Ex-NBA vet stars with SNL great in new mental institution comedy

Posted on | Tuesday, July 19, 2011 | No Comments

Do you remember Desmond Mason? In the early part of the '00s, he gained some measure of fame as one of the NBA's best dunk contest participants and even took home the trophy in 2001. Otherwise, he was a perfectly serviceable shooting guard who averaged more than 10 points per game in six of his 10 seasons. Unfortunately, Mason was released by the Kings in the fall of 2009 and has yet to find his way back onto an NBA roster.

The good news is that Mason has moved on to a new profession. If things go well, Hollywood stardom may be in his future. From Jimmie Tramel for Tulsa World (via Deadspin and TBJ):

Mason said he has been cast to play a resident of an insane asylum in a movie being filmed in Oklahoma.

"Just Crazy Enough" is a family-friendly comedy about identical twins separated at birth. According to the film's website (tulsaworld.com/justcrazyenough ), one twin becomes a prominent psychiatrist and the other a lifelong mental patient. The psychiatrist ends up swapping places with a twin he knows nothing about.

Former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Chris Kattan will play the lead role and is adding to what Mason says is a funny script. Tweeted Kattan on July 3: "I was waiting for a physical comedy vehicle like this for a loooong time! Thanks Oklahoma and timing and universe."

Mason described his role as a "pretty big part." He said his character speaks only in cliches and won't hold a normal conversation with anyone.

"Throughout the course of the movie, they are asking me a bunch of questions and we are going through a lot of stuff and I am answering with random cliches that mean nothing," he said.

Wait, the Chris Kattan? From "Corky Romano"? I hope he does a bit as Mr. Peepers!

You can check out the film's website here. It may look like it was made in 1996, but I ensure you that "Just Crazy Enough" is a new movie sure to sweep next year's Oscars, assuming it ever picks up a distributor. Otherwise, it may become one of Hollywood's great lost films, up there with the missing footage from Orson Welles' "The Magnificent Ambersons."

BDL will continue to update you on the saga of "Just Crazy Enough." If things go well, Mason may become the next Rick Fox. That may sound hyperbolic, but the raw talent is there.

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