As a movie enthusiast with a keen eye for spotting hidden gems amidst the duds, I can say that 2004 was quite a challenging year for Chris Evans‘ cinematic journey. The films he starred in during this period were as diverse as they were disappointing – from the forgettable “The Perfect Score” to the enigmatic “The Orphan King.”
Chris Evans is currently one of the most prominent figures in Hollywood, having achieved fame through portraying comic book heroes such as the Human Torch in the two-part series, “The Fantastic Four”. However, it was his unforgettable portrayal of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that truly established him as a familiar name. This level of stardom didn’t come about suddenly; rather, it was the result of a gradual buildup.
In an interview with The Boston Globe in 2009, before his career had gained significant momentum, Chris Evans mentioned that his initial films weren’t particularly good. He named a few of these movies. So, what were the movies he listed, and are they truly as poor-quality as Chris Evans suggested?
Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
Although “Not Another Teen Movie” wasn’t Chris Evans’ debut in long-form cinema, it marked his introduction to major films. Following the massive success of the horror-comedy “Scary Movie,” a series was spawned, each installment spoofing distinct film genres.
The movie titled “Not Another Teen Movie” was the second installation in this series, a film that, as its title suggests, is a humorous take on classic teen films like “She’s All That”, “10 Things I Hate About You”, “Pretty in Pink”, “American Pie”, “Cruel Intentions”, and “The Breakfast Club”, among many others.
This was the first film that Evans included in his “terrible movies” list. “There wasNot Another Teen Movie, not a blockbuster,” he said in his interview withThe Boston Globe. But we have to disagree with Evans’ assessment here. A movie doesn’t need to be a blockbuster in order to be great.
This movie, rated at 32% by Rotten Tomatoes, presents an absurd narrative. However, Not Another Teen Movie, a beloved comedy, has become a classic for Millennials who grew up with it. It’s a film that had many of us in stitches due to its accurate references, crude humor, and humorous stereotypes.
In 2001, Evans wasn’t yet associated with Captain America or Hollywood stardom, despite his muscular physique (he was already quite buff at that time). This background adds a layer of amusement when we see him portray the superficial, arrogant, and popular high school athlete, Jake Wyler.
The Perfect Score (2004)
“The Ideal Result”
Based on Chris Evans’ statement, he admitted to starring in several less-than-stellar films in the year 2004, and one of them was “The Perfect Score.” He referred to this movie as a fleeting moment in New York when describing it. In this case, we tend to concur with his assessment.
MTV Films isn’t particularly renowned for creating “excellent films,” and _The Perfect Score_ falls in line with that reputation. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an abysmal rating of only 16%. In a nutshell, the general consensus on the site is… not favorable.
“I found neither humor nor tension in this movie, a blend of heist and teen films. Regrettably, it missed an opportunity to delve into the socially significant aspects it presented.”
Critics often labeled it a low-budget imitation of the iconic teen movie, “The Breakfast Club.” Thankfully, “The Perfect Score” wasn’t so bad that it derailed the progress of Evans’ or Johansson’s careers.
The Orphan King (2004)
Following his work on “The Perfect Score,” Evans’ subsequent venture was a film titled “The Orphan King.” Not much information is available regarding this movie. It featured Bill Pullman as a co-star and represented the only directorial effort by Andrew Wilder prior to his transition into television production. In a 2004 interview, Evans discussed “The Orphan King” briefly.
In essence, the plot revolves around themes of drugs, conflict, camaraderie, and affection. It’s raw, poignant, yet strikingly self-reliant and economical in its production. Expect it to make a splash at film festivals, potentially including Tribeca in May.
Despite plans for its release, The Orphan King never found its way to the Tribeca Film Festival as Chris Evans revealed in his 2009 Boston Globe interview. The movie apparently never hit theaters, which is why Evans included it in his list of disappointing films. It’s unclear what happened exactly, but the film has since become an enigma in the world of independent Hollywood, remaining undisclosed within the confines of its vaults.
Cellular (2004)
In the movie titled “Cellular,” a woman who has been abducted finds a way to reach out to an unacquainted individual for aid, initiating a dramatic battle for survival among multiple characters. The film boasts a distinguished ensemble cast that includes Kim Basinger, Jason Statham, William H. Macy, Jessica Biel, and at the time, an up-and-coming Chris Evans.
In 2004, “Cellular” marked the final film for Evans and was added to his roster of less-than-stellar productions. This movie, however, served as a stepping stone for the novice actor, introducing him to the thrilling world of action films. In an interview from 2009, Evans spoke about this experience.
“I did a movie called ‘Cellular,’ which was gone”
In this context, “gone” refers to the status of the movie after its run in theaters. To clarify, when we say the movie has gone, it means that it has stopped being shown in cinemas. However, whether it was a memorable or forgettable film that vanished from both critics and audiences’ attention is not explicitly stated in the original phrase, but these interpretations could be possibilities based on additional context or observations.
Among all of Evans’ poor-quality movies, it is “Cellular” that has the highest rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 56%. This isn’t much different from its audience rating of 58%. Despite these low scores and the film’s cheesy feel, many critics, including Roger Ebert who is widely recognized as a legend in the field, praised “Cellular” for being one of the top action thrillers of 2004.
You can catch Chris Evans next in
Red One
, which hits theaters on November 15, 2024.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-29 02:02