Monday, June 23, 2008

The Alba Curse

The LAist suggests "The Alba Curse." You can imagine what that is - critical and box office poison. Needless to say, it struck again this weekend with the tank job of The Love Guru, although Mike Myers accounts for most of that.

I don't know what is a fair expectation. No one has ever mistaken her for a good actress, and when she gets too thin (see Good Luck, Chuck) she loses the sweetness in her face. She's one in a long line of bombshells whose appeal lasts for a few years and then fades. Denise Richards is an older example. Meghan Fox is the currently rising one. In four years, there will be a new one on the horizon.

6 comments:

Daniel said...

Interesting theory. Yeah I don't know where the idea that Alba was a great actress came from. In any case, I wouldn't really blame her for Guru, like you say. That has to rest solely on Myers' shoulders.

K. Bowen said...

Yep, blame Myers. But do wonder why Alba is always hanging around these sorts of projects.

elgringo said...

Oh yeah, I forgot that I used to think Denise Richards was attractive. Yikes.

I could stare at Jessica Alba all day...but choose not to. Until she makes a movie worth watching, I'll be forced to go back and watching "The Sleeping Dictionary" until someone sends her a decent script.

K. Bowen said...

You could be waiting awhile. :)

The thing about beauties is that they can make a very effective career even without much acting talent. Marilyn Monroe wasn't exactly Mrs. Brando. Yet look at the list of films she appeared in within about a decade and change - All About Eve, The Asphalt Jungle, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven-Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, The Misfits. Pretty impressive list. If Alba could do that, she'd be in good order.

Fletch said...

The Curse can certainly be broken. Just look at Cameron Diaz and Charlize Theron. Neither was considered anything remotely close to a heavyweight at the start of their careers, but both are taken quite seriously, and, while not bona-fide box office stars, certainly offer some clout.

K. Bowen said...

Look at Kate Beckinsale versus Charlize Theron. They came to prominence at about the same time. Beckinsale had the indie acting cred. Theron seemed like a lot of hype. Nowadays, Beckinsale is thought of as the star of a bunch of leather-clad vampire movies. Theron has an Oscar sitting on the mantle.