What are "SNL" alums' best/worst movie performances?
tmc_...@yahoo.com
The 20 best and 20 worst performances from SNL alumni
By: RYAN STEWART
4/7/2006 10:01:27 AM
NUMBER ONE: I mean, was there really any doubt?With the release of yet
another film starring former Saturday Night Live stars trying in vain
to recapture the glories of their Lorne Michaels days - that would be
The Benchwarmers starring David Spade and Rob Schneider - we figured
now is as good a time as any to determine which SNLers did the best
after leaving the NBC womb (or while they were still on the show),
which ones fared the worst, and which ones have reached both ends of
the spectrum. Below, our (purely subjective) findings. Don't agree?
Leave a comment below.
20 best:
1. Bill Murray, Ghostbusters - Murray plays Dr. Peter Venkman -
back off, he's a scientist - who, along with his fellow ghostbusting
cohorts, saves the city from the return of Gozer. But it's his
effortless deadpan sarcasm that makes him the easy choice for the top
of this pile.
2. Eddie Murphy, Beverly Hills Cop - Axel Foley might be the funniest,
smartest cop in the history of funny, smart cops. Nobody else in any
other year could have done that better than Eddie Murphy in 1984.
3. John Belushi, Animal House - Belushi plays the future Senator
Blutarsky and permanently cements his place in film history with one
great speech. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
4. Will Ferrell, Anchorman - "I don't know how to put this, but . . .
I'm kind of a big deal"
5. Christopher Guest, Waiting For Guffman - Guest plays Corky St.
Clair, the community theater director responsible for, among other
things, a stirring stage adaptation of Backdraft. This Is Spinal Tap
predates his SNL work, so it doesn't qualify here. . .
6. Harry Shearer, This Is Spinal Tap - But it does count for Shearer,
who was on SNL in Lorne Michaels's last season before quitting in 1980.
Shearer left, too, and came back with Guest in the Ebersol years after
Tap performed on the show. They did not do "Stonehenge."
7. Dan Aykroyd, Dragnet - Underrated film that actually casts Aykroyd
as the straight-laced Joe Friday with Tom Hanks (not yet the drama
powerhouse he is these days) as his slovenly sidekick. I actually
enjoyed this one more than Blues Brothers. There, I said it.
8. Chevy Chase, National Lampoon's Vacation - "This is crazy . . .
this is crazy . . ." Stiff competition here from Funny Farm and
Caddyshack.
9. Mike Myers, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery - Myers's
tribute to English spy classics saw him interpreting James Coburn and
Michael Caine as the film's titular protag and, though he denied it
when asked in Live From New York, Dr. Evil is basically a Lorne
Michaels imitation.
10. Dana Carvey, Wayne's World - Carvey's awkward second banana Garth
is funnier than Myers's leading man, Wayne. Unfortunately, this
discrepancy was not reflected in their subsequent film careers.
11. Phil Hartman, So I Married an Axe Murderer - The late, great
Hartman only has a small role as a tour guide at Alcatraz, but damn if
it isn't a doozy: "They took turns pissing into the bitch's eyes . .
. this way to the cafeteria!"
12. Jon Lovitz, A League of Their Own - Another small part with a big
impact: "The way it works is the train moves, not the station!" I
wish I could nominate him for The Critic, but what can you do?
13. Chris Farley, Tommy Boy - Some people found him grating, but
you'd have to be made of stone not to chuckle at this one.
14. Adam Sandler, The Wedding Singer - The only Sandler film (other
than Punch Drunk Love) where he actually plays a human being, instead
of some weirdo who makes weird faces and voices. Could do without the
ironic references to the future, though.
15. Chris Elliot, There's Something About Mary - Woogie!
THE JOKE: Silverman steals the show in The Aristocrats16. Janeane
Garofalo, Wet Hot American Summer - Some have called her the
second-worst SNL cast member in history (behind the late Charles
Rocket,) and her film career was never as good as some people would
like it to be, but she's great as every kid's camp director.
17. Sarah Silverman, The Aristocrats - People forget she was on SNL,
probably because she made, like, four appearances the whole year she
was there. And in a sea of forgettable versions of "the joke,"
Silverman stands out as an island of warped creativity.
18. Tim Meadows, Mean Girls - He was a trooper for nine years of SNL,
and continues to play the good sport as the principal who's stuck in a
world of rioting high school girls.
19. Joan Cusack, School of Rock - A forgotten Ebersol cast member,
Cusack is amazing as the uptight principal. She almost steals the film
from Jack Black.
20. Molly Shannon, Superstar - One of very few movies based on SNL
characters that actually works, the Mary Catherine Gallagher bit
somehow does not wear completely thin over the course of 90 minutes.
Credit an assist to Ferrell and Night Ranger's "Sister Christian"
20 worst:
CORKY ROMANO: I bet he's going to say something nasally.1. Chris
Kattan, Corky Romano - The spastic, whiny Kattan wasn't funny on SNL
unless he was imitating Andy Dick. He's not imitating Andy Dick here.
2. Rob Schneider, The Hot Chick - His film career (memorably
lampooned on South Park) is actually all the more tragic because he
actually was funny on SNL. Everybody forgets this now. Anyway, in this
one he plays a woman. And it's beyond ridiculous.
3. Eddie Murphy, The Adventures of Pluto Nash - I probably could say
anything about this movie and nobody would call me out on it because
nobody watched it. Rest assured: it's a piece of shit.
4. Mike Myers, The Cat in the Hat - Myers is a smart, creative guy
who is likely wealthy enough not to have to do this movie. But instead
he felt compelled to not just play the Cat in the Hat, but also play
him as a dirty-joking lothario.
