Good-will hunting for a Ben doll fantasy market

By Rachael Abramowitz
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times photo illustration

To: Spencer Mathisson,
Senior vice president
New product development, Mattel

From: Sally Devine,
Executive vice president
BenAbo Products, A Ben Affleck© company

Dear Spencer,

Enclosed is a revised prototype of the Basic BenAbo doll for your approval. In our recent focus groups, the Ben "Neutral Expression" model received distinctly higher marks than the Ben "Sideways Grin" model.

Consumers in the target age range (8-12) and in the mature collectors' audience (25 and older) said that the former's more placid demeanor allowed for a richer imaginative experience. We've adjusted our design plans accordingly.

Also enclosed is a status update on several related products.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

BenAbo products

A. Bennifer's Wedding

Mr. Affleck has asked me again to express our regrets to you about the cancellation of the wedding and the impact it has on the Bennifer Wedding line. His agreement with Mattel, however, explicitly indemnifies him from bearing the cost of any change in design caused by unforeseen romantic complications. However, he believes that much of the expense that has gone into re-creating the Sept. 14 wedding at Santa Barbara's Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church can be salvaged by renaming the line "Bennifer's Fantasy Wedding" and including alternate scenarios, such as "Bennifer's Hawaiian Fantasy" or "Bennifer's Snow Fantasy."

Furthermore, many of the extras would be suitable for any of the venues. They include:

• Guests (the mini-Matt Damon, mini-Casey Affleck, mini-Bruce Willis, as well as mini-versions of Ms. Lopez's wedding planner/choreographer, stylist, hair stylist, masseuse and manicurist).
• Paparazzi, both doll versions, as well as a mini-camera truck and a mini-remote-controlled helicopter.
• Mini-plastic "ice sculptures" of Ms. Lopez and Mr. Affleck kissing, of the couple cavorting in the surf, and of Mr. Affleck spanking Ms. Lopez's behind.
• Replicas of the groomsmen's De Grisogono watches and the bridesmaid's pink-sapphire heart necklaces.
• Miniatures of the Affleck-Lopez fleet of cars, including a 1966 Chevelle, a green 2004 Range Rover, a silver 2004 Bentley and a black 2004 Rolls-Royce.
• Miniature couture wedding dresses by Versace.
• Detachable facial hair, including goatee, one-day growth and full beard.

B. Mystery Date with Ben

We have spent many weeks perfecting this modern update of the classic game.

As you know, players compete to win the "Ben" of their choice. The five possible Bens to be won include:

• "Dude" Ben: This Ben dresses in a red sweatshirt with camouflage pants and a Mr. Goodwrench hat. He is sporting a straggly goatee and bears a rolled-up script in one hand. In micro-print on the script are the words "Good Will Hunting. Shooting script."
• "JFK" Ben: Re-creates the low-key suit that Ben wore to the People for the American Way dinner, when he was awarded the Spirit of Liberty award. Given the fantasy element of the game, we feel the addition of horn-rimmed glasses will accentuate the "intellectual" element of his character. To reinforce the connection, he will be carrying a copy of John F. Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage."
• "Movie Star" Ben: Features a replica of the Armani knee-length jacket, black slacks and loafers and the clean-shaven look that Mr. Affleck sported when he accompanied Ms. Lopez to Paris to shoot her Louis Vuitton ads in April. (FYI: We're in discussions with Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana about the possible designs for the Jennifer playing pieces.)
• "Lover" Ben: Sports the terry-cloth robe he wore in "Jenny From the Block." He is slightly tan and looks adoring.
• "Naughty" Ben: Re-creates Affleck's July 17 visit to Brandi's Exotic Night Club in Vancouver, Canada. The background is black. He is wearing jeans and a brown plaid shirt and appears seated. Leaning into his lap is an unidentified woman's leg — clad only in fishnet stockings and a garter belt. We understand your reservations about promoting such a racy image to preteen girls, but we feel strongly that it's best to preserve some element of reality.

Note: Given Mr. Affleck's deal to promote L'Oreal hair products abroad, all hair on all the BenAbo dolls must conform to L'Oreal standards of height, volume and luster.

In the extremely unlikely event that Mr. Affleck's romance with Ms. Lopez should dim, we have begun preliminary inquiries for a suitable replacement. One celebrity, in particular, has inspired great interest: Paris Hilton.