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Kevin Smith discusses his hockey movie ‘Hit Somebody,’ choosing to film in Hockeytown

kevinsmithjersey.jpg

As a hockey fan, it’s easy to have a soft spot for writer-director Kevin Smith. Both his best and worst work features the sports prominently. From rooftop hockey in “Clerks” to a reference to “The Whale” and hockey video games in “Mallrats,” Smith has been eager to show off his puck love.

Smith’s career seems to have hit a wall with “Zach and Miri make a porno” and “Cop Out,” but perhaps he’s using his difficulties as motivation to create a true labor of love. The often-witty filmmaker is deep into the writing process for a movie called “Hit Somebody” and the Detroit Free Press discussed his decision to film in Detroit, aka “Hockeytown.” Apparently the movie is at least partially based on a Warren Zevon song by the same title, which includes lyrics written by Detroit-area writer Mitch Albom.

Here’s what Smith had to say about Albom and his decision to shoot in Detroit.

So by the end of it, he was like, “You’re the guy.” He goes: “I got two requests. One, you can’t make fun of the sport. The sport is too easy to make fun of, and we need all the help we can get.” I was like, “I’m the last guy in the world to make fun of the sport!” And then he was like, “Two, you gotta film it in Detroit.” And I was like, “That ain’t hard -- that’s Hockeytown.” He’s like: “I’m from Detroit. We could use the help.” I said, “Dude, done and done.”

[snip]

A lot of (the film) is going to take place in the ‘70s. Detroit looks like it stopped in the ‘70s, so we literally don’t have to set-decorate or set-design. We just turn on the camera and there’s an old building. It’s a great place and hopefully we’ll do it justice.

Some might be turned off by the fact that Sean William Scott (aka “Stifler” from the “American Pie” series) will be the lead actor, but I have to admit that Scott earned my tolerance - dare I say admiration - for his work in “Role Models.” It’s unlikely that Jay and Silent Bob or any characters from the “View Askeniverse” will make appearances, though there’s a solid chance one or more of those actors will find a part.

One interesting note is that Smith says the script will probably earn a PG-13 rating and features “no cursing.” Considering the fact that his most famous work spans deep into the realm of vulgarity, it will be interesting to see a “cleaner” comedy from Smith.

He hasn’t made a particularly relevant movie (even from a “mass consumption” standpoint, as even his money makers often draw critical poison) in many years, but it will be interesting to see if he could produce something worthwhile. It doesn’t have to be a classic like “Slap Shot,” either. Personally, I just hope it’s not as bad as “The Love Guru.” That movie was the 2004-05 lockout of hockey flicks.