Is Shia LaBeouf the New Michael J. Fox?
In 2007, a dapper young star named Shia LaBeouf appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair next to an interesting caption: "Can Hollywood Turn 21-Year-Old Shia LaBeouf Into the Next Tom Hanks?" Provocative. Of course, LaBeouf's career shifted from that of a Hanks-ian, potential Oscar nominee to the domain of a de rigueur action star. The youngster may not have followed Vanity Fair's wish list since starring in the first Transformers film, but maybe he scored a more interesting feat -- becoming our generation's Michael J. Fox.
Comparing stars new and old is a tricky exercise in star-power genealogy (as we learned last week with Cameron Diaz and Goldie Hawn), and these gents' diametric reputations establish them as distinct entities. However, it's easy to trace similarities in three key areas that all concern product, not personality.
Squeaky-clean TV beginnings
Nearly three decades later, the memory of Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties resonates for one major reason: perfect casting. Though Fox picked up three Emmys for his role as the plucky young Republican, it's fair to say his performance on the show solidified his promise as a Hollywood player. Granted, no one is still talking about Even Stevens eight years after its last episode aired, but the same could be said about LaBeouf's stint on the Disney Channel series. Both shows proved their stars could sell self-deprecation, comic timing, and a comfortable command that outshone their hypothetically more bankable co-stars.
Befuddled action trilogy star
Back to the Future may be a considerably more beloved trilogy than Transformers -- at least critically -- but both series riff on teenage wonderment with explosive sci-fi empowerment. As Marty McFly, Fox sputtered dialogue at his co-conspirator Doc (Christopher Lloyd) with essential groundedness. In the first Transformers film, LaBeouf equipped himself with an incredulous stare and gawked at the rise of the howling machines. They weren't quite Indiana Jones or Jason Bourne; they were audience projections with ideal instincts and a gift for hopeless gulps.
'50s throwback protagonism
Teen Wolf and Disturbia dredge up '50s conceits (I Was a Teenage Werewolf and Rear Window, respectively) and add an element of youthful, au courant angst. If Back to the Future is better than Transformers, surely LaBeouf wins this round with Disturbia's superior suspense. As the house-bound delinquent Kale Brecht, LaBeouf summons the voyeuristic gall of Jimmy Stewart's old Hitchcockian protagonist L.B. Jeffries, who overcame exasperation to sell a murder theory to his confidantes. As Scott Howard in Teen Wolf, Fox works that championship-hungry basketball star charm (which smacks of Anthony Perkins in Tall Story, if we're staying on the Hitchcock star beat), a definitively '50s characteristic catapulted to the '80s.
Clearly, these are two old-fashioned stars working retro cachet, but are they proper kinsmen? Who's your choice for Shia LaBeouf's cinematic forebear? Robert Downey Jr.? Michael Keaton? Ryan O'Neal? Surprise us!
[Photos: Getty Images]
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Comments
No.
Already said> Corey Haim. But, even at his lowest, Haim was likable. Shia screams "Thundering Douche" and I imagine him to be unemployable within the next five years. Like Haim, he will go from "Top of the World" to "They don't want you for the Lost Boys sequel" (figuratively speaking)
But, really, Michael J. Fox??? Look at those two pictures! Mike looks like your best friend; Shia looks like the guy (with a rich dad) who just paid a couple of guys from the wrong side of town to beat the sh*t out of you for talking to his girlfriend...
I second Steven ^. Also, I don't see the correlation between the sweet, charming, good-hearted Fox, who has endured/overcome a lot over the past decade, and the irritating cockwad that is Shia LaBeouf. If anything, he's the new Charlie Sheen.
What an insult to Michael J. Fox.
Shia is Harrison Ford except less talented and a bigger douche.
One is funny, likable, humble, charming, won awards and endeared himself to an entire generation. and the other is Shia Lebeouf.
side note: all the above comparisons are flawed.
-Family Ties was a classic sitcom; Even Stevens was a daytime children's program. You might as well say that Zack and Cody are the new Michael J. Fox. Besides, Fox went on to win another Emmy on another memorable show, Spin City.
-Back to the future became iconic in large part because of Fox; Transformers was already iconic and LeBoeuf milked that for most of the cheap fame he has attained.
-Teen wolf was a cheesy comedy; disturbia was a lowest-common-denominator thriller - this is, at best, a tie.
No round goes to LaBoeuf, because he hasn't done anything to win one.
And the proof will be the fact that if we were trash talking Robert Pattinson there would be a thousand Twi-twits here to defend him. Let's see how many Shia Fangirls step up to the plate in his defense...
Your premise is all kinds of faulty. Regardless how much more talented and likable Fox is, it comes down to him being a positive force on the world as opposed to be a self-absorbed little piece of shit like Shia.
There's a rough semblance in terms of other roles, too. My memory is a bit hazy on them, but Fox went on to play a bunch of young-ish professionals whose priorities were out of whack (Doc Hollywood, Life With Mikey, Spin City). LeBeouf seems to always play the young guy who tries to prove he can grow up and/or inherit a position (Indy IV, Wall Street 2, Eagle Eye). So, it's kinda, sorta two sides of the same coin.
