Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Actors in roles that weren't all that convincing

277 replies

Blahbie · 12/10/2023 23:21

And this is not an actor/actress bashing thread, an actor can be hit and miss depending on role,dialogue and other factors. And it's ok to agree to disagree.

OP posts:
Needhelp101 · 13/10/2023 06:13

And completely agree on Brad Pitt in Interview with a Vampire. Awful. Although fantastic in so many other films.

EastCoasting · 13/10/2023 06:17

Splitscreened · 12/10/2023 23:36

Was just watching one of the Harry Potter films with DS last night — (1) Michael Hambon’s hammy take on Dumbledore via Richard Harris and (2) it’s not that Helena Bonham-Carter gave anything like a bad performance, but who rewrote Bellatrix Lestrange from the brunette Unity Mitford heavy-lidded pureblood aristo type she was in the novels to a vaguely steampunk Cockney with mad hair and an idiosyncratic line in black corsets?

(1) Michael Hambon’s hammy take on Dumbledore

Not Michael Jambon? Grin

Tezza1 · 13/10/2023 06:17

I didn't think Morgan Freeman was capable of a really bad performance: then I saw "Dreamcatcher". Oh, dear.

Fairyliz · 13/10/2023 06:19

Sean Bean in anything at all. He doesn’t actually act just plays himself.

ALittleTeawithmilk · 13/10/2023 06:21

MeinKraft · 12/10/2023 23:40

Jamie Dornan in the 50 Shades films, he always looks vaguely embarrassed to be there.

I’m embarrassed for him. Lol. I’ve never been able to watch any of the 50 Shades movies all the way through. He’s such a good actor otherwise.

OccultOctopus · 13/10/2023 06:25

Yeah, I think the point of The Rock is to be broadly the same in everything. However, he was very good in Ballers so maybe he can act.

For me, Cameron Diaz almost ruins Gangs of New York.

Thequeenofthetypis · 13/10/2023 06:31

Fairyliz · 13/10/2023 06:19

Sean Bean in anything at all. He doesn’t actually act just plays himself.

Except for the episode of Vicar of Dibley, where he actually did play himself.
" No don't do it Geraldine! C'mon lass" 😂

Thequeenofthetypis · 13/10/2023 06:34

ALittleTeawithmilk · 13/10/2023 06:21

I’m embarrassed for him. Lol. I’ve never been able to watch any of the 50 Shades movies all the way through. He’s such a good actor otherwise.

Show quote history

He's amazing in the fall, but he turned up in a few early episodes of Once Uon a time and he was like a big Irish block of wood. Granted the whole show was horrendous ( my kids love it....)

Hellinthekitchen · 13/10/2023 06:37

Blahbie · 13/10/2023 00:14

I like the rock but he usually plays very one dimensional characters, maybe he is type cast idk 🤷‍♀️

My 8YO thinks the Rock is the greatest actor ever!

Hellinthekitchen · 13/10/2023 06:43

GellerYeller · 13/10/2023 00:21

I can never disassociate Owen Wilson’s characters from actual Owen Wilson.
Brad Pitt in Friends. I know that episode is beloved but he veers from hammy to wooden.
Adam Sandler gets a bit of stick but I like him. He’s consistent and no nonsense. The Gary Neville of movies, if you will.

I can't disassociate Owen Wilson's voice with Lightning Mcqueen. Every time I watch him in something I expect him to say 'kerchow!'

EnjoythemoneyJane · 13/10/2023 06:45

BabyFireflyx · 13/10/2023 00:55

Which film? There's a hell of a difference between some of his movies. I’m surprised you never bothered again after one (there are several actors I cant stand but I've gone on to watch films with them in and been able to appreciate the bigger picture), but I suppose the true answer lies in which one.

Show quote history

Totally agree - his ’bread & butter’ lame comedy stuff is pretty awful, but he was really good in Uncut Gems and brilliant in Hustle; so perfectly cast in that role, really natural and with zero vanity.

soupweather · 13/10/2023 06:48

Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler in PS I love you. I loved the book but this was so badly cast.

Loopytiles · 13/10/2023 06:53

Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan in Annie: so awful!

Disagree with a PP about Hugh Grant in About a Boy, thought he was good casting for the part.

EnjoythemoneyJane · 13/10/2023 06:54

Came on to say Andie Macdowell in 4 Weddings but been beaten to it! Don’t agree it’s necessarily the writing though - she’s just hopelessly miscast and clunks through every scene like a block of wood.

Doesn’t help that there’s absolutely zero chemistry between her and Hugh Grant - but then he never seems to have good chemistry with anyone in those Curtis romcoms. Much prefer him in stuff like Bridget Jones or The Gentlemen where he can just be hammy and funny without having to do his unconvincing mawkish thing.

Firebug007 · 13/10/2023 06:56

donquixotedelamancha · 12/10/2023 23:49

Keanu Reeves in Dracula. Keanu Reeves in the Day the Earth Stood Still. Keanu Reeves in the Lake House.

Basically, Keanu Reeves in any roll that requires greater range than 'confused' or 'stoic'.

Show quote history

While you are absolutely right, I still love Keanu and will watch anything he's in 🤷‍♀️

RhubarbFairy · 13/10/2023 07:03

Came on to say Brad Pitt in Friends. I love the Thanksgiving episodes, and they completely ruined that one. He's so wooden.

Agree with a PP about it needing to be the right role for Adam Sandler. I won't watch anything where he does the stupid face and voice (usually trying to represent a 'stupid' character), but he's actually very good in serious roles. He was superb in Hustle.

All of Prince of Thieves, but that doesn't stop it from being one of my favourite films. It's my comfort, go to film, and has been since my teens.

A disclaimer for this next one: Ryan Reynolds is on my 'list'. The number one spot. He comes across as a fantastic person, and he's very easy on the eye. But he basically plays the same character in every role. I'd like to see more depth from him. Deadpool is hilarious, though.

Littletinytarzanswingingfromanosehair · 13/10/2023 07:03

Helen Baxendale in friends. Who else could have played her Emily character though?

Splitscreened · 13/10/2023 07:09

burnoutbabe · 13/10/2023 00:29

I watched him in a film about training a youth team /maybe young offenders. He acted in that, it wasn't bad.

Show quote history

I am impressed with The Rock in whichever Jumamji film he’s playing a computer game avatar that is being inhabited by Danny De Vito’s cantankerous granddad, who doesn’t understand what computer games are and thinks he’s dead.

Actually the same film has Jack Black (whom I usually loathe) being unexpectedly good as a nerdy cartographer computer game avatar being inhabited by an airheaded female influencer who turns out to be basically good.

(You can tell I have an 11 year old — I used to not know who The Rock was…)

ifchocolatewerecelery · 13/10/2023 07:11

Anything with Tom Cruise in these days. Mission Impossible is basically a vehicle for him to do any stunt he fancies. His Reacher was basically his MI character transferred to a different universe.

JudyGemstone · 13/10/2023 07:16

Hellinthekitchen · 13/10/2023 06:43

I can't disassociate Owen Wilson's voice with Lightning Mcqueen. Every time I watch him in something I expect him to say 'kerchow!'

Show quote history

His only convincing role is as Lightning McQueen. Good bit of casting that.

I would say Emma Watson in anything. She is a bad actor.

soupweather · 13/10/2023 07:19

ifchocolatewerecelery · 13/10/2023 07:11

Anything with Tom Cruise in these days. Mission Impossible is basically a vehicle for him to do any stunt he fancies. His Reacher was basically his MI character transferred to a different universe.

But he’s bloody marvellous as Maverick!

PuppyMonkey · 13/10/2023 07:22

Emma Watson as Belle in Beauty and the Beast was particularly ConfusedHmm

PuppyMonkey · 13/10/2023 07:23

Disagree about Tom Cruise. The man himself is probably an absolute tool but in every film I’ve watched him in he completely wins me over. Grin

ErrolTheDragon · 13/10/2023 07:33

Myfluffyblanket · 13/10/2023 00:11

Eddie Izzard in anything ... and everything from his role as leader of The Furries in Mystery Men to running around after Aryan teen girls on the beach in his English tweed three-piece suit and little brown Brogues .
I always think 'oh look , there's Eddie Izzard trying to do acting' .
He's such a disappointment .

I thought the was ok in Day of the Triffids but maybe that didn't require too much acting.

AngeloMysterioso · 13/10/2023 07:40

Tom Hiddleston as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.