Are actresses more likely to avoid stereotypes in comedies? We know that some actresses don't think so but two of the newest casting announcements for comedies show us the two possible ends of the spectrum. Drillbit Taylor's Leslie Mann is cast to play the wife of an imprisoned man (Jim Carrey) who falls in love with his cell mate in the black comedy I Love You Philip Morris. Verdict: probably a victim/doormat. Toni Collete will star as the close friend of Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski, who play a couple looking for the best place to raise their unborn child in an untitled film. Verdict: With Sam Mendes directing and two parts of the McSweeney's machine writing, Collette will probably make out okay. [THR. THR]
Hookers, Victims, & Doormats
6:20 PM on Mon Apr 7 2008
By Maria Mercedes Lara
1,497 views
39 comments













Comments
Toni Collete is TEH WINZ no matter what.
If the McSweeney's team is writing, they will raise their unborn child in an underwater circus that was trapped in the 1920's, where everyone rides on the backs of unicycle-driving walruses.
Toni Collete can do no wrong. No sir. Not since that bag of cocaine exploded in her face. Classic.
@hortense: You say that as if there's anything else a walrus would ever drive!
Leslie Mann does not deserve the career she has.
As the fiancee of someone who has worked on *several* of her films, I am of the opinion that the woman has only one redeeming quality: she can ride a unicycle.
Toni Collete won my vote since I saw her in Muriel's wedding. I also managed to Wikipedia this: [en.wikipedia.org]
Why is no one addressing the fact that there might be Jim Carrey butt-sex hijinks in the one movie? Won't someone think of the children?
@Her_royal_Highness: To this day my favorite of her roles is in Velvet Goldmine. Although, Muriel's Wedding is indeed the shit.
@Her_royal_Highness: Muriels Wedding is on my all time top 10 fave movie list.
Toni is one those actresses who makes me want to see whatever role she plays.
@Baddiekins: "You're terrrible, Muriel".
I say that. A lot. I actually used that quote to my bf the other day on the phone. He didn't get it :(
@distractedbyshinyobjects: Do you have some "George of the Jungle"-era gossip you need to be sharing? Spill it, sir or madam!
@nolongerinacubiclebutstillawhore!: That third R was unnecessary and just plain greedy.
*sigh*, i wish john krasinski was worried about where to raise my unborn child...
@nolongerinacubiclebutstillawhore!:
Love that line.
Used to say it just like the sister did.
Aussie accents are hard!
@Hamsterpants: weren't similar hijinks alluded to in "Me, Myself and Irene"? I suppose it was more butt-play than butt-sex, per se, but still. and now I have to go hide in shame for admitting to such detailed knowledge of Jim Carrey movies.
@distractedbyshinyobjects: Well, unless marrying well counts as a "redeeming quality" ...
@distractedbyshinyobjects: Leslie Mann's 3 minute scene in 40 Year Old Virgin is comedy gold from beginning to end. And it's ALL her. She brought the funny and she made it sing.
Your fiance may know some personal unpleasant side that makes her less appealing as a human being, but I absolutely think she "deserves" the career she has.
I think that the hooker, victim, and doormat rule doesn't apply in comedies. Women usually get cast in comedies as the unobtainable vixen, unobtainable tom-boy, unobtainable girl next door, and the sassy black woman.
@Her_royal_Highness: That new show sounds like fun and if it's on Showtime then you know it's going to be good.
Boy, nobody can turn me off a movie faster than the presence of Maya Rudolph.
Oh, Toni Collette. You're so pretty. Be my best friend. We can sing ABBA together and drink oversized bottles of champagne.
So can we discuss...size wise...Toni as Muriel or Toni as skinny self? Methinks she was beautiful as a plus-size gal.
@BicSharpie: Au contraire, mon frére. See "Tootsie." (And yes, I know that's only one example, but I'm going to think of others the second after I hit "submit." Just you wait.)
@MeaniePants: She was pretty as a plus-sized gal later in the movie, when she ditched the shitty haircut. I like her both ways, myself.