5. Julia Sweeney, It's Pat - Not Sweeney's fault, really. Pat's a
funny character for a five minute sketch, but do you want to watch her
for 80 minutes?
6. Al Franken, Stuart Saves His Family - This probably is Franken's
fault. Same problem that faced It's Pat: a character that's funny for
two or three minutes starts to wear thin, especially when plot is
forced upon it.
7. Chris Rock, Bad Company - Chris Rock is an enigma. He's one of the
funniest guys on the planet; that's not in dispute. But somehow, he has
failed to make a good movie. What was even his best one? Madagascar?
8. Will Ferrell, A Night at the Roxbury - Sorry, Will, we hate to do
this to you, but the funniest joke was in all of the commercials ("Are
you guys brothers?" "No . . . YES!")
9. Dana Carvey, The Master of Disguise - After a difficult couple of
years for Carvey (he underwent a total of five surgeries to repair
blocked arteries, including one on the wrong artery,) this is what he
comes back with? "TURTLE! TURTLE!"
10. Tim Meadows, The Ladies Man - "Ladies, if you are rich, please
meet me by the nacho cart." The rest of the film is on par with that.
PLUTO NASH: An intergalactic nightclub owner? 11. Jimmy Fallon, Fever
Pitch - Actually not a terrible movie if you aren't a Red Sox fan.
I'm a Red Sox fan.
12. Adam Sandler, The Waterboy - Ugh. It's just not funny. I get the
whole "brainless humor" thing, but this didn't even work as that for
me.
13. Cheri Oteri, Dumb and Dumberer - I guess this is a case of "what
did you expect," but what I expected was for a talented woman like
Oteri to pick better film roles.
14. David Spade, Lost and Found - Hard to buy that Spade could get
that French woman. And that someone would plot to stop them.
15. Dan Aykroyd, Blues Brothers 2000 - Should've left well enough
alone, Danny Boy.
16. Horation Sanz, Boat Trip - Sanz is kind of a funny guy when he
doesn't laugh at his own jokes. He needs some decent material to work,
though.
17. Martin Short, Clifford - Martin Short plays an evil 10-year-old.
Makes perfect sense.
18. Kenan Thompson, Fat Albert - He's used to being in TV Land and he
doesn't understand the real world! Get it!?
19. Jon Lovitz, High School High - The teacher film genre was ripe
for parody, but Lovitz is the wrong choice. He should stick to bit
parts and cartoon characters.
Chris Elliot, Groundhog Day - See, this is a great movie, and you
would think that with Chris Elliot, who is funny, on board, he would be
an asset to the film. But somehow, he blows it. His one joke: "Did
[Phil] just refer to himself as 'the talent'?" is botched.
Inexplicable.
dave
stretch a character/concept that is funny for ~5 minutes into ~100 minutes
are: "Coneheads" and "Pat"
<snipped to save bandwidth, our nations least precious resource>
ComaToast
happy to add my lists, but I need to think about it.
However I did have Two comments on your list.
One Joan Cussack was not on Ebersol's cast she was on Lorne's return in
1985-86.
Two. What about Meatballs? That has to be on the best list.
ComaToast
ComaToast
bad SNL movies, becasue I have not seen to many of those. I have to
admint I never say films like "Here's Pat" or "Stewart Saves His
Family" beacuse I was told they were bad and I belived those who told
me that. Like has been said those were pretty one dimensional
characters that are hard to hold a film together. WHo know know maybe
I missed a good film. I doubt it though, I did see "Roxbury Guys" or
"Night at The Roxbury" whatever, and I can validate that it did suck. I
also saw 1941 and though it was not great I did not hate it like most
people did.
So with out further ado, here is my top 20 list of my favorite films
featuring former SNL cast members. I will not bother with a worst list.
In no particular order, other than they are favorites.
1) The Blues Brothers, Dan and John
2) New Jack City, Chris Rock
3) Wayne's World, Dana and Mike Myers
4) Animal House, John
5) Gilda LIve, I know it is just a stage version of her stuff mostly
from SNL, but hey it's Gilda
6) Ghost Busters, Bill, and Dan
7) Meatballs, Bill
8) Cadyshack, Chevey, and Bill
9) Foul Play, Chevy
10) Vaction the fist and the Christmas Vaction one, Chevy and Anthony
Michal Hall
11) Spinal Tap, Michal Mckeon, Harry Scheear and Christoher Guest
12) The Mighty Wind (see above cast)
13) Trading Places , Eddie and Dan
14) Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hours, Eddie, ( I'm gonna count these as
one)
15) Doctor Detroit, Dan, I'm sure all lot of people would dis this one
but I liked it.
16) Ancorman, Will
17) School Or Rock, Joan Cusack
18) Dogshow, Christoher Guest
19) Neighbors, John, Dan and Tim Kazerinsky
20) This last one I can't think of the name of but it had Chevy Chase
and Dan (WHo played like 5 roles). Chevy is like a Lawyer who
acidently stumbles into this crazy, Transelvia kind of towship and I
think that Group that sung Humpy Dance was also in it. Sombody's got
to help me with the name. Watever it was called, I liked it in a
strange way.
I am sure I would add, The Aristicrats and The Wedding Singer but I
have not yet seen those
As I said I am not going to do a worst list, but I would like to name
two TV shows as Honorable Mention.
Seinfeld , Julia Louis Dryfus
and
Third Rock From The Sun - Jane Curtain
JacquesZMonkey
admint I never say films like "Here's Pat" or "Stewart Saves His
Family" beacuse I was told they were bad and I belived those who told
me that