As an actress myself, I know how important it is to immerse yourself in a character. But sometimes, it's not enough to simply be someone else. You have to have fun with it! When you're having fun, no matter if you're the hero, villain, or comic relief, you stand apart from the rest of the cast. I have compiled a list of actors who are worth watching the movies they do because they're having fun. Apart from one, there is no particular order.
And as much as I love Loki, I have to give the number one spot to one man and one man alone:
Cary Elwes in Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Cary Elwes reigns true in this genre. While this particular Mel Brooks film isn't considered to be as much of a classic, Elwes carries this entire movie. The other actors are great as well, but you can see it in every frame: Elwes is having the time of his life!
Just watch his face as he battles Little John. He'd probably do this role for free. And don't forget that he also brought the character to life with a single line:
"Because, unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent."
The rest will be done in no particular order.
Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz
This is one of the earliest recorded roles of an actor having a ball with their role. Margaret Hamilton, while purely evil, is totally loving this.
Tell me now that she's not having fun! The downside though is now her performance is being underminded by the Broadway version in Wicked. Oh well.
"I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!"
Sam Rockwell in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Rockwell sells every part he plays. This movie didn't follow the book as well as it could have, but Rockwell is the best part of this movie. He actually takes the character of Zaphod past the extraterrestrial limits that Douglas Adams penned out and made it work. No one else could have done that!
Very best part? When he falls through the portal to Magrathea and just lands with a splat. No stunt double, Rockwell did the whole thing himself. Now that's commitment!
"Honey, I'm the president of the galaxy. I don't get a whole lotta time for reading."
Christopher Plummer in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Trek is known for its bad guys. They're just awesome. But none of them can add up to Plummer as Chang in the sixth installment with the original cast for enjoying his role the most. Even in his interviews you can tell that Plummer is particularly proud of this role.
Best of all is his quoting of Shakespeare. Nice touch, adding a little bit of nerdiness to this role!
"You have not heard Shakespeare until you've heard it in the original Klingon."
Raul Julia in The Adams Family and The Adams Family Values
Even in bad roles, Julia was great. *coughStreetFightercough* This, one of his (tragically) last roles, is the very epitome of charm and psycho. This guy has no place in the real world, and nothing Julia does puts him there. He and his family are in their own screwed up world, and he leads it with a dynamic machismo that you'll never forget.
No wonder Morticia Adams is so besotted with him!
"I would die for her. I would kill for her. Either way, what bliss!"
Chris Evans in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
In my opinion, Evans is one of the most underrated actors out there. Exhibit A: his performance as Lucas Lee, one of the 7 evil exes that Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has to defeat to win over Ramona Flowers. Evans, who is most notable now for his role as Captain America, sells the crap out of his brief role in this wacky flick.
His presence on the screen gives off the vibe that he was born for this role, and he'll be danged if you think otherwise.
"'Sup. How's life? He seems nice."
Eva Green in Dark Shadows
Green doesn't really strike as the type who would have a place on this list, but by golly, is she enjoying her role as the villainess Angelique in this Tim Burton reboot. Every time she steps into the scene, that sexy smirk shines with a bit of genuine delight in everything she says and does in this film.
I wouldn't normally draw attention to this, but the love scene with Johnny Depp? Just about any woman would want to be in her position but there's a little bit of "yeah, well I get to do this!" attitude to it.
"Sleeping flame, I summon thee, to your form return. Make the night as bright as day...and burn, baby, burn!"
Yul Brynner in The King and I
Brynner was so good at this role he did it both in film and on Broadway. He makes King Mongkut out to be a guy who can command the attention of world leaders...and be a child at the same time. His battle of the sexes banter with Deborah Kerr is some of the best out there. He even got an Oscar for this role!
Oh yeah, he also pokes fun at another one of his other projects in this: The Ten Commandments. He played Pharaoh Ramses, the arch-nemesis to Moses in that film. In this one, he's poking fun at Moses after reading his story in the Bible. LOL
"I make mistake. The British not scientific enough to know how to use chopsticks."
James Nesbitt in The Hobbit Trilogy
When I first heard the cast of this film, I went nuts because I'm a sucker for that dreamboat Richard Armitage. But after I saw the first movie, it wasn't him I remembered best, it was the floppy hat wearing dwarf Bofur that I remembered best. Yes, the whole cast appears to be having a blast, but Nesbitt tends to outshine the others because his delight is more genuine. Even in the promos for the film, he's almost always smiling, and that's not just a character smile you're looking at.
And, quite frankly, it's interesting having an Irish dwarf in the bunch.
"Oh, that's a lovely game. If you have the balls for it."
Susan Sarandon in Enchanted
Half of this role was voice acting, but even in that, Sarandon is having fun. She goes from being animated, to being three dimensional, to becoming an old hag with a severe dental problem, to her final form as a dragon. For one of the best examples of how to ham it up at just the right flavor for a villain, watch her in this. She really should have been in it more.
Seriously. Those teeth as the hag? It almost like she's enjoying that. That's commitment!
"Hello, worthless. Miss me?"
James Marsden in Enchanted
This is the only time I will give a dual award for the same movie. Even in the previews for this one, when he gets run over by cyclists, you can tell that he is going to sell this movie. Everything from his voice, stride and wardrobe just screams, "aw, yeah!" Not to mention he finally gets the girl, albeit a different one than is expected.
This is probably a film his grandchildren will love for him and him alone.
"It appears this tiny box controls the magic mirror!"
There are plenty more actors out there who are enjoying their roles, but I don't have enough time to put them all into one blog. So keep an eye out, there'll be another list soon!
