With Zoolander opening in the States this week, I believe, it's time to start a thread about George Kastanza's Dads little boy.
Ben Stiller's succession in Hollywood has been the biggest surprise of the last few years. Since There's Something About Mary he's gathered something of a cult following and Meet The Parents secured his commercial viability.
What does he exactly offer to a film? He's hardly got the Hollywood look of a superstar. His hair is all over the place, his ears stick out, his teeth are too big for his mouth. His comedic range can be switched to only two modes: angry or embarassed. The former isn't funny, the second can be. Either way, he's not an expert comedian.
It was as a director that I first noticed him. I'm a big fan of the Cable Guy. I've seen it more times than I should have. Stiller directed this and had a small, funny cameo.
The next time I saw him was in Happy Gilmore. Wearing a dodgy moustauche, Stiller was excellent as the frightening orderly in the Nursing Home. It's probably the only time I found Stiller's angry-crazy man act funny.
A guest appearance on Friends showed the bad side to this angry character. Absolutely hopeless.
Next came There's Something About Mary. Cameron Diaz really shone in this movie and Matt Dillon grabs silver in the comedy stakes - "Those goofy bastards are about the best thing I've got going." - and then Lee Evans. Stiller's performance while strong is way down the list when it comes to laughs. I guess you are rooting for him in the end though.
Mystery Men. This film is one of the best and worst films of all time. So much of it works that it's a shame that such a lot of it doesn't. Stiller is one of the things that doesn't work. He's super angry! Wow, what a useless power. It's the worst in the movie. And this in a film with a girl who throws a bowling ball.
Keeping The Faith - A little dramatic romance with comedic aspirations. It doesn't work. I'll blame Norton for this disaster though. Stiller tries hard. The film would have been better if Norton was actually the hero though and the one who ended up getting the girl. That would have led to some fun complications.
Meet The Parents - This is probably the best example at what Stiller does best. He is the loser guy who will lie himself into a corner and then tell more lies just to get out of the corner. His embarassment when caught out is wonderfully played. Unfortunately the film doesn't really work as a whole.
So what do you guys think of Stiller? I'm desperate to find out the real reason behind his success.
Ben Stiller's succession in Hollywood has been the biggest surprise of the last few years. Since There's Something About Mary he's gathered something of a cult following and Meet The Parents secured his commercial viability.
What does he exactly offer to a film? He's hardly got the Hollywood look of a superstar. His hair is all over the place, his ears stick out, his teeth are too big for his mouth. His comedic range can be switched to only two modes: angry or embarassed. The former isn't funny, the second can be. Either way, he's not an expert comedian.
It was as a director that I first noticed him. I'm a big fan of the Cable Guy. I've seen it more times than I should have. Stiller directed this and had a small, funny cameo.
The next time I saw him was in Happy Gilmore. Wearing a dodgy moustauche, Stiller was excellent as the frightening orderly in the Nursing Home. It's probably the only time I found Stiller's angry-crazy man act funny.
A guest appearance on Friends showed the bad side to this angry character. Absolutely hopeless.
Next came There's Something About Mary. Cameron Diaz really shone in this movie and Matt Dillon grabs silver in the comedy stakes - "Those goofy bastards are about the best thing I've got going." - and then Lee Evans. Stiller's performance while strong is way down the list when it comes to laughs. I guess you are rooting for him in the end though.
Mystery Men. This film is one of the best and worst films of all time. So much of it works that it's a shame that such a lot of it doesn't. Stiller is one of the things that doesn't work. He's super angry! Wow, what a useless power. It's the worst in the movie. And this in a film with a girl who throws a bowling ball.
Keeping The Faith - A little dramatic romance with comedic aspirations. It doesn't work. I'll blame Norton for this disaster though. Stiller tries hard. The film would have been better if Norton was actually the hero though and the one who ended up getting the girl. That would have led to some fun complications.
Meet The Parents - This is probably the best example at what Stiller does best. He is the loser guy who will lie himself into a corner and then tell more lies just to get out of the corner. His embarassment when caught out is wonderfully played. Unfortunately the film doesn't really work as a whole.
So what do you guys think of Stiller? I'm desperate to find out the real reason behind his success.
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I couldn't believe that she knew my name. Some of my best friends didn't know my name.
I couldn't believe that she knew my name. Some of my best friends didn't know my name.