Gwyneth, Beyonce, Cameron, and Reese: The 'craziest movie musical ever'?

In a move that's splitting critics, Glee's Ryan Murphy is assembling an all-star cast for an original musical comedy about former '90s one-hit wonders

Gwyneth Paltrow
(Image credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Here's the latest in polarizing Hollywood news: Deadline is reporting that Glee creator Ryan Murphy is planning an original movie musical called One Hit Wonders that will star Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, and Cameron Diaz as former '90s pop stars desperate to relive their glory days. Beyonce will reportedly also take a role, and Saturday Night Live's resident viral video star Andy Samberg ("Dick in a Box") will write the music. According to the report, "The project came out of a dinner that Murphy had at the SoHo House with Paltrow, Diaz, and Witherspoon." The quartet discussed their desire to work together, and settled on One Hit Wonders. Could this unusual film, pegged "the craziest movie musical ever," possibly succeed?

"This could work": This loopy idea has tons of potential, says Sean O'Connell at Cinema Blend. We've already heard Witherspoon's Oscar-winning pipes (Walk the Line), and Murphy's showcased Paltrow's formidable vocals on Glee. While Diaz is more of a question mark, "Beyonce can sing enough for three ladies." Factor in Samberg's catchy SNL-style tunes, and you've got "musical talent in bucketloads." But will this ever come to fruition? Murphy's busy producing Glee and directing Julia Roberts in the upcoming film, Normal Heart — and his A-list cast's schedules aren't exactly open. But if the stars do ever align, sign me up.

"Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, and Reese Witherspoon are Ryan Murphy's One Hit Wonders"

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

It may be the worst movie idea ever: "This sounds like eighteen shades of awful," says Kate Erbland at Film School Rejects. What should have stayed a self-indulgent dinner conversation has apparently mushroomed into "something the rest of us have to be subjected to." It "turns my tummy" when A-listers decide to work together just for the sake of it — and I dread the thought of these women directed by Murphy, "whose Glee has become unwatchable." If Diaz even attempts to warble, we'd all be wise to flee the theater. (Remember My Best Friend's Wedding?)

"Low notes: Ryan Murphy to helm One Hit Wonders with Paltrow, Witherspoon, Diaz, and Beyonce"

It could go either way: This idea — Reese, Gwyneth, Cameron, Beyonce, and Andy Samberg "walk onto a movie set" — sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, and it could certainly end up that way, says Jenni Maier at Crushable. You never really know whether you're going to get brilliance or dreck with Ryan Murphy, and just because Reese, Gwyneth, and Cameron are all blonde and friends "doesn't mean they're going to have automatic on-screen chemistry." Still, the plot sounds goofily cheesy in the best kind of way, and Beyonce could save the day. My prognosis: This will either be great or a "total disaster."

"Reese Witherspoon, Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, and Andy Samberg walk onto a movie set…"

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us

Kevin Fallon is a reporter for The Daily Beast. Previously, he was the entertainment editor at TheWeek.com and a writer and producer for TheAtlantic.com's entertainment vertical. He is only mildly embarrassed by the fact that he still watches Glee.