Then again, that could just be a reflection of their respective eras. Wasn't every late 80s/early 90s movie more or less about being humbled? And perpetual male adolescence was a fairly popular trope this last decade.
I actually like the Charlie Sheen comparison made above. He had an action-thriller stretch at a similar stage of his career. And hey, Wall Street.
I have 5 kids and watch Disney alot. While I don't agree with the Michael Jay Fox comparison, I became a fan of Shia's when he play Louis on Even Stevens. He was great and funny. I have since followed his career and he has had some wonderful parts: "Holes", "The Greatest Game Ever Played", "Distubia". Shia has talent and a comedic gift and I believe he will mature and go on to give us many great performances. As far as I am concerned, Shia can be compared to aspects of many actors. He is that talented.
I don't think calling any young actor Harrison Ford (or even in the same league as Harrison Ford) is a knock, despite the phone-in quality of his work since the mid-'90s.
Okay, our first fan. But it is a Fanmom not a Fangirl. So, still waiting...
Gross. This is the worst article ever, Movieline.
Shia (not necessarily the actor, but the product) is to Michael J Fox what Crystal Skull is to Raiders. A pale, cynical imitation and cash in. In one sense I don't blame him for this. He is a product of his era. Whereas the 80's gave us classic, heartfelt pop masterpieces like BTTF, today we get shit like Transformers, and what young actor would have said no to that offer when it was put on the table? Someone had to be the poster boy for the current detestable mentality, and Shia is the anointed one. I'm sure it's a heavy cross to bear, and that he takes shit for it every time he sets foot in a bar,. This is a shame, as he's not without talent. In another time, while he still wouldn't have been his generations MJF, he might have at least been his generations Shia LaBeouf.
Well, Shia's resume is certainly shaky...
PS. Teen Wolf is an underrated, incredibly smart, very funny comedy. I love it, and not only because of Fox, who is perfect in it. Don't knock it just because it's easy! Think about how terrible it should have been (Teen Wolf Too is a good place to start), then think about how great it turned out. It's a gem!
You are a sick, sick person. And I love you.
You must be f-ing kidding.
Michael J. Fox is a legend. I grew up watching him in Family Ties and continued with almost every movie he put out. In most he nailed the character and made a horrid movie entertaining.
With that said, I agree that LaBeouf could become the next MJF.
I first saw him in the Project Greenlight Movie "The Battle of Shaker Heights". He was great. I never watched Disney channel as a kid, we had an antenna, and thought I was too old when I had cable. I gave "Even Stevens" a try and for good reason. LaBeouf was HILARIOUS. His scenes kept me watching a mediocre show.
If he had continued to do that kind of slapstick comedy I think most of you would have a change of opinion. LaBeouf is not a good action star, but neither was Michael J Fox.
Please remind me again of that period when Michael J. Fox talked about the many women he f-cked, talked at length about how incredibly cool he was, and basically acted like a 25-year-old douchebag. And also, if you don't mind, please remind me of that point in time when Michael was an ugly man with a major attitude. And then I'll take your question seriously. Thanks!
hahahah,, loved reading all the above comments,, well done Movie fans,,,
I guess you have your answer Movieline!!!
It is a bit of an insult to Michael J . Fox to even compare the two.
Whatever about Shia Lebouf's attitude, but his track record in films has been awful,, e.g ,, in a couple of years time Transformers will be looked at as one of the worst trilogies ever,, and as for Crystal Skull,,HAHAHA,, well that's the Indiana Jones series's Phantom Menace,, actually, it's probably worse,, yes, Shia Lebouf is more annoying than Jar Jar Binks!!
No fangirls to the rescue... Sorry, Shia but you have been LaBeoufed!!
Hell no. That would be like rubbing dirt in michaels face. He's not even half as good as him. Family Ties/Spin City (without sheen) rules.
LaBeouf is a product of being good friends with spielberg and not a question of talent. You see he doesnt have any.
First and ONLY fan 😀
Well, I'm a Shia fan, but what would be the point of going head to head on the Movieline battleground. It's not that I think Shia's better than Michael anyway — I just enjoy Shia's movie work more, especially Holes, Disturbia… his stint on Project Greenlight. Back to the Future aside, I don't Michael's done as much on the big screen. (But you can let me know, I'm sure!)
Michael wasn't the big humanitarian that he is today back when he was 25 years old. Sure, Michael's better human being, but in terms of performance level, Shia's just more memorable to me. Plus, the guy's always funny on chat shows (and truly horrid in magazine interviews).
The fact that you would even write that tag line is an insult to Micheal J. Fox. Shia is a trouble making bad boy that makes Hollywood fall to it's knees(insert penis joke there) because he's pretty and girls flock to him and guys want to be him. He's as talented as the cast of the Jersey Shore.
Huh? Girls flock to him and guys want to be him? Since when???
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