Ok, I admit, I'm not that with it these days, but I'm confused, where are the hookers? Did one of these actresses or one of the links say something about hookers, and I'm just missing it somehow?
Seriously, you shouldn't tell people there are going to be hookers, and then not have hookers. And if you're gonna have hookers, shouldn't they be relatively easy to find? I mean, isn't that sorta the whole point of a hooker anyway? Why would you want to hide them? That's just cruel.
I like Leslie Mann but she's basically the comic version of Rebecca Pidgeon.
I'm intrigued by the idea of Jon Krasinski and Maya Rudolph as a couple, I think they could have good chemistry together.
Toni Collete is awesome! I can't wait to see The United States of Tara.
My great-uncle wrote the book "I love you philip morris", and Jim Carrey is the worst possible casting they could have done. But my gad I love Leslie Mann. Her role in the 40 year old virgin was probably too close to home for my late teen years, but hilarious nonetheless.
@jenndavo: Girl thought she was so much more important than another comedy actor in an upcoming movie - she called her husband (not even a producer on this film - totally not involved) and had him call the production office "treat her as she deserves" which meant being moved up from #3 to #2 on the call sheet (she would have gone for #1, but that was a particular teen heartthrob - no way her people could go toe to toe with his people and that's cute because he really has no idea that's true)
She routinely treats *everyone* on the set - including the director and other, much better actors - like her servants, and it's having an obvious effect on younger more impressionable actresses.
@GingerVitis: She owes her entire career to projects her husband has gotten for her. Lucky bitch.
@Banana Grabber: We'll have to agree to disagree. I tend to really hate over-the-top comedy that wasn't hilarious in the first place but goes on endlessly. To me - Jonah Hill was comic gold in that movie. Simple, understated, and lasted about one shot. That isn't a hard and fast rule, some people are geniuses at it. I just don't happen to think that she is.
@Banana Grabber: Schlubby Judd Apatow married a shiksa goddess, and obviously part of the deal was that she gets a part in everything he does.
This isn't wrong per se, especially in Hollywood -- Clint Howard is a perfectly acceptable choice for the roles his brother puts him in, for example -- but it does rankle a bit when there are very few roles for funny ladies over 30, and many greater comediennes than Leslie Mann who could play those roles.
Eh.
In Her Shoes: awesome movie and Toni Collette delivered the only redeeming line in that AWFUL AWFUL book. Bitch can do no wrong.
@BeAgrestic: I just checked out "the united states of tara" and it sounds interesting ... that is, until i read that diablo cody penned the pilot. blech.
@distractedbyshinyobjects: Your fiance totally worked on 17 Again! And it's true, I imagine that in a toe-to-toe matchup, Zac Efron's people would cream Leslie Mann's people. Unless Seth Rogen's people came in with backup... that would be interesting.
I only learned to appreciate Leslie Mann's talents after seeing Drillbit Taylor, which she was awful in, and realizing how good she can be when given a good role by uh, her husband. Her roles are memorable, which is more than you can say for most parts for women in comedies these days.
@distractedbyshinyobjects: P.S. Jonah Hill was indeed comic gold in that movie. I really want those shoes.
@skates: awwww man! I like DC and will defend her till the death! Call me a fangirl if you must, but I think she deserves every bit of the positive buzz she gets.
I think Toni could do wonderful things with a DC script. In any case, the show has been getting some good buzz so I'm withholding judgment till I see the Pilot.
@MeaniePants: She looks best with a little meat on her bones. There was one point where she looked a little too thin (and yes there is such a thing)and it aged her. Mind you, anything over size 4 is considered plus size.
@Baddiekins: My favorite line from Muriel's Wedding belongs to Rachel Griffiths: "Stick your drink up yer ass, Tanya. I would rather swallow razor blades than drink with you."
But Toni Collette is the bomb, too. That is all.
@StabbyMcStabberson: And that makes me feel very stabby.
she'll probably make out okay? When has toni collette not played a doormat? I'm drawing a complete blank.
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