3 Genres Better Suited to Sarah Jessica Parker's Talents
Following the failure to launch of her recent film I Don't Know How She Does It, Sarah Jessica Parker has signed on as executive producer for her newest project, in which she may star: A Fair Marriage, a film that follows a woman in a six-year marriage who "rediscovers who she is, what she is capable of and how deep her love for her family runs -- by becoming someone else." Uh-oh. This sounds like the kind of inoffensive tripe that Sarah Jessica Parker has done to death in the past five years, the quirky, but down-to-Earth romance. Since it's pretty clear that SJP could use a push in a new direction, let's suggest three genres for which she's better suited -- even if it means she's zapped in the alien apocalypse.
Truly Quirky Character Comedies
Tell me I'm not the only one who misses the vivacious, funny SJP from L.A. Story who befuddled Steve Martin with the spelling of her name: SanDeE*. In her pre-Carrie Bradshaw existence, SJP used quirkiness as a springboard for surprising, funny characters, and here she makes hilarity downright sexy without seeming forced.
Ensemble Dramas
Now hear this: The Family Stone is a terrible movie featuring a family of entitled brats that we're supposed to love, but don't. Take that, Craig T. Nelson. The only standout in this movie is SJP, who plays Dermoy Mulroney's uptight girlfriend. In the following scene, she disrupts dinner with her suggestion that no parent should wish adversity upon his/her children. The movie wants you to hate her, but all you can do is sympathize with her unfounded vilification. You'll notice she's the only level-headed, un-cruel character in the room. SJP could use more divisive, but realistic characters in her repertoire, and this genre's just the one for that niche.
Nutty Disaster Movies
As if her involvement with the Strangers With Candy movie didn't tip us off to her love of zaniness, Mars Attacks gave SJP a great forum to act doltish and loud -- in an arch, dorky format! Mars Attacks afforded its big-name actors the chance to make fun of themselves, and in 2011, SJP can use all the funny self-deprecation she can. If she refuses to make good movies anymore, the least she can do is revel in a Bad Movie We Love. Bring on the alien invasions!
· Sarah Jessica Parker plays 'Fair' [Variety]
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Comments
How about retirement?
Cut out the romance and just make her a menacing, coniving, screaming bitch...like a top aid to the president or a CEO. Or go the strictly quirky route.
"Now hear this: The Family Stone is a terrible movie featuring a family of entitled brats that we’re supposed to love, but don’t. " THANK YOU! I spent the whole movie thinking, "Why would anyone voluntarily spend time with these people?"
SJP is not a leading lady in my book. She is much better suited for smaller roles -- which she can be very very good in.
I'd watch her in Albert Nobbs, the prequel.
I agree she should do 100% quirky films, she's great in those (like in Ed Wood). She's also great in small parts like the one in the First Wives Club (horrible movie by the way).
She's talented, she's just not cut for stuff like IJDKHSDI.
I completely disagree with your assessment of The Family Stone. I love the movie, love the characters, love the look and feel of the movie. Mostly, I love when Diane Keaton tells off SJP's character in this scene which in my view, she has coming. Different strokes...
Agreed!
Is "rhinoplasty patient" a genre?
I don't know. I liked Family Stone - especially Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams, and Tyrone Giordano.
Yes that movie completely confused me too.
I really like "The Family Stone". I've often heard the criticism about the Stones being dislikeable, but I think that only applies to how they deal with Parker's character. In other situations, the movie also shows them as being warm, loving and supportive. At a certain point, it becomes clear that the reason they're so hard on her is that they sense she's the wrong woman for Dermot Mulroney's character, and there's even a scene where Keaton's character explicitly says so. I've never felt that the movie wants us to condone their rude behavior, and the whole point of the story is them learning to overcome their prejudices.
As for the embedded scene, I think it brilliantly observes the way in which people pick and choose what kind of statement they find acceptable based on whether they like the person who's making it or not. At first, the family members who are "part of the gang" indulge in good-natured, even if not entirely PC, banter about race and sexuality, and no one seems to mind. But it seems that for the uptight, socially uncomfortable outsider who wants to join in the conversation with good intentions, but can't quite muster the same jollity and laid-back body language, different rules apply.
I think it's a very true aspect of social interaction and, again, I don't feel I'm being steered to taking sides with the Stones, especially since this scene is followed by scenes where certain family members criticize the others for their harsh attitude. I actually feel a lot of sympathy for Parker's character here when the mood drops and she finds herself in a mortifying situation, and I think that's how the movie intended it. It's clear to us that her argument is reasonable, but that the ambiguity with which she expresses herself is deliberately being interpreted as negative by people who never intended to give her a chance.
Bastard! (...lol)