Favorite Owen Wilson Performances

Owen Wilson karate-chops his way onto the big screen this week as a bodyguard for a couple of loser kids in the unfortunately titled, Drillbit Taylor. The actor had a much-publicized year and I'm pulling for some (at the very least) moderate box-office success. But I've seen the ads for Drillbit Taylor and yeesh, I don't know. I'm sensing a whiff of You, Me and Dupree in the air and that don't smell like Shinola.

But let's focus on the positive eh? Wilson used to annoy me quite a bit as an actor (this is me keeping positive), ever since I first watched him in Bottle Rocket. Yet somewhere along the way the guy grew on me. I don't know if I was seduced by his flowing golden hair or his penetrating nose, the kind of disjointed object that pierces right through you and stares uncomfortably into your soul. Whatever it is, I've been in Wilson's camp for some time now.

So, here are five of my favorite Owen Wilson performances:

Bottle Rocket
Hey, I said he used to annoy me and whenever I catch Bottle Rocket on cable it's Owen's performance that is the most intriguing, unique and tender, and provides us with our first real dose of Wilson mischief. The actor specializes in playing the man-child, and this is probably his most interesting version of that character.

Shanghai Noon
This might be hard to believe, but this is the movie that warmed me up to Owen's Wilsonisms. His undeniable chemistry with Jackie Chan obviously helped and opened my eyes and brought upon me eternal shame and mockery from my Wilsonite friends. I still have scars over this one.

Zoolander
Easily one of my favorite comedies in the last ten years. Nearly everyone in this movie is firing on all cylinders, particularly Wilson, Ben Stiller, and Will Ferrell as the immortal Mugatu. But one of my favorite lines of the movie belongs to Wilson when his character Hansel finally confronts long-standing rival Derek Zoolander, by boldly asking, "Why you been acting all messed up towards me?" Maybe you had to be there, I don't know. But it was a gas!

Behind Enemy Lines
In my book this is the movie where he truly became a leading man. I'm not a huge fan of the movie itself, but this was a pretty big leap for our man Owen and he didn't disappoint. He carried the action-hero swagger and never had to resort to camera winking or irony.

Cars
I could have gone a couple of ways here, particularly toward his romantic-comedy leading man status which was firmly established in The Wedding Crashers, but Owen's voice is so distinguishable and put to such great use in Cars that it was hard for me to shake it off. Wilson is just one of those actors who is tailor-made for animated films.

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Dre writes three times a week for Film.com. Email him!

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