There’s always time during a busy day to help endorse a proposed plan to build a statue memorializing the main character of an uber-violent sci-fi movie I saw in a theater my Dad snuck me into in 1987. Always.
This video starring the law-enforcing cyborg himself, Peter Weller, is a slap-happy, nutty goof. The proposed plan to build a statue of RoboCop somewhere in downtown Detroit (where the truly awesome film and it’s far less awesome sequel are set) is not. Initially the Mayor said “no”. Then a surprising number of citizens countered with a resounding “yes”. Then a local businessman took it upon himself to raise $50,000 fricking dollars to see Officer Murphy’s titanium-encased remains immortalized for all time.
With both a healthy budget and positive public opinion behind the idea, which apparently started as a silly-natured Tweet, it’s not up to Mayor Bing anymore. But let’s get back to that businessman for a moment. I’ve since learned via his website, which just happens to be named after the evil corporation which first funds but eventually tries to kill Robocop in the film, that it isn’t his first foray into movie tie-ins.
”What did you do, Ray?!” – Dr. Peter Venkman
Also in Omni’s repertoire of phony products from movies made into the real thing for real world consumers?:
- Stay Puft Marshmallows from Ghostbusters. Try not to think about them when facing a Gatekeeper of Gozer.
- Brawndo Energy Drink from Mike Judge’s unsung Idiocracy.
- Tru Blood beverage from HBO’s True Blood. In case that wasn’t abundantly clear.
- Sex Panther cologne made famous, of course, by Mr. Brian Fantana in the modern comedy classic, Anchorman.
At first glance, raising money to build a statue of Robocop seems like Pete Hottelet’s nerdtastic labor of love. As I’m sure you’ve realized by now it’s also a brilliant viral marketing scheme. This probably isn’t the first you’ve heard of the statue – it’s been getting a ton of press over the last few weeks and I hope it happens. Because you can’t deny that fact that this actual prototype exudes class…
"Sign the petition or there’ll be… trouble."
It’s breathtaking, and I’d definitely buy that for a dollar. Though I can’t picture something like this happening in too many other cities – take Boston, for example. No matter how enthusiastically people tried to sell it to the population as “art” it would fly about as far as one of those bronze ducklings. But we’re talking about Detroit here. A place where statues of fictional robotic peace officers, lesser-known Norwegian superheroes and maybe even one (possibly all four) of the Teletubbies will almost certainly raise property values. I don’t have anything against Detroit… I’ve just seen pictures. And that picture was 8 Mile.
Peter Weller is the man. Did you know he’s a professor of Art History at Syracuse University. Not your typical actor. Check out Engineering an Empire on History Channel where he makes delivers history lessons but also manages to come off as a tough guy. Interesting. Also loved First Born.
I did not know that. Cool – and I will check out that History Channel show.
Let me assure you, Detroit really is that bad. That said, if people around the country want to raise the money for a statue, fine. But people in Detroit need to save that shit up for other things. I could name one but it’d be the tip of the iceberg.