America's Sweethearts (2001)
Films that depict what Hollywood is really like are incredibly popular with audiences because everyone longs to know how movie stars behave when the camera isn’t on them. America’s Sweethearts is one of the most hilarious, realistic, and all-around best movies in that genre.
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays a character everyone secretly believes she is, but hopes she isn’t: a beautiful, self-centered actress who isn’t nearly as sweet as her public image. She plays the role so well, it’ll be hard to see her as anyone else after you’ve seen the movie—she’s continued to play the “bad girl” in every movie since. But, she’s beautiful and has a tremendous presence, so even when you’re hating her, you still love her.
Catherine’s unstable actor ex-husband is played by John Cusack, and he’s so hilarious, you’ll find yourself imitating his outbursts the next time you feel like losing it. Catherine’s sister and assistant is Julia Roberts, and while Richard Dean’s makeup transforms her very believably during a touching flashback, her role is the least likable in the movie. Her character is a little frustrated since she’s taken a backseat to her prettier sister her whole life, and she isn’t always good at her job. I’ve been an assistant, and you can’t usually get away with having attitude or a chip on your shoulder. Still, she’ll probably only start to get on your nerves after you’ve seen it fifty times—which I have—so if you stick to forty-nine viewings, you should be fine.
Billy Crystal is a film publicist who’s given the very difficult task of promoting the last movie “America’s Sweethearts” made before their breakup. Obviously, in Hollywood, everything’s about making money, so he has to make the press and public think that Catherine and John are getting along in order to generate positive buzz—his job, aka the main plot of the film, is fraught with hilarious obstacles. With a supporting cast of Stanley Tucci, Hank Azaria, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin, Seth Green, Rainn Wilson, and Larry King, the film will give you much more than a laugh a minute. Since the script was co-written by Peter Tolan and Billy Crystal, you can’t help but wonder how much of the character quirks were inspired by real people. It’s clever, funny, surprising, and captivating, with something to love—and phrases to quote—for everyone. Plus, it has one of the most endearing, adorable opening scenes ever!
More Catherine Zeta-Jones movies here!
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays a character everyone secretly believes she is, but hopes she isn’t: a beautiful, self-centered actress who isn’t nearly as sweet as her public image. She plays the role so well, it’ll be hard to see her as anyone else after you’ve seen the movie—she’s continued to play the “bad girl” in every movie since. But, she’s beautiful and has a tremendous presence, so even when you’re hating her, you still love her.
Catherine’s unstable actor ex-husband is played by John Cusack, and he’s so hilarious, you’ll find yourself imitating his outbursts the next time you feel like losing it. Catherine’s sister and assistant is Julia Roberts, and while Richard Dean’s makeup transforms her very believably during a touching flashback, her role is the least likable in the movie. Her character is a little frustrated since she’s taken a backseat to her prettier sister her whole life, and she isn’t always good at her job. I’ve been an assistant, and you can’t usually get away with having attitude or a chip on your shoulder. Still, she’ll probably only start to get on your nerves after you’ve seen it fifty times—which I have—so if you stick to forty-nine viewings, you should be fine.
Billy Crystal is a film publicist who’s given the very difficult task of promoting the last movie “America’s Sweethearts” made before their breakup. Obviously, in Hollywood, everything’s about making money, so he has to make the press and public think that Catherine and John are getting along in order to generate positive buzz—his job, aka the main plot of the film, is fraught with hilarious obstacles. With a supporting cast of Stanley Tucci, Hank Azaria, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin, Seth Green, Rainn Wilson, and Larry King, the film will give you much more than a laugh a minute. Since the script was co-written by Peter Tolan and Billy Crystal, you can’t help but wonder how much of the character quirks were inspired by real people. It’s clever, funny, surprising, and captivating, with something to love—and phrases to quote—for everyone. Plus, it has one of the most endearing, adorable opening scenes ever!
More Catherine Zeta-Jones movies here!