Movie Pitch – Home Improvement
If any classic sitcom deserved a big screen follow-up it’s Home
Improvement. It’s the pinnacle of 90s sitcoms as well as one of the last
decent three camera formatted shows. Over 30 million people tuned into
the last episode, a rating total that is almost impossible to achieve in the
DVR age of television. Unlike most TV shows that become movies and get a
completely new cast, Home Improvement is in a position to be a feature that utilizes it’s original cast and follows-up with its characters where the
show ended.
The film would open like most episodes did, with a huge
construction stunt caused by the clumsy more power driven Tim the Tool Man
Taylor on the set of his show Tool Time. Since we last saw him in 1999
he’s grown to be a bigger hit than his nemesis Bob Villa. This is all
thanks to becoming a YouTube sensation after all his wacky accidents were
uploaded to the video website. From there his show has gone national via
cable TV and he’s a modestly popular celebrity. Al is still Tim’s assistant
on the show and still one of the most popular personalities with Tool Time
fans.
Tim’s personal life appears to be as great as ever. His
marriage is happier than ever, his kids are all grown with their own families
and careers. The only thing missing in Tim’s life is his friend and
former next door neighbor Wilson Wilson. Wilson passed away a few years
ago and Tim has been a bit lost on an emotional level without his friend and
confidant to advise him on life’s struggles.
After the big opening stunt and Tool Time wraps a person from the
audience named John approaches Tim and reveals he’s Wilson’s illegitimate
son. He’s in his late 20s and decided to track Wilson down after the
passing of his mother. Wilson had a fling with a woman at some point in
the 90s and unknowingly had a son with him. While the John was trying to
find his father he discovered Wilson passed away and the bulk of his estate was
left to Tim Taylor. Tim invites John over to his house for dinner later
to talk things out.
From there we’re reintroduced to Jill who’s prepping for their
youngest son’s Mark’s wedding and is a complete crazy person. Jokes ensue
via Tim at the expense of his son and his future wife. Randy arrives to
the house with his wife and new born child. They had planned on staying
in a hotel but due to some sort of comedic issue they now have to crash at the Taylor
home.
We learn that Randy is a successful environmental lobbyist in
Washington DC. He still has his quick wit but is big on going green
whenever possible. Almost the complete opposite of Tim’s more power
stance in the world. It’s also revealed that Randy and Brad had a falling
out.
Brad lives in the same town a few blocks away. He’s worked his way
into a middle-management position at Binford Tools. He’s married to his
childhood girlfriend Jennifer and they have a 5 year old daughter and 2 year
old son.
As they all prep for Mark’s wedding we learn that Mark is the
regional manager of Harry’s Hardware which has expanded from a local mom and
pop shop to a midsized chain in the Midwest. It’s also a store Al is part
owner of. Mark’s future wife is an amateur female wrestler with some
silly name we can hash out later.
Al is Tim’s assistant on Tool Time and is the most popular
personality on the show. His marriage failed and he was cleaned out in the
divorce with the exception of Harry’s Hardware which Al turned into a small
retail empire thanks to the popularity of the show. Al is single and looking
for love, he is a bit selective because he does not wish to be with a Tool Time
fan and also doesn’t want another failed marriage. Al’s popularity causes
him to receive an offer to host his own show. Tim tries to persuade Al to
stay with Tool Time stating that the show is only successful because of their
team dynamic and solo they are lost. Eventually Tim offers Al a co-host
title which Al gladly accepts as their show transitions into a larger
market.
As Tim navigates the different relationships in the coming weeks
to his son’s marriage, he starts to develop a bond with John and tell him
stories about his late friend Wilson. Remembering Wilson, bleeds into
Tim’s life as he advises his family in his Tim Taylor way.
Tim reconciles Brad and Randy, he helps Al find new love, helps
Mark who is having marriage doubts, and befriends his future wrestler daughter
in-law and her coworkers with comedic results, and he develops a relationship
with Wilson’s son John.
The film would end with Tim realizing that Wilson isn’t gone
because his advice follows Tim around in all his decisions and the wisdom he
passes along to his friends and family. Tim accepts his role as the new
Wilson with his own more power spin to it. He invites John to celebrate
his son’s wedding with him stating that Wilson was family to him and by
extension his son is now family too. The film will end with some comedic
wedding shenanigans and Tim going nuts with more power gags and wreck the
wedding,
The ultimate sell of the film is the physical comedy related to
all the stunts Tim pulled off. So the gags would be similar to the TV
show but on a much larger scale. Tim would wreck office buildings, damage
million dollar equipment, blowup stuff, annihilate cars, cause hilarious
catastrophe at a wedding.
Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
