I think the dearth of the romantic comedy is party due to the fact that we have no "America's Sweetheart" at the moment. No one who women identify with, men want to marry and make us believe it.
Hollywood is trying, but it's not happening in comedy in my opinion.
Julia Roberts is gorgeous and accessible. I love that she gets she is not 20 any longer and is taking the role of the Evil Queen in "Mirror Mirror" -- there is dignity in that. Jen Aniston should take note. There comes a day when you are not up for the romantic Ingenue role. Julia understands that. That does NOT mean she's finished by any means, but where is our next Renee Zellweger?
The "It" girl graduates to real acting. Their magnetic resonance with an audience translates to bigger things and we accept them in older roles. Great Romantic heroines with the "it" factor:
Renee Zellweger (Bridget must be first) Julia Roberts Meg Ryan Drew Barrymore Sandra Bullock Reese Witherspoon Alicia Silverstone Eva Mendes (why not more movies with her in it like "Hitch")
And going back in history:
Molly Ringwald
Olivia Newton-John
Ginger Rogers
Vivien Leigh
Maureen O'Hara
Leslie Caron
Irene Dunne
Donna Reed
Audrey Hepburn
Grace Kelly
Katherine Hepburn
Doris Day
Actresses who have tried, but I don't think cut it.
(Financially, Hollywood keeps backing them though, so they must work on some level.)
Katherine Heigl never worked for me because she never seemed likable.
Jen Aniston never worked for me because there's some piece of humanity missing in her. It's probably there, but it doesn't translate to the screen. She seems someone detached an inaccessible. But I loved her on Friends, so I don't know why she doesn't work for me in a movie.
Cameron Diaz because...she seems like the girl your boyfriend cheats with, not the marrying type.
Kate Hudson -- Ditto to the above.
Gwyneth Paltrow -- meh. Not sure why, what do you think?
Anna Faris -- she is Kitty & Lydia combined, not Elizabeth Bennet
Possibility?
Mila Kunis. Loved her in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" She's a bit edgier, but maybe so is the world.
I wonder if it's that stars have to be too beautiful and perfect-looking these days, and we're missing that something that jumps off the screen. I thought "The Artist" was perfect for this -- showing how Hollywood used to be more than just looking perfect. Who is your favorite "Sweetheart" over the long-haul and who do you love now?
