Does New Line Really Know ‘What Boys Want’?

In 2000, Mel Gibson starred in Paramount Pictures romantic comedy What Women Want. After a freak accident, Gibson’s character becomes able to hear every thought of any woman. The film was run with the tagline of “Finally…a man is listening,”and did decently at the theater.

Well, apparently New Line Cinema thought the idea of a character being able to hear the thoughts of the opposite sex was a pretty good plot line, as they’re taking on a comedy flick titled — ever so cleverly — What Boys Want. Aside from the obvious similarity in title, the movie revolves around a girl who can, you guessed it, hear what men are thinking.

There’s no question that Hollywood doesn’t always have the freshest ideas come out for movies, and that plots have a tendency to get recycled with one or two details being tweaked to make the new story just different enough from others before it.

But really, New Line? You agree to take on a movie that has been done before, and can’t even change the title of Gibson’s movie beyond one word? That’s just lazy.

New Line has already starting casting for the movie, placing Disney up-and-comer Selena Gomez as the film’s lead. Gomez began her acting career on Barney and Friends, but is best known for her role on Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place. While Gomez shines on Wizards, it will be interesting to see if her acting chops are ready for the big screen.

What Boys Want was written by Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer and will be produced by Kevin Misher. Allen Fisher and Gomez’s mother will serve as executive producers.