Writer, producer and director of some of the most successful comedies of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Tom Shadyac scored big with such hit films as "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (1994), "The Nutty Professor" (1996), and "Bruce Almighty" (2003) among his credits. Though critics often decried his movies as crass and lowbrow, they scored with audiences, who flocked to see such top box office draws as Jim Carrey and Eddie Murphy engage in no-holds-barred physical comedy. Shadyac's golden touch ultimately led him to helm what was reportedly the most expensive comedy ever made, "Evan Almighty" (2007), with Steve Carell.
Born Dec. 11, 1958 in Falls Church, VA, Thomas Peter Shadyac attended the University of Virginia, where he showed a knack for comedy by producing a poster that targeted the then-popular preppy movement, earning a windfall from it. He graduated from the university in 1981 and moved west, where he joined the UCLA Film School and pursued acting and comedy writing - indeed, among his early gigs was a reputed turn as a joke writer for Bob Hope. Unfortunately, Shadyac did not fare particularly well as a performer, but his 1989 short film project earned him enough attention, that he began writing and directing for Fox television. Among his early full-length credits was a likable comedy called "Frankenstein: The College Years," which aired in 1991.
Three years later, he concocted a script (with Jack Bernstein) about a manic pet detective and hired up-and-coming comic actor, Jim Carrey - best known at that time for his manic turn on Fox's urban sketch show, "In Living Color" - to star in the odd film which did, in fact, feature Carrey talking out of his butt. Though generally reviled by critics, "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" was a smash hit and established Carrey as a breakout star. Despite the original's success, Shadyac declined to participate in the lackluster sequel, "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls" (1996); instead choosing to move on to partner with another comedian-actor with marquee value - Eddie Murphy. The once A-lister comic who had, in recent years, experienced a bit of a rough patch career-wise, proved he could still bring it, particularly as it pertained to his gift for multiple impersonations. The remake of Jerry Lewis' "The Nutty Professor" yielded even more impressive returns at the box office than "Ace Ventura." Shadyac was quickly becoming the go-to director for comics eager to show off all their wacky potential on screen, but within the confines of a solidly directed film.
Shadyac reunited with Carrey for the middling comedy "Liar, Liar" (1997), in which the comic plays an unscrupulous lawyer who must tell the truth for a period of time in order to please his estranged son. Despite it's so-so turn with the critics, the film was funny and did make money. He then shifted gears to direct and executive produce a medical drama based on the true-life story of a doctor who used humanitarian tactics to help his patients - Shadyac's own father was on the board of St. Jude's Hospital. The resulting "Patch Adams" (1998), starring Robin Williams, was a fair-sized hit, but earned Shadyac withering reviews for its treacley sentimentality. Certainly in the last decade, Williams had never received worse reviews than for "Patch." Many tried to put their finger on it, but in the end, the sickening sentimentality and Willams' spastic shtick just did not mesh. The picture became a kind of cautionary tale; a 1990s version of the eighties massive comic misfires, "Heaven's Gate" (1980) and "Ishtar" (1987).
Shadyac went back to comedy in 2000 as executive producer on "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps," which allowed Murphy to trot out more broad comic characterizations. But his return to direction two years later earned him his first financial flop - an overly sentimental drama with supernatural overtones, "Dragonfly," starring Kevin Costner as a widower who is contacted by his late wife through his patients. The film was soundly rejected by critics and moviegoers alike.
Perhaps sensing that a hit was growing overdue, Shadyac reunited with Carrey again for the comedy "Bruce Almighty" (2003). The film, which saw Carrey as an ordinary man suddenly imbued with limitless powers after a visit from God (Morgan Freeman), hit big with audiences. It also gave its star a project that allowed him to flex both his comic and dramatic muscles, as well as a forum for Shadyac - a self-avowed Christian - to explore religious themes in a largely secular forum. In all cases, it was a win-win situation for the director, the star and its audience.
Around the same time as "Bruce," Shadyac also tried his hand at producing for television. The end result was "Platonically Incorrect" (ABC, 2003), a romantic comedy that never blossomed past the pilot stage. He then joined the host of producers on "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" (ABC, 2002-05) during its 2004-05 season as it floundered to regain its footing on the network schedule after the death of its star, John Ritter.
Shadyac then moved back to features with the little-seen college comedy "Accepted" (2006), for which he served as producer. But since the success of "Bruce" - Shadyac's real passion had been to return the "Almighty" sequel scenario. Tentatively titled "The Passion of the Ark," which would have Carrey's Bruce building an ark a la Noah in preparation for a second Great Flood, the film was ultimately rejected by Carrey. Not wasting a minute, the script was retooled for Steve Carell, who had played a scene-stealing supporting role in the original "Bruce" and was still enjoying a rocket ride to stardom from "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" (2005) and "The Office" (NBC, 2005- ). The film's budget bloomed to a reported $200 million, due to reshoots involving its huge cast of trained animals, as well as a prodigious special effects roster. In interviews, Shadyac deflected the pressure imposed upon him by this dollar amount, but unconfirmed reports had him blowing up at Universal over what was perceived as a lack of advertising for the project. Film bloggers almost took delight in the project, which throughout a plague-like troubled shoot, looked like it might collapse under its own weight.
The 2007 summer also yielded another high profile comedy for Shadyac, the Adam Sandler-Kevin James vehicle "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," which had both comics as firemen pretending to be gay in order to get domestic partner insurance. Shadyac served as producer on this project, as well as a film for TV and stand-up comic George Lopez, which started shooting in 2007. |
