Popular is a tough word when it comes to describing movies. Too often, something is given a negative connotation because it’s popular. Appealing to a wide range of audiences and connecting with them is not something to be embarrassed about. Liking or disliking a particular film has no morality attached to it, and there’s often a reason that so many viewers feel seen by a project and are engaged by it. However, there are plenty offilms that were theatrical hits that have become mythologized by the culture that doesn’t live up to the standardset by their popularity.
Critiquing these films is not to say that they aren’t good. They are, and even if their initial shine has worn off in the years since they first premiered, that doesn’t make them any less fun to watch. It’s easy to say that thebiggest movie box office bombsof all time deserve hate and are low quality. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that successes like thehighest-grossing summer blockbuster movieswill be infinitely better in quality and content.It can be frustrating to see films that tell better stories get overlookedbecause another project’s marketing budget was larger.
Superbad
Cast
Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and produced by Judd Apatow, Superbad follows high school seniors Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera), two best friends who are desperate to join the popular kids' party before heading off to college. After asking their friend Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) - A.K.A. McLovin - to use his fake ID to purchase alcohol, Seth and Evan end up getting drawn into a night of criminal misfortunes that threatens the very fabric of their friendship.
It’s been almost twenty years since the movie that catapulted Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, and Emma Stone to greater levels of fame was released. Easily one ofMichael Cera’s best movies, there’s some hidden nuance within the goofy comedy ofSuperbad, but it’s not quite as complex as audiences might remember.Some of the over-raunchiness feels a little dated today,and though it isn’t the movie’s fault, many of the jokes are so famous that they’ve entered meme territory, making it difficult to laugh with the film instead of at it.
Lately, any film set in high school about two friends gets described as the “blank” version ofSuperbad.
There’s no doubt thatSuperbadwill always be a standby of the high school movie genre,as countless films have copied its format and tried to recapture the magic of the project. Lately, any film set in high school about two friends gets described as the “blank” version ofSuperbad. However, there were movies about the tough transition from high school to college long beforeSuperbad, and many of them have some interesting things to say.
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Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón’s sci-fi thriller Gravity tells the story of Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) after they end up stranded in space after the destruction of their shuttle. Faced with near-impossible odds of survival, the pair plan to get themselves safely back to Earth despite the relentlessly harsh reality of space threatening to claim their lives at any moment.
Alfonso Cuarón is one of the most engaging directors of the 21st century, and many of his movies have been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. His most polarizing project to date,Gravity, takes sci-fi to another level and pushes Sandra Bullock to her limitsas the protagonist, Ryan. For almost the entire runtime, Ryan is on her own, attempting to make her way back to Earth after what should be a safe space walk, except everything that could go wrong does go wrong.
One of the biggest pushbacks againstGravityis the fact that it’s not scientifically accurate at all. For some sci-fi fans, this isn’t a problem at all, asGravityis formatted similarly to a metaphor for rebirth, and the film achieves its emotional beats.Visually, it’s hard to argue thatGravityaccomplishes a lot,but at the same time, this lets the movie get away with a lighter story with only a few major plot thrusts. Regardless, the space adventure ofGravitymaintains its propulsion.
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Crazy, Stupid, Love
Written by Dan Fogelman and directed by both Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, Crazy, Stupid, Love is a Comedy and Romance film starring Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Steve Carell, and Ryan Gosling. The plot sees a variety of characters and explores how all of their lives are interconnected by love.
It’s largely thanks to the incredible star power featured inCrazy, Stupid, Love.that the movie has been elevatedfrom the typical popularity of a mid-budget rom-com to something of a cult classic. One of the manymovies Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have worked on togetherCrazy, Stupid, Love.puts their chemistry to good use, and their budding romance in the film is one of the best narrative arcs. However, the central thrust of Steve Carell’s Cal re-discovering himself after his wife leaves him isn’t the most compelling.
It’s the performances that have kept the movie from fading into obscurity, and this is a vital part of the production.
Though it’s a fun movie to revisit,Crazy, Stupid, Love.isn’t really any better than the typical rom-com, following the same repetitive beats that are tried and true within the genre. Overall, it’s the performances that have kept the movie from fading into obscurity, and this is a vital part of the production. However,the script is on the same level as any other ensemble rom-comfrom the 2010s, which is fun in and of itself.
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The Goonies
When a small Oregon community is threatened by the foreclosure of their homes, a group of young misfits who called themselves the Goonies set out to find an ancient treasure in order to save the town. From a story by Steven Spielberg and a screenplay by Chris Columbus, Richard Donner’s The Goonies is one of the most iconic adventure movies of the 1980s, with a cast comprising the talents of Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, Jeff Cohen, Robert Davi, and Joe Pantoliano.
One of the most nostalgic movies of the 1980s,The Gooniesis a classic addition to the children’s adventure genreand has the mark of a Steven Spielberg picture, as he contributed heavily to the story development. The large ensemble of young men has a charming chemistry, and any coming-of-age movie is going to connect with people who have gone through adolescence. Though it doesn’t push boundaries, this isn’t the point of a film likeThe Goonies.
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Ultimately,The Gooniesis just a little more campy, cheesy, and low budget that the veneer of childhood might let viewers remember. Some of the performances from the child actors aren’t tremendous, and this does take the audience out of the dramatic moments.Over the years,The Goonieshas been compared to a roller-coaster ridein the way that it throws you around a little and is a bucket of laughs.
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Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a drama film released in 1994, starring Tom Hanks as the titular character. The film explores the life of a man with a low IQ who inadvertently shapes several historical events, while his personal journey remains centered on his unrequited love for childhood friend Jenny.
Forrest Gumpmight be the most successful project by both the director, Robert Zemeckis, and the star, Tom Hanks. Playing Forrest is the role that most audiences will likely remember Hanks from, as it set him on the path of taking on iconically feel-good movies that are often watched around the holidays. In the years since it was released,the critical opinion ofForrest Gumphas fluctuated a great deal,with many people arguing that it didn’t deserve some of its many accolades.
For all its pitfalls,Forrest Gumpis a well-crafted story that hits all the marks of a blockbuster.
When compared to the original book,it’s clear thatForrest Gumpnever intended to be a historical film or even a character studybut a tribute to American mythology. The book is much more interrogative and critical of the major moments in U.S. history and uses Forrest more as a comical figure who’s a stand-in for America rather than a tragically heroic one. For all its pitfalls,Forrest Gumpis a well-crafted story that hits all the marks of a blockbuster.
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Les Misérables
Les Misérables is the 2012 musical movie adaptation of Victor Hugo’s eponymous 1862 novel, retelling the story of prisoner Jean Valjean and his quest for freedom in 19th-century France. It features a star-studded cast consisting of Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sacha Baron Cohen.
The 2012 movie musical adaptation ofLes Misérablesis an updated take on the sweeping epic by Victor Hugo,starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe as Jean Valjean and Javert.While every actor gives their all inLes Mis, some of the performances were critically panned, like Crowe’s, as he’s not a traditional musical theater actor. Many of the actors cast in the film were tapped for their star power rather than their skill as singers or dancers, which can be difficult with such a challenging musical that borders on being an opera.
Though there’s no question thatthe source material and the stage musical are dramatic and intense works,the 2012 movie treats the story as more of an action-packed blockbuster. Many of the moments of quiet tragedy are undercut by the more bombastic moments of the script. Critical reception was mixed from its first release, but that hasn’t stoppedLes Misérablesfrom becoming a classic of 21st-century movie musicals. It’s thanks to the inherent strength of the story and its timeless nature that this is possible.
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The Blind Side
The Blind Side is a biographical sports drama film that follows the life of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teenager who is adopted by a wealthy white family. Under the guidance of his adoptive mother, played by Sandra Bullock, Oher overcomes personal and academic challenges to become a successful college football player. The film, directed by John Lee Hancock, is based on the real-life story of Oher’s journey.
It’s almost universally agreed upon thatThe Blind Sidehas aged horribly since 2009, even though the film was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Bullock gives her all as the unlikable Leigh Anne Tuohy, but even she can’t saveThe Blind Side. However, the quality of the movie didn’t impact its box office success, as the film was a hit with audiences, and is often rerun on network television to this day.
The Blind Siderelies on its heartwarming tale and built-in tension to carry the story forward, even though real-life narratives are rarely dramatic enough to propel a movie script.
There’s no hiding the fact thatThe Blind Sidestretches the truth of the original storyand perpetuates both racial stereotypes and white savior narratives.The Blind Siderelies on its heartwarming tale and built-in tension to carry the story forward, even though real-life narratives are rarely dramatic enough to propel a movie script. Though Michael, played by Quinton Aaron, is the protagonist, the film doesn’t center on him and his development the way it should.
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Love Actually
The 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually follows various couples as they explore their relationships throughout the Christmas season. With a star-studded cast composed of Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Rowan Atkinson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, and Martine McCutcheon, Love Actually has since become a Christmas staple for rom-com lovers.
There’s no shortage of discourse surrounding the Christmas rom-comLove Actually,as it’s almost equally loved and despised. Of course, the best thing to do is to let loose and enjoy the fun moments and silliness ofLove Actually, but that doesn’t mean the movie shouldn’t be critiqued. Released in 2003,Love Actuallyis of its time, perpetuating gender stereotypes and promoting relationships that can easily be viewed as unhealthy. It’s important to remember these are faults of most rom-coms of the early 2000s and 1990s.
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There are plenty of aspects ofLove Actuallythat bring a tear to the eye and remind audiences what the holidays are all about, but this doesn’t change the fact that there are questionable moments as well. It doesn’t help that in the wake ofLove Actually’s success,a rash of imitators, likeValentine’s DayandNew Year’s Eve, weren’t as iconic.WhileLove Actuallycould afford to shave off one or two storylines, there’s plenty of charm.
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Ted
Ted is a comedy film that follows John Bennett, who faces a challenging decision between nurturing his bond with his living childhood teddy bear, Ted, and maintaining his relationship with his girlfriend, Lori. The film explores themes of friendship and maturity as John navigates his personal and professional life.
Seth MacFarlane’sTedstarsMark Wahlberg as John and MacFarlane himself as the stuffed-animal-come-to-live Ted.A raunchy adult comedy,Tedhas some surprising sensitivity and includes some genuine romance and touching moments. The movie was such a success that it launched an entire franchise, like the recentTedTV show, which has only increased interest in the films. Touching upon John’s failure to launch,Tedgrapples with the struggle to balance the joys of childhood with the responsibility of adulthood.
Some of the criticism surroundingTedrevolves around the more “cringe” and gross-out humor, but this fulfills an important niche in comedy, even if that isn’t for everyone.
Some of the criticism surroundingTedrevolves around the more “cringe” and gross-out humor, but this fulfills an important niche in comedy, even if that isn’t for everyone. ThoughTedretreads territory that’s been explored,likely better, in many films that came before it, the fantasy element gives it some intrigue. The one-off hilarious jokes inTeddo a lot to make for the weaker story moments. Without MacFarlane’s voice work as Ted, the entire premise wouldn’t be as strong.
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Saltburn
Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, Saltburn is a 2023 comedy-thriller film. When Oxford student Oliver Quick is invited to his friend Felix’s family’s wealthy estate, Saltburn, for a summer vacation, he is drawn into the world of eccentric characters and increasingly chaotic events as his obsession with Felix comes to a head.
A movie that’s all style and very little substance,Saltburndidn’t live up to the high expectationsset by the cast and trailers. For a movie that marketed itself as a grotesque psychosexual thriller,Saltburnbarely pushed boundaries and failed in its attempt to be a critique of class stratification. Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi have amazing chemistry and strike intense figures across the screen, but the gorgeous visuals ofSaltburn don’t make up for its lacking script.
Emerald Fennell’s other film,Promising Young Woman, also subverted expectations in a bad way, leaving many audiences confused and dissatisfied.When it was released on streaming,Saltburnskyrocketed to fame,reaching different niches of the internet and making for an incredible project to grab clips from for a thirty-second video edit. Since it’s such a recent film, the jury is still out on howSaltburnwill age, but it will be interesting.
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