Okay, Julia Roberts earned her Oscar for Erin Brockovich, I won’t dispute that. So why is it she keeps taking these stupid cookie cutter roles that are all the same and pretty much are void of any kind of acting ability whatsoever. They are so bland that she doesn’t even try to figure out what makes this character work. In fact her portrayal of Kiki in America’s Sweethearts is pathetic. Kiki a formally overweight assistant to her star sister Gwen, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, does not even come close to hitting the mark as believable let alone entertaining. The only saving grace in this film is John Cusak (High Fidelity) who plays the jilted husband to Zeta-Jones. He is wonderfully psychotic and steals the show. He can even upstage Hank Azaria (Great Expectations) who is Hector, Zeta-Jones new Latin lover. Oh my gawd that ridiculous accent Azaria uses, was funny the first time we heard it but it got old quick. As far as Zeta-Jones performance, well how hard is it to act the bitch? Even easier, a self-absorbed bitch (much like in Traffic)? So back to Roberts phone-it-in acting job. Kiki recently lost 60 pounds and you would never know she was ever fat or had any issues an overweight person living in the shadow of a domineering sister who gets everything would have. Yes, I know Roberts has never had a fat day in her life, but this is what we call acting. You don’t have to be fat to play the part of a fat person. You get inside their head, learn what it feels like to carry around 60 extra pounds, what it feels like to have people laugh at you in front of you or behind your back. How she would handle herself in the movie industry of all places where the average size is a zero or two. This movie was clearly a disappointment in many ways. All the hype about Zeta-Jones plastic surgery after shooting wrapped up and how she had to redo scenes later and it was sooooooo noticeable. Well I spent far too much time trying to see the difference. Big waste of time, she looks fine.

Now the plot, if you would like to call it one, is America’s Sweethearts, Cusak and Zeta-Jones are married and make all their movies together and the world loves them together. Then Zeta-Jones hooks up with Azaria and dumps Cusak. He freaks out and ends up having to go away to get in touch with his feelings. Now the last movie they did together is about to be released and their publicist, Lee played by Billy Crystal (Analyze This), has to convince them to get back together for the junket. This would be a reasonable plot but now we have to have a role for Roberts, so she plays the sister/assistant who is really in love with Cusak. The best comic relief comes from Christopher Walkin (Joe Dirt). Yes I said comic relief. He is Hal, the director of the couple’s last picture and he is certainly an interesting fellow. In addition to the problems the couple is presenting, Hal is holding the film hostage. He won’t turn it over to the producers so the press can view it. What happens is the only truly funny moments of the movie. Crystal co-wrote this film with Peter Tolan and Joe Roth directing it. Also appearing in America’s Sweethearts was Seth Green, Stanley Tucci and Keri Lynn Pratt.

If Roberts was not going to even put out an effort, the storyline could have taken a better direction so that this movie would be enjoyable. I thought Cusak did a great job, but he never phones it in (watch Being John Malkovich for example). I give this movie a three on the About-Movies.com scale.

Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:47:41 AM

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