Oh, casting agents. Sometimes they nail it, and sometimes… you getKevin CostnerasRobin Hood. Now, this isn’t to say that these actors aren’t fantastic at what they do. A lot of these films turned out quite well, considering they couldn’t physically morph themselves into a more believable or accurate character. Although, some did try!RELATED:‘Super Mario’s Most Iconic Enemies Ranked, From Goombas to Boo and Everything in BetweenIt begs the question, is it the three-movie contracts with studios? Is it directors wanting big names? Or, is it simply the actors biting off more than they can chew? A lot of people need to greenlight these things before they get made. Maybe they all forgot their glasses that day.
Chris Pratt as Mario
Chris Pratt, ofParks and RecreationandGuardians of the Galaxyfame, isn’t anyone’s first choice when it comes to voicing the loveable Italian plumber, Mario. After all,Mariohas been impeccably voiced for 30 years by the talentedCharles Martinet:as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Mario is one of the most recognizable characters of all time, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that this casting puts Pratt in an awkward spot. While Pratt won’t be putting on aheavy mock Italian accent according to costarChris Meledandri, Pratt’s baritone voice coming out of Mario is a little hard to swallow (or hear, rather). Hopefully,Charlie Day’sLuigi can save the day.
Cara Delevigne as Enchantress (June Moone)
TheDCfandom has suffered enough. When the casting leaked forSuicide Squad, fans were nervous.Cara Delevigne’sonly other notable acting role to date was a painfully dull performance inJohn Green’sPaper Towns.Still, we held our breath for a miracle.
While there were a lot offlaws in David Ayer’s 2016Squad, Delevigne’s wide-eyed and innocent June just didn’t hold up next toMargot Robbie’sHarley Quinn, and she should have. June Moone is an archeologist. She’s probably smarter than the whole Squad put together, but instead, she’s presented as a scared little girl, hiding behind her buff boyfriend. We can’t blame Delevigne for the script, but she did little to add depth to her character in the screen time she was given.
Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher
We get it, the studios loveTom Cruise. They’ve given the guy every lead actor role he’s glanced at. But when you’ve got source material as beloved and in-depthas theReacherseries, andLee Childshimself comparing the character’s appearance to rugby playerLawrence Dallaglio, Cruise seems like a mismatch.
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From the novelThe Wanted Man, Reacher is described as “extremely tall, and extremely broad, and long-armed, and long-legged.” EvenJason Stathamwould have been a better fit… and that’s saying something. This series had so much promise and could have gone down in history as one of the best action franchises. Unfortunately, with Cruise at the helm, the fanbase considers them average at best.
Kristen Stewart as Snow White
It was a toss-up between Snow White or Bella Swan, but honestly, those terribleTwilightperformances are now iconic and beloved. No one can pull offyouthful awkwardness better thanKristen Stewart.Snow White and the Huntsmanhad a lot of potential, but without a strong lead performance, it didn’t hold up.
Grimm’s tales are dark: it’s why they have staying power, and why there are many, many adaptations of them. Other than Stewart, the casting was flawless, and visually the film is stunning. If only she had brought the power and strength she’s capable of (Sabina inCharlie’s Angels, for example) to this role. Then again, maybe they should have just cast someone less naturally stoic to rally an army.
Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates
Vince Vaughnis an incredibly charismatic actor, even if his serious roles are not the strongest. The character of Norman Bates originated in a 1959 thriller novel and subsequently appeared in theAlfred Hitchcockfilm,Psycho.The author is said to have taken inspiration from serial killerEd Gein. This mess lies solely on the shoulders of whoever thought it was a good idea to remake the original slasher in the first place, let alone have a lovable giant play Norman Bates.
Essentially,the 1998 remake was a shot-for-shot remake of the Hitchcock classic. Nothing was added to the story, and the only saving grace of the film isDanny Elfman’srearrangement of the score. On the bright side, this misfire didn’t upend Hitchcock’s classic, is now only mentioned in passing when discussing the original.
Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva (Cheetah)
Wonder Woman 1984was a bit of a let-down. We could talk for hours about the film it could have been, but the first of many fatal flaws have to be addressed:Kristen Wiigwas a bad casting choice. Brilliant as she is as a comic actress, this role would have been much better suited to someone with the dramatic chops to balance a neurotic Minerva and her transformation to the terrifying Cheetah.
RELATED:How ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Spectacularly Fails Barbara Minerva (& Cheetah)
She definitely did her best, but it takes a lot to steal a scene from the etherealGal Gadot. Like her role inThe Secret Life of Walter Mitty, she just felt misplaced. If we compare them to a similar dynamic, say Wanda and Agnes inWandavision, you can see what a difference it makes to have two skilled dramatic actresses at the helm. Sorry Kristen, but you were magnificent inBridesmaids.
Zendaya as Michelle Jones-Watson
Let there be no misunderstandings:Zendayais a great actress.She knows how to carry a show, and perhaps that’s why her performance as MJ feels so lackluster. Or perhaps it’s because, for some reason, the filmmakers decided to create a new character as a “nod” to the original Mary Jane Watson, instead of just keeping the girl next door that audiences already love.
It was clear from the get-go that this MJ would be Peter’s love interest eventually, but the lack of chemistry between the two very different high-schoolers was hard to ignore (and ironic, considering they’re a couple in real life). We came in fresh from the intensity and heartbreak betweenThe Amazing Spider-Man’s Gwen and Peter, leading this new couple to pale in comparison.
Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor
Where to begin withJesseEisenbergas Lex Luthor? Eisenberg as an actor is mostly typecasted, usually specializing in awkward, muttery, and dry characters. He does his job extremely well, but casting him, as one of the most powerful and fearsome comic book villains of all time, was a poor choice.
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We’re assuming that he was trying to be a hip, young CEO, but the character just fell flat and was even kind of annoying. It would have been better ifBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justicejust stuck to the source material when it came to Lex.
Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker
Bram Stoker’s Dracula: one of the most renowned novels of all time. WhenFrancis Ford Coppola’s 1992 epic was announced, the world rejoiced. With the highly skilledGary Oldmanas the titular star, what could go wrong?
Keanu Reeves' dialect training, apparently. Movie-goers often forgive the odd misplaced word or twang when an actor is portraying a character from another country, but poor Jonathan Harker didn’t know which side of the Atlantic he belonged; not ideal for a British barrister from Exeter. While it gives audiences a giggle, Reeves proved his dramatic acting chops inMy Own Private Idaho. Harker should have been played by one of the thousands of brilliant British actors better suited to the part. We love you Keanu, but you’re better than that.
Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert
Honestly,Russell Croweas Javert inLes Misérablescould very well be one of the worst casting choices of all time, just outside of anything involving cultural appropriation.
It just makes us sad, honestly. The film is a triumphant stage-to-screen adaptation but all anyone remembers is the truly terrible vocals of the legendary actor. What were they thinking, putting him up against the likes ofHugh Jackman? The man is musical theatre personified. It may sound like a petty critique, but we dare anyone to watch the film and not find themselves immediately pulled out of the story by the gruff strain, made worse by the surrounding flawless performances.
KEEP READING:Notable Divides Between Audience And Critic Scores On Rotten Tomatoes
