C. Robert Cargill,
Aug 29, 2007
With the release of Jennifer Lopez's Bordertown and the recent release of the poorly reviewed El Cantante, I found myself discussing the highlights of Jennifer Lopez's career with a group of friends. What I found, however, was despite her immense fame and popularity, I found a career full of more bad than good. In fact, while I tend to be a forgiving film watcher, even I had to note that she possesses a career full of both turkeys and films which are just really, really maligned, including the ones nobody bothered to see. Okay, perhaps maligned is the wrong word. Hated. She has some really hated films. And here are the ones that draw the most hate.
5.) Enough
Director: Michael Apted (7 Up documentary series, upcoming Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader)
Why all the hate? The most hotly contested of the bunch: some love it; others loathe it. The main point of delineation here appears to be how much you're willing to accept murder as justified in a case of spousal abuse. This revenge movie for battered wives certainly has its legions of fans, but others have found a number of rational arguments that this kind of movie sends a bad message, exploiting the plight of abused wives only to "Hollywood" the whole thing up with an unrealistic ending.
4.) The Wedding Planner
Director: Adam Shankman (Hairspray, Cheaper by the Dozen 2)
Why all the hate? Straight up, this is exactly how you make a bad romantic comedy. It is based solely around an idea that if it happened in real life might horrify you, and it feels manufactured the whole way through. Add to that Lopez and Matthew McConaughey's complete lack of chemistry and you end up with a movie I wouldn't watch on cable.
3.) Jersey Girl
Director: Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy)
Why all the hate? Even Kevin Smith dogs on this one. Coming at the height of the Bennifer phenomenon (can anyone explain why that was even interesting?), the backlash against these two appearing on film together was enormous. Add to that a writer/director best known for his crude but oddly intellectual sense of humor trying to make a sweet, family film and you end up with a fish out of water story behind the camera rather than in front of it.
2.) The Cell
Director: Tarsem Singh (nothing else you've likely heard of or seen)
Why all the hate? This was a movie truly about style over substance. While I love the visuals in this and adore the dreamscape created by the man known to many simply as Tarsem, people loathe the hell out of this thing. I can't quite explain it, but the guy didn't make a film for six years because of it.
1.) Gigli
Director: Martin Breast (Scent of a Woman, Beverly Hills Cop)
Why all the hate? Seen by few, loathed by many more, this is the film that epitomizes everything everyone hated about Bennifer. Not nearly as bad as people claim (I mean really, did you even see it?), but nowhere near good, this film appears to have killed Martin Brest's career. The man got Pacino an Oscar and gave us Midnight Run, and we haven't heard from him since this -- says a lot. But when Ben Affleck makes his second film about turning a lesbian into a heterosexual, even a random appearance by Christopher Walken and an Al Pacino getting his head blown off can't save it. Whoever thought a bloody gangster romantic comedy would play to ANYONE probably deserves a few years off the job.
C. Robert Cargill - - - Email Me
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Austin-based Cargill, who not only loves but owns The Cutting Edge, writes on movies and DVD five times a week.
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