This was a group exercise to “produce” a movie. My input was to present ideas for the main cast based on the synopsis.
After an accident in the high school chemistry lab, a high school senior, Chip (Elijah Woods), discovers that he has gained the power of x-ray vision. He tries to keep his new “sense” secret, but he is soon discovered by two identical twin cheerleaders (Lindsay Lohan) when he helps them find a lost family heirloom.
The two young women begin competing for his attention. At the same time the “evil” chemistry teacher, Mr. Fowler (James Woods) discovers Chip’s secret and tries to persuade him to use his new-found powers for financial gain.
When Chip refuses, Fowler hires Brutus (Vin Diesel) to kidnap the twins and use them to force Chip to change his mind. Chip turns to his parents - Gordon, a failed stand-up comic (Steve Martin) and Sylvia, a ditzy commercial jingle singer (Goldie Hawn), and his nerdy best friend, Reggie (Jason Biggs) for help. Much hilarity ensues.
Chip – Josh Hutcherson.
Josh Hutcherson is probably most known for playing Peeta in The Hunger Games. He is currently in his mid-20s, which makes him a little older than the character Chip, but his youthful face and short stature make him look younger. He has a slight build and could easily play a classic highschool aged ‘everyman’ who is not the popular jock but also not a hopeless nerd.
Reggie – Thomas Brodie-Sangster.
He is well known for a number of child-star roles including episodes of Dr. Who and the film Love Actually. As a young adult, he is famous for being the character Jojen Reed on Game of Thrones. He is very small and skinny and could easily play a bookish character. I picture this character as a serious nerd not a goofy nerd. Jason Biggs would be very awkward and clumsy. Thomas Brodie-Sangster would play a sharp and confident nerd who is just not interested in highschool social drama.
Twin Cheerleaders – Abigail Breslin
She became famous as the middle-school aged girl in Little Miss Sunshine. She is blonde and plays bubbly exuberant characters often. She would be ideal for the double-role of split screen twins in the tradition of The Patty Duke Show and The Parent Trap.
Mr. Fowler – Mark Sheppard
He is a highly prolific actor who has played a number of side characters in several TV shows including Battlestar Galactica and Supernatural. He is slightly shorter than average height and has a classic male pattern baldness hairstyle and a wide frame. He has a gruff voice and could easily play an intimidating school teacher drunk on power. His appearance makes him look much older than he actually and could play an older professor type.
Brutus – Kevin ‘Dot Com’ Brown
Dot Com is known for being a consistent side-character in the show 30 Rock. He plays one of the two buddies of Tracy Morgan on the show. He has an intimidating appearance as a bald Black man over six feet tall and certainly close to 300lbs. On the show he looks intimidating, but he is very gentle and kind in his demeanor. On occasion he chooses to act like a tough guy, and it is very effective, but also hilariously out of character. For this role, I believe he would fill a similar purpose. He could be shown to be harmless and good-hearted but forced to do this kidnapping because he owes Fowler a favour. The audience would enjoy seeing him trying to maintain a façade in front of the kidnapped twins.
Gordon – Jimmi Simpson
He rose to prominence playing the revolting Liam McPoyle on Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He further demonstrated his acting ability on Westworld. He is a good age for the father role. He has a physicality that is similar to Josh Hutcherson. He is very good at playing sleazy losers, and I could see him as an overconfident failure of a comedian.
Sylvia – Alison Becker
She plays a reoccurring side character on Parks and Recreation. She plays a reporter for a small-town newspaper. Her character is not particularly ditsy or incapable, but she is very self-centered and uncompassionate. She is shown to have loose morals and very little loyalty to anyone. For this role, she is the right age and has a certain aging beauty about her. With some extra makeup and inappropriate clothing for her age she could portray a somewhat immature mother of the main character.