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[CTV]

John C. Reilly, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black are the other three horsemen of CTV Absolutely Won't Watch This. I will say I didn't mind Will Ferrell in Barbie.

 

[AceofKnaves]

Kevin Hart

Heheheh I’m with you there!!

Jack Black

I’m . . . usually with you there. I kinda liked his early career in smaller roles, or rather I found him less annoying then.

They really figured out a way to get me NOT to watch those new Jumanji movies, since three of the four main actors are no-sale for me, and Karen Gillan is a very hard *maybe* at best.

I do like John C. Reilly though, but generally in his more serious roles. He is *amazing* in Chicago.

 

[Ru1977]

I’m . . . usually with you there. I kinda liked his early career in smaller roles, or rather I found him less annoying then.

Kevin Hart.... I've watched stuff with him, and he has a line in 40 Year Old Virgin that was my most quoted line from the movie...

BUT, I usually can't stand him. I've never tried his standup though.

Jack Black, yeah I guess I've appreciated his earlier stuff more. I enjoyed the Tenacious D HBO show, but I think when he goes full Jack Black... I am okay with it, but enjoy when he acts a lot more. But even something like Minecraft... where everyone is completely ridiculous, I can kinda enjoy that somehow.

They really figured out a way to get me NOT to watch those new Jumanji movies, since three of the four main actors are no-sale for me, and Karen Gillan is a very hard *maybe* at best.

But she's sooooooo good in them!

I do like John C. Reilly though, but generally in his more serious roles. He is *amazing* in Chicago.

It's funny because I always saw him as a dramatic actor, even though he could be kinda goofy still, like State of Grace or What's Eating Gilbert Grape. I can't remember when his drunk history thing came out as Tesla but I feel like that was when I first saw him as comedy-capable. That or Stepbrothers, and now I don't think I've seen him in a dramatic role in decades.

 

[Chooch555]

I love everyone y'all dislike. Comedy is tough skill and to a person I think everyone named in this thread has it in spades.

 

[AceofKnaves]

Comedy is tough skill

Hell yes it is. It’s mechanical, mathematical, specific and uncompromising, and also wild, frenetic, impulsive and uncontained. Tough as hell.

I think everyone named in this thread has it in spades.

That, I do not necessarily disagree with. I think appreciation of comedy is very personal, and for myself I can say that while I may not enjoy a particular comedian’s “act”, it doesn’t have to mean I don’t think they are skilled. Will Farrell, for example, I think is extremely talented and skilled, I just don’t often enjoy the results of that skill and talent. It’s like the movie The English Patient: I think it is an incredibly well-made film on all levels and I also simply do not enjoy watching it.

But she's sooooooo good in them!

HAHAHAHAHA they fooled me into watching The Jungle Cruise because “no matter how much Dwayne Johnson sucks, Emily Blunt is so great!” Yeah, no. It was. not. worth. the. pain.
I could be married to Karen Gillan and you still couldn’t pay me to watch Johnson mug and strut and Black do whatever poopy-farty-yelling thing he’s going to do. Kevin Hart is actually the least offensive here of the three, but it’s still gonna be a huge HUGE no.

 

[Ru1977]

Hrm... but if you put a movie on, are you compelled to finish it? If Johnson proves to be too much, could you just turn it off? I'm sure some see his Jumanji character as a self-parody, but I don't think that's really it as much, but he's nailing the action hero that is so over the top that it's comedic at least. I think Jumanji is one of the few things I enjoy him in anymore, and Black is... I'd say he's acting. And even Hart is tolerable in it for me. (For comparison, I usually can't stand Ben Stiller, yet Jack Black swiped weakest link from him for me in Tropic Thunder. My brother in law found him to be the best part, heh.)

 

[CTV]

@Chooch555 it takes all types, after all! I'm glad there are people who enjoy the things that aren't necessarily for me. I usually only like "Comedic Actors" in the vein of the ones I mentioned when they're in a dramatic or more serious role. Steve Carrell for example I think is a way better dramatic actor than comedic even though he was hilarious in The Office. Adam Sandler too. Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams too, but I like them in comedies.

@AceofKnaves you're totally right about Reilly in Chicago; I forgot he was in it but that movie is great and all of the performances were top-notch.

 

[AceofKnaves]

If Johnson proves to be too much, could you just turn it off?

That’s what I did, with his whole career. I don’t think he’s compelling, I don’t think he’s funny, I don’t think he’s charismatic, or cool, or fun to watch at all. I continue to be absolutely baffled why he is popular, beyond a carryover of icky cult of personality. He’s probably the person I least want to see in a movie, maybe ever. I can’t speak to whether he was/is good at pro wrestling performance because that’s not an art form for me. But while I’m all about “different strokes for different folks”, I actually do think Johnson is a spectacularly untalented and unskilled film actor. I’m sure he “works hard”, or whatever. But he’s got that whole sheen of arrogance and self-promotion about him that would repulse me even if he *was* talented.

Ben Stiller

OK I actually kinda dig Ben Stiller. He can be annoying, but he almost always seems to be ruthlessly ripping on *himself* and being the constant butt of the joke, and I can hang with that.

 

[Ru1977]

@Chooch555 it takes all types, after all! I'm glad there are people who enjoy the things that aren't necessarily for me. I usually only like "Comedic Actors" in the vein of the ones I mentioned when they're in a dramatic or more serious role. Steve Carrell for example I think is a way better dramatic actor than comedic even though he was hilarious in The Office.

That's funny, I think he's okay in dramatic stuff and while I get I wasn't supposed to like his character on the Office, I really couldn't stand him even in a comedy way. I think I'm the only Office fan who didn't miss him at all when he left.

Adam Sandler too. Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams too, but I like them in comedies.

