Razzies Founder Calls Exec Who Attacked Universal ‘Refreshingly Honest’

The harsh words Universal President Ron Meyer used to describe box-office bombs like Land of the Lost, The Wolfman and Cowboys & Aliens at Georgia's Savannah Film Festival Wednesday might've gotten a few laughs from Golden Raspberry Awards founder John Wilson, but the creator of the Razzies told IBTimes Thursday that grumbling about all those sh-ty movies that cost the company millions wasn't a good career move.

If a case can be made that his remarks in some way impacted the revenues on specific films, Wilson said, he probably is going to be in trouble with his bosses.

Following a merger in January, NBC Universal went under the majority ownership of Comcast. Comcast's CEO is Brian Roberts.

Whoever the equivalent of Rupert Murdoch at Comcast is, that would be the one person that could fire this guy for what he said, Wilson argued. Stockholders, people involved in projects they're making right now, are all going to be wondering: Did he mean them?

Wilson - who's been doling out Razzie Awards for horrible movies since 1981 - added that, if nothing else, Meyer was able to face the truth. It wasn't politically wise, but it was refreshingly honest, said Wilson about the remark.

What's more, Wilson said, is that with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford headlining Cowboys & Aliens, it's not difficult to see why Universal expected better returns on it. Of course, some stars apparently shine brighter than others.

'Cowboys & Aliens' does have a couple of well-known actors, he said. Harrison Ford and - I'm trying to remember the name of the guy that's James Bond.

Meyer explained Wednesday that, for all the acting chops it had at its disposal, the oddities onscreen weren't pulling their weight. All those little creatures bouncing around were crappy, Movieline quoted him as saying.

Meyer also maintained that, along with Babe: Pig in the City, the 2010 remake of The Wolfman featuring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins, which Box Office Mojo found had a budget of $150 million but only yielded $61,979,680 domestically, was among the shi-est movies we put out.

Critic Peter Travers apparently thought so, too. He said in his review for Rolling Stone that, 'The Wolfman' bites, but not - I think - in the way the filmmakers intended.

As for the Will Ferrell comedy Land of the Lost, it grossed $49,438,370 domestically, a figure that looks pretty miserable after reading Joe Morgenstern's review of it in The Wall Street Journal.

This dramatically, thematically and artistically bankrupt comic fantasy cost something in the neighborhood of $100 million to make and isn't worth the celluloid it's printed on, he fumed.

Land of the Lost got a Razzie for worst remake, rip-off or sequel in 2010.