WTF Moments: "Basic Instinct 2"

Every so often a movie is released that makes us wonder what exactly the people involved were thinking. These movies are so bad that it should have been evident from the very beginning that nothing good would come out of pursuing the project. In 2006 we saw a classic case of greenlight insanity- Basic Instinct 2.

The original Basic Instinct was pretty much a run of the mill thriller and should have been mostly ignored way back in 1992. But the director decided to shine a light up Sharon Stone’s dress during the interrogation scene and the rest was history. Ms. Stone became a huge star and audiences flocked to see what all the fuss was about. (Most of the tickets were probably sold to horn dogs too embarrassed to be seen at a XXX theater.) Just about every television show on the air at the time spoofed the now infamous scene for a cheap laugh.

So 14 years later, we should have been able to breathe a sigh of relief, secure in the knowledge that way too much time had passed for anyone to even consider making a sequel. With Sharon Stone getting close to being eligible for an AARP membership and Michael Douglas firmly in the Lark Motorized Scooter demographic, Basic Instinct 2 seemed like a ridiculous and far fetched possibility. Obviously, this means that it had to be made.

With Michael Douglas way too old to play a convincing partner, even for Ms. Stone, the filmmakers chose not to bring him back. (Although he might have been murdered at the end of the first film- maybe.) Since the only thing that seemed to captivate audiences from the first movie is probably something that nobody would really want to see again, it is unclear how they thought they could get another feature length film made. And how could anyone possibly think that this project could be a success as a theatrical release? (Maybe the project could have worked as a Direct to DVD release or Skinemax cheapie… maybe.)

With nothing new to show and no real new ground to cover, Basic Instinct 2 hit the movie screens of America with a thud. They couldn't even manage to make enough money to cover Sharon Stone’s reported $14 million salary. Perhaps they should have just flushed all of that money down the toilet; it probably would have been cheaper for them in the long run.

WTF?!? Moments: Skidoo

Paramount wanted a picture that would excite the young people of the late 1960's. With their usual fare striking out with the so-called "hippies", they did what any "with it" studio would do- hire elderly director Otto Preminger, Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing to head up a cast of stars who most assumed had already passed away to make a 'Today' picture- Skidoo!

There are many scenes that are WTF?!? Moments in this mess- Elderly celebrities embarrassing themselves, Jackie Gleason tripping on acid, Carol Channing doing a striptease in front of Frankie Avalon... But the scene that tops them all for bizarreness is actually the credits. Otto Preminger himself, sounding like Colonel Klink, asks the audience to stay in their seats while Harry Nilsson sings the end credits. It's as bizarre as it sounds and the "song" even made it onto the soundtrack.

While the rest of the soundtrack (aside from Ms. Channing's croaking) has gained some fans over the years, the bizarre song from the most bizarre film of the 1960's still holds up as an example of what happens when Hollywood tries too hard to be hip.

WTF?!? Moments: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

The entire film was a WTF?!? Moment- take beloved Beatles songs, craft them into a loose story of sorts, then hire an Australian based disco band to perform them.

The poor souls who actually paid good money to see this film must have thought they were having a very bizarre dream. Steve Martin and George Burns sing! Borderline offensive minstrel robots dance! Old people sway to the music with grins on their face that seem to say 'this must be that rock music that's popular with the kids these days!' From beginning to end, there's nothing but bizarre images, poorly cast stars and plenty of scenes that make one question the sobriety of all involved.

It's difficult, but not impossible, however, to choose the biggest WTF?!? Moment and it comes at the very end. The movie ends with a reprise of the title song sung by the most random group of celebrities you've ever seen. Carol Channing, Jose Feliciano, Dame Edna, Wolfman Jack, Connie Stevens, Minnie Riperton, Sha-Na-Na and even more celebs, arranged like they're taking an elementary school class picture, send the audience home on a bizarre note. It was almost like the producers just picked up a Beverly Hills phone book and randomly started calling people until they had enough yeses to fill the bleachers.

In an even bigger shock, Paul McCartney and George Harrison join in the "fun". While it would be easy to see Ringo Starr taking part in this travesty (he had a role in Mae West's Sextette after all) it is difficult to believe that anyone else from the Beatles would want to participate in a film that turns their classics into overly produced desecrations. Since the Beatles had already sold their compositions on the cheap years before, they didn't have any type of control or input on this project. Which makes George and Paul's decision to have a cameo in this trainwreck all the more baffling. They didn't make any money off the songs used in the movie and should have known better.

We can only guess at why the producers chose to round up everyone in Hollywood who said yes and randomly insert them into the end of the film. The best answer is probably that the film was running short and they needed to add a few minutes at the end. Very bizarre, WTF?!? minutes.