Why does the IMDB trivia and the Wikipedia page say the Zuckers left the movie, causing its publicity campaign to be scrapped, yet here is a YouTube video showing them promoting the movie?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HmbrmBnX-U
"Pretentious" is a three-syllable word for any thought too big for little minds.
I recently heard a podcast interview with director Dennis Dugan, and he talked about what happened to this film.
Based on that interview and info I found elsewhere, the movie was green-lit by the president at Paramount. During post-production and test screenings (which were reported to be very successful), the president was fired and replaced by another. Dugan said the new president didn't like the movie. Lame Ducks was re-titled Brain Donors, 20 minutes was cut out of the movie, most of Ira Newborn's score seemed to have been removed and replaced with Mark Mothersbaugh's music, marketing was scarce, and the film only had a limited release in April of '92.
A shame.
About the Zucker participation, I have seen a commercial of the movie on YouTube. The ad opened with the announcer saying "From the Zucker Brothers!", so I doubt they left the movie. Besides, they only financed the movie; it's more of a Pat Proft-Dennis Dugan joint.
However, I remember reading that the Zuckers did leave Paramount because 20th Century Fox wanted to do a picture deal with them.
Weird is the new normal.