Movieman Madness: Cinema Spotlight VI - Jon Favreau (Part 2): "Made"

Bobby Ricigliano and Ricky Slade

Thanks to Swingers, Jon Favreau nabbed more acting jobs in mainly supporting roles in movies (The Replacements & Deep Impact) and especially television; guest-starring in such programs like Friends, Disney's Hercules, Dilbert, The Sopranos, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. While the acting gig was fairly well, Favreau loved watching the director at work and learning a few tips like filming certain shots and working with actors; from his early his days on Rudy with David Anspaugh, his breakout role in Swingers with Doug Liman, to more recent work like The Wolf of Wall Street with Martin Scorsese. At the dawn of the new century, Favreau began working on another script that was reminiscent of his first screenplay with him and his old pal Vince Vaughn once again in the lead roles.

Bobby and Jessica (Famke Janssen)

Favreau and Vaughn are best friends Bobby Ricigliano and Ricky Slade. Bobby's connections with the mob help them find work and and have a career as a amateur boxers. It also helps Bobby support his girlfriend Jessica (Famke Janssen) who works as a stripper by night and his daughter Chloe (Makenzie Vega) who may or may not be his. He drives Jessica to where she is expected but when his conscience gets the best of him, Max (Peter Falk) the local mob boss isn't too happy. To make it up, he makes Bobby an offer he can't refuse: a small laundering job in New York with the Big Apple's crime boss (Sean Combs). A reluctant Bobby agrees and brings Ricky along, whose egocentric excitement make their stay less than welcome.

Max (Peter Falk)

After referencing Scorsese and Tarantino in his first project, Favreau gets the chance to do his own crime movie and a comedy. It wouldn't surprise me if his time on The Sopranos added to the inspiration. Made is a spiritual successor to Swingers, with Favreau and Vaughn in the same semi-roles: Favreau being the schmuck straight man and Vaughn as the wild party guy; instead of being swingers, they're trying to get it made in the big business.

Meeting with Horrace (Faizon Love) and Ruiz (Sean Combs).

The humor centers on the uneasiness, making the viewer uncomfortable with the constant bickering that can lead to bigger problems especially with the wrong set of people you don't want to infuriate.

It drags a bit in the middle but what saves the movie is its heart; a big staple that carry's into Favreau's later work. Despite being at each other's throats, especially with Ricky's antics, the duo remain loyal with one another. Its a messy but faithful friendship. Underneath the comedy and in this case, underworld murkiness, is a touching story about a father trying to provide for his family. The scene at the end always hits home, affirming that its people like Chloe that give life purpose.

Bobby and Ricky with Chloe.

Made premiered on August 31st, 2001, with a reported limited release with no oversea distribution but made a modest amount a the box-office. It may not be as energetic as Swingers but its more mature and proved Favreau's directing skills. Where could he go from here? The answer would come during the most wonderful time of the year and a comedian fresh off from Saturday Night Live.....

Trademarks:

Opening Credits

Fun Fact: Co-Producer Peter Billingsley is a former child-actor
best known as Ralphie from A Christmas Story.

Raging Favreau

Favreau previously played boxer Rocky Marciano in a made-for-television movie.
In Made, he continues to display his boxing skills inside and outside of the ring.

Fatherhood

Bobby and Nicole

References:

Car shot like in Swingers when they drive to Vegas.

The license plate of the duo's ride in New York, reads "DBLDN11,"
referencing the blackjack strategy from Swingers (1996)

The Godfather: Mob Boss Max loves horses as seen in his office
and talks to Bobby about a particular horse, beheading is mot involved.

Foreshadowing:

Chef

Bobby making spaghetti for Chloe and showing the value of cooking.

Live-Action Disney Remakes

Bobby and Ricky meet Ruiz at a restaurant and
pass Simba and Baloo in a display case. Soon to be alive one day.

Iron Man 2

Two leads surrounded by a menacing motorized gang

Iron Man

Cocky character in a sleek ride splashed with red.

Cameos:

Vince's dad Vernon Vaughn as a High School football coach.

Jon's grandmother Joan Favreau as a Zoo tour guide

Dustin Diamond better known as Screech from Saved by the Bell
as himself swaggering in a club. It earned the movie a nomination for Best Cameo at the
2002 MTV Movie Awards, losing to Snoop Dogg in Training Day.

Sam Rockwell as a Hotel Clerk

Guitar player Tom Morello (the bald gentleman on the left) from
Rage Against the Machine as a bachelor at a party.

Bill Capizzi as Arthur, Bobby's supervisor in construction.
A voice-actor whose work include's RoboTech, Babe: Pig in the City,
G-Force: Guardians of Space, and Digimon: Digital Monsters.