Huh... I think the only non-comedy role I've seen Sandler in was Spanglish, and he was okay in that. I can't think of a dramatic role I've seen Murphy in and need to change that. I watched the Netflix thingie about him and it made me really want to catch up on the stuff I missed out on. For me, he did Coming To America then I missed out on everything until Dolemite, which I loved, heh. I also did enjoy his Haunted Mansion which I saw with the kids.

That’s what I did, with his whole career. I don’t think he’s compelling, I don’t think he’s funny, I don’t think he’s charismatic, or cool, or fun to watch at all.

And I think that's all fine because in Jumanji he is playing someone who is pretending to be charismatic, in a sense. I dunno, for me it worked for once.

I continue to be absolutely baffled why he is popular, beyond a carryover of icky cult of personality.

I don't either. I know he was kinda sequel viagra for a time for some reason, and I'm sure he is fine in some things, but I also don't hate him the way you do. But yeah, I can't think of a thing where I really thought he was incredible, but I think Jumanji comes closest.

OK I actually kinda dig Ben Stiller. He can be annoying, but he almost always seems to be ruthlessly ripping on *himself* and being the constant butt of the joke, and I can hang with that.

I appreciate that aspect I guess but I've never seen him in anything where I thought he was genuinely amusing, but he's smart to usually surround himself with more talented people. I see him as a less talented Dan Aykroyd, who IS funny but always seemed reluctant to let himself lead. I guess the funniest I've ever seen Stiller was the episode of Friends he did, heh.

 

[AceofKnaves]

Steve Carrell for example I think is a way better dramatic actor than comedic even though he was hilarious in The Office. Adam Sandler too. Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams too, but I like them in comedies.

Yes to all of that.

Although I stopped enjoying Murphy’s comedy somewhere in the 90s. The fat-suit stuff really turned me off.
That said: I will always say he was absolutely brilliant in a serious way in Vampire in Brooklyn *as the vampire*, although I think the movie would have been much much MUCH stronger if they cut all the “extra” characters he played and just focused on the horror/gothic romance angle. Kadeem Hardison was plenty, comedy-wise, and indeed was hilarious.

 

[CTV]

@AceofKnaves I'm assuming you've already seen Dreamgirls but it's Eddie Murphy's career-best performance IMO. @Ru1977 SEE DREAMGIRLS.

 

[Damien]

Genuinely shocked by how many people like Love Actually and don't find it like... gross and problematic on every level. It's basically an entire movie about sexual harassment, unequal power dynamics, male gazing, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and borderline-not-so-borderline stalking with the dude who's in love with his friend's wife. It's a well-made movie, but every storyline in it is fucking horrifying.


Since my daughter was very little, we would watch the He-Man Christmas movie together every year. They've both kind of aged out of that. But I think the wife and I decided to watch Violent Night every Christmas now until we get tired of it.

 

[AceofKnaves]

It's basically an entire movie about sexual harassment, unequal power dynamics, male gazing, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and borderline-not-so-borderline stalking with the dude who's in love with his friend's wife.

YES.

Even the little kid is a fucking stalker. AND LIAM NEESON ENABLES IT.

Ugh to the MAX.

Also it’s just absurdly offensive have that lovely, totally average-bodied assistant to Hugh Grant get called every damn fat-shaming thing in the book. Like it’s gaslighting, man. Not that it would be remotely OK if she *was* living in a larger body. Bleargh, fuck that movie.

Also my worst ex fucking LOVES it. Which checks out in every possible way because she’s *awful*.

 

[Ru1977]

@AceofKnaves I'm assuming you've already seen Dreamgirls but it's Eddie Murphy's career-best performance IMO. @Ru1977 SEE DREAMGIRLS.

Heh... but.... is it a musical?

Genuinely shocked by how many people like Love Actually and don't find it like... gross and problematic on every level.

I... actually do. I've watched it a few times and the only part I genuinely like is Bill Nighy.

It's basically an entire movie about sexual harassment, unequal power dynamics, male gazing, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and borderline-not-so-borderline stalking with the dude who's in love with his friend's wife. It's a well-made movie, but every storyline in it is fucking horrifying.

I agree. And even aside from that, I found it really shallow, and I think that's kinda by design. Every story is simplistic, and I get it's several short stories, but I don't find any of them satisfying at all. Eh. But Nighy's song is always one I ensure is on the playlist every year.

Since my daughter was very little, we would watch the He-Man Christmas movie together every year. They've both kind of aged out of that. But I think the wife and I decided to watch Violent Night every Christmas now until we get tired of it.

Haw, nice. I'm glad you have one.

 

[JakeEkiss]

I do like John C. Reilly though, but generally in his more serious roles. He is *amazing* in Chicago.

He's a legit phenomenal actor and I think it's sort of a shame that not only does he often get pegged as a just a comedy guy, but I think in all honesty he's hardly had any comedies written to the levels he can execute.

Genuinely shocked by how many people like Love Actually and don't find it like... gross and problematic on every level. It's basically an entire movie about sexual harassment, unequal power dynamics, male gazing, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and borderline-not-so-borderline stalking with the dude who's in love with his friend's wife. It's a well-made movie, but every storyline in it is fucking horrifying.

I can still get behind Nighy's story simply because the movie is aware he's a dirtbag. Sort of the whole joke with him "look at this silly dirtbag". The rest are... not great. A greatest hits of problematic 90's romcom tropes. The body doubles one is probably the least problematic in the writing, though, due to context still doesn't fair super well.

There's bits in there that I think are like escapees from a better version of that movie. Some of the stuff with Neeson as a widower works for me. Emma Thompson just having this massive character drama in the middle of a romcom is pretty devastating. The parts of the prime minister story that are just Hugh Grant being flustered and goofy are fun. We could keep those bits and edit this thing down to a tight 20 minutes I bet.