Michael Stipe + Tom Hanks + Barry Manilow = ?

Variety reports that the project was cooked up by Stipe’s Single Cell partner Sandy Stern. The rom-com will feature a number of intersection storylines as Manilow fans travel to Las Vegas to see their soft rock idol headline at Mandalay Bay. The plot sounds like a not so rock ‘n’ roll “Detroit Rock City” – just trade the 1999 cult film’s road trip to Detroit to see a KISS concert for Las Vegas and a Manilow show. 

At first I thought this flick was a strange choice for Stipe but maybe he’ll teach us a thing or two with some biting social commentary about Manilow fans. Really though, does anything bring people together more than “Copacabana”?

Barry Manilow must be taken seriously. Take for example the 1998 teen film “Can’t Hardly Wait.” If not for Manilow’s song “Mandy,” Preston never might have worked up the courage to profess his love to Amanda. Hearing “Mandy” on the radio that night was a sign, destiny! Wait, was the song really about a dog?

Variety writes that Manilow’s music will be featured throughout the as yet-untitled flick and that the “man who writes the music” will also perform a song or two. The film is modeled after “Love Actually” rather than a musical so you don’t have to worry about characters suddenly singing, “Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl …” out of nowhere. Actually don’t quote me on that. I could see the film not being a musical but still featuring characters singing Manilow songs at a karaoke night at some Sin City bar.

Manilow is expected to help collaborate on the project once a writer is hired and Manilow’s manager, Garry Kief, will also produce.

Single Cell Pictures’ previous production work include “Saved!,” “Being John Malkovich,” “Velvet Goldmine” and “Thirteen Conversations About One Thing,” according to imdb.com.

Click here for the Variety.com article.