Steve Carell Continues Descent into Mediocrity

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (21)

Back in high school, there was a girl in my class who was unbelievably attractive, but also neurotic, painfully insecure, and dull as white poster board. Everyone wanted to date her, until we actually dated her. But all she wanted was to be in a relationship, but breaking up with her would turn her into a sniveling mess. So we came up with a plan. It wasn’t an organized plan, or a conspiracy. It was an epiphany each of us who dated her came up with individually and on our own. Instead of breaking up with her, we’d just introduce her to someone else that she could date. And it worked. Every time. Someone would “go steady” with her for three months, then find someone else to go steady with her for three months. It was win win for everyone; we got to date a ridiculously hot girl, and she never had to be alone (and it wasn’t a sexual thing; she was a pastor’s daughter).

It seems that our particular plan has made its way to Hollywood’s high-concept factory, as Steve Carell has signed on to A Boyfriend for My Wife, a remake of the 2008 Argentine comedy Un novio para mi mujer. In it, he will star as a husband who attempts to … find a boyfriend for his wife. To do so, he hires a legendary Lothario. $47 that the role eventually goes to Russell Brand. $112 says that, in the end, the Carell character ends up falling in love with his wife again. $4,567 says that the movie — which is being scripted by the man who brought us Snow Dogs — will blow legendary goat bile.

Steve: You’re a nice guy. You’re likable. You’re incredibly asexual. Please stop making shitty movies. I remember when Dan in Real Life seemed like a bad movie. Now, it’s goddamn Shakespeare compared the crap you’ve been doing lately. You ever think about going back to “The Daily Show,” for six months or so, just to hone on your comedic skills, maybe work with some decent material again?

(Variety)

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Comments

I liked Dinner with Schmucks .. although I myself am a contender to be invited.

Posted by: David Brauss at August 27, 2010 10:48 AM

He's not a movie actor. He's a TV funny man.

Posted by: logan at August 27, 2010 10:48 AM

I've recently been catching some season 2 and 3 episodes of the Office on TBS or TNT or whatever is showing them now, and I've been surprised how often I laugh out loud. Carell and the rest used to be pretty funny together, and it's painful to think how far they've fallen in just a season or two. I hope somehow they can make Michael Scott's farewell interesting or, at the very least, funny again.

Posted by: annoyingmouse at August 27, 2010 10:52 AM

When I was in college my first semester, there was a girl on my dorm floor who was the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life. All the boys wanted to date her. All the girls agreed that she was gorgeous.

She wasn't plastic. She was naturally gorgeous. Flawless skin. Breast just the right size and shape (B's). Smooth tan skin (it was the 1970's) with no blemishes. Her hair was simply parted down the middle, smooth and shiny with just enough curl in the right directions. She looked like she never wore makeup, but she probably wore a little. She could tie a scarf around her chest and wear a pair of jeans and just look perfect.

A couple of the boys actually got up enough courage to ask her out. Once. They said she had zero conversation. She just sat there and smiled. She never had to develop a personality, because everyone always fell over her.

After that first semester, we never saw her again. I'd heard she'd gotten an MRS. degree from some rich guy.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 27, 2010 10:54 AM

How are you going to hate on a brother for making that paper? So what if he's completely sold out and will make any movie that will throw sky-high stacks, hookers and blow at him. It worked for Jim Carey.

Posted by: admin at August 27, 2010 10:54 AM

1. I love the expression "hookers and blow".

2. There are times when I think life would have been a lot easier if I married a rich guy to get my MRS. Stupid true love.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 27, 2010 11:06 AM

...I liked Dan in Real Life *pouts*

Posted by: ChristianH at August 27, 2010 11:06 AM

Humor me here, but other than Dinner for Schmucks, what has been so terrible? IIRC, the Pajiba review for Despicable Me said he was "phenomenal", and Date Night was pretty funny (along with a positive review from here as well). Isn't everyone entitled to a bad movie every now and then?

Posted by: JP at August 27, 2010 11:12 AM

Oh dear, I just noticed the Snow Dogs detail.

What Steve really needs to do (and when he asks, I will tell him too) is get his laptop and start writing again.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 27, 2010 11:20 AM

Who ever thought that giving Steve Carell the leading role in a movie was a good idea is not a very funny person.

Posted by: peanut at August 27, 2010 11:42 AM

Even Henry Winkler is saying, "Whoah. That dude knows how to jump a shark."

Posted by: swag at August 27, 2010 12:32 PM

JP - I was just thinking the same thing! Date Night was pretty funny, Dispicable Me is supposed to be cute, he does good voice work in kid's movies in general. Besides Dan in Real Life and I guess Dinner with Schmucks (though the support in the comments on here would suggest it wasn't that bad) what are the plethora of terrible movies he's done?

Posted by: ninetwenteetoo at August 27, 2010 1:23 PM

You have to understand JP and ninetwenteetoo, our man, Dustin, has been banging on the "Steve Carrell is overrated/not funny/annoying" for a few years now. This is nothing knew. He's been leading the Anti-Steve Carrell charge for a long time. Really since as early as 2006.

Posted by: Forbiddendonut at August 27, 2010 1:36 PM

I liked Dan In Real Life and Date Movie. And I think I'm the only person on the face of the Earth who still likes The Office.

...damn you people are cynical for no reason. You just don't like Steve Carrel anymore because he's popular. I call 'em like I see 'em.

Posted by: Littlejon2001 at August 27, 2010 9:01 PM

Pish and I loved Despicable Me AND Whorton Hears A Who (I almost cried during the latter...what of it?!). So yea...screw you, Steve Carrel is the man.

Posted by: Littlejon2001 at August 27, 2010 9:03 PM

I'm the only one who liked him in Little Miss Sunshine? That can't be right.

I loved Despicable Me. Haven't seen Dan in real life or Date Night yet but I want to. I don't understand the dislike for him, I still laugh at the Office when I catch it.

Posted by: Viking at August 28, 2010 7:25 AM

I liked Dan In Real Life, I thought it was a cute little movie. I don't know why people think it's bad. Date Night was...eh...it had some funny moments but it was a little too standard for it to be really good.

Posted by: KC at August 28, 2010 11:25 AM

Concur about Dan in Real Life: great little movie. I don't get the disdain for it.

Posted by: diane at August 28, 2010 1:57 PM

Actually he would have to improve to be mediocre. Oh and Dustin if you didn't get laid then she really wasn't the pastors daughter.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at August 28, 2010 4:51 PM

Despicable Me was great, Little Miss Sunshine and Date Night were pretty damn good, Dan in Real Life is inoffensive and Dinner for Schmucks...well moving on from that one. Not all his movies are top notch, but most are solid and good for more than one viewing. There are other actors much more deserving of this post (Liam Neeson's movie choices as of late come to mind).

Posted by: Even Stevens at August 29, 2010 1:09 AM

I'll agree with those that defend Dan in Real Life, as well as Date Night. Haven't seen many of his other recents, but I thought he was great in Little Miss Sunshine and 40-year-old Virgin as well as bit parts in movies such as Anchorman.

I will admit, however, that I stopped watching The Office a few years ago. Not because of him, but I did get bored with his character. I just think even the best shows will get stale after a while. Time to pull the plug on Michael Scott and the gang.

Anyway, seems to me that he's had more hits than misses.

Posted by: lucy at August 29, 2010 8:49 PM

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Steve Carell Continues Descent into Mediocrity

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