animating the action with a human being.
The latest cartoon caper aiming to make it to celluloid is a live-action version of the popular bowler hat-wearing British character, Mr Benn. Remember the popular children's classic about a man who visits a magical fancy dress shop and, on entering the changing room, is whisked away to whatever setting the costume lends itself to? Well, there are plans afoot to make a film. But the question in toonsville is who is going to don the bowler and pinstripe suit? It looks likely to be Scotland's very own John Hannah, who shot to fame in Four Weddings And A Funeral and recently consolidated his appeal in Peter Howitt's Sliding Doors. The other key player in the world of Mr Benn is the shopkeeper - a role which has attracted another famous name. Ben Kingsley, the British actor who made the phrase ''on what charge?'' famous in his 1982 Academy award-winning role as Gandhi, is eyeing the role.
But the story doesn't stop here, for the film - to be directed by Jevon O'Neill - is likely to be sold by Winchester Entertainment, the UK sales, finance and production house responsible for Shooting Fish.
Like a lot of relationships in the world of film, the one between Winchester and John Hannah began in the exotic location of Cannes in France. It all started with a fight outside one of the festival town's more infamous bars. Fellow Britpack actor Sean Pertwee noticed a pickpocket lift his wallet, so he ran after the perpetrator with Hannah and Winchester chief Gary Smith in tow. ''I was 10 yards behind,'' recalls have-a-go-hero Smith. ''I got round the corner, and John was laying into him with a punch. I still managed to get a good right foot in though.'' Cartoon capers all round.
When it comes to capers, rubber-faced actor Jim Carrey springs to mind. His comic past includes The Mask (since turned into a cartoon) and the role of the Riddler in Batman Forever. The Canadian ex-stand-up comic is about to be seen in The Truman Show, having mumbled the immortal words said by every comic-turned-actor: ''I just want to be taken seriously as an actor and that means serious roles.'' But Carrey is set to return to the place where he found film fame - outlandish comedy. His name has been linked to Ron Howard's upcoming live-action version of the children's classic cartoon book, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. A smash hit in North America, the animated version is as big a festive TV institution over there as Raymond Briggs's The Snowman is here. The new project is expected to see Carrey as the Grinch - a miserable monster who decides to wreck Christmas for everyone. It presumably
sees the comic-turned-comedy-actor-turned-actor-turned-back-to-comedy star in a comic-turned-film.
It does seem having comic appeal is important in landing a role in films stemming from cartoons. Mark Addy, the actor who was brilliant as the fat one alongside Robert Carlyle in The Full Monty, is gearing up to be Fred Flintstone in a follow-up to 1994's big screen outing. Addy is due to film The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas, which details Fred's honeymoon with Wilma. Addy follows John Goodman in the role for which the only real requirement is to shout ''Wilma!'' very loudly.
No news on who might be the wife in question as yet, in the film which is to see a return
to Bedrock for director
Brian Levant. Sometimes it seems everyone has rocks in their heads.
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