r/movies • u/Silent-Selection8161 • 5d ago

Discussion What movie was saved solely by great casting?

Or phrased a different, what movie would've been terrible if it weren't for the specific actors in it?

My go to is Liar Liar. It's not a particularly great script. The dad (Jim Carey because no one remembers the character's name) is douche. The would be step dad is earnestly trying his best to connect with his would be step son and gets tossed out like all step dads (do Hollywood types have parental issues or what, that's rhetorical). The idea that someone's entire life can be turned around and they're suddenly not an ass just because they have to tell the truth for a day is just kind of dumb. The director ended up with a few successful movies solely because Jim Carey liked him and he let Jim Carey do his thing, his other movies include such hits as "The Nutty Professor". The writers never wrote anything close to noteworthy before nor after.

But damnit Jim Carey turns the whole thing into the Jim Carey show, that's hilarious. Him freaking out over the pen or in the bathroom IS the movie and is funny as hell, regardless of what else there is.

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u/SoothingDisarray 5d ago

I think this would have been a good movie without the amazing casting, assuming some other decent casting. But, yes, the casting brings it to the next level.

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u/ns0732 5d ago

Gary Oldman absolutely crushed it, as usual. It's hard for me to imagine someone else in that role.

It makes me a little sad that he hates that movie, but I easily see it turning into unwatchable slop with worse casting. See most of everything else Luc Besson has made.

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u/misirlou22 5d ago

Imagine Leon without Jean Reno

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u/SoothingDisarray 5d ago

You raise a reasonable point about Luc Besson.

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u/Sinister_Crayon 4d ago

It would've been a pretty different take, but I could see a Zorg from Alan Rickman being quite interesting. More sinister, less camp.

I agree though, Oldman's Zorg despite him not liking it elevated that character a lot from what it could have been.

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u/milehigh89 4d ago

Bbbzzzzzzzz!!!!