Everyone has to start somewhere, and with far too many actors and actresses who deserve better, it’s with romantic comedies. And sometimes they’ll stay there, because it’s easy to bask in the warm, well-paid embrace of awkward blind dates, best friends who turn out to be soul mates, enlightening makeovers that reveal true selves, and bet-based set-ups. Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock managed to escape the saccharine grips of the rom-com. Here are some actors and actresses who need to stay out of their rom-com ruts.

1. Channing Tatum
C-Tates should take a cue from his Magic Mike pal Dallas and pick up dangerous but still dirty roles, like a drunk detective or Wall Street maven.

2. Rachel McAdams
Please stop it with the time-travel movies, just, please, enough already.

3. James Marsden
He should leave behind the best mans and 27 dresses and take on more independent films. Marsden can handle it.

4. Anna Faris
Even though Take Me Home Tonight introduced her to the love of her life, Faris has so much potential beyond playing the lovably clumsy blonde. Save that for TV.

5. Ryan Reynolds
He’s more than the guy who wins over the ladies (and looks good in green)—he’s also the man who carried an entire movie himself (Buried), proving he has more non-rom-com range.

6. Kristen Bell
Veronica Mars showed that Bell has talent, but her live-action filmography is filled with more Pizs than Logans.

7. Michael B. Jordan
This serves more as a warning because it only takes one to start, and he’s only been in That Awkward Moment so far, but the man who brought such emotion to Fruitvale Station, Friday Night Lights, and The Wire shouldn’t have to be reduced to “looking to get some” roles.

8. Jennifer Aniston
One of the rom-com figureheads, Aniston can definitely play better than the woman looking for love, if The Good Girl and Horrible Bosses gleamed anything.

Nadia Chaudhury met Coach and can now die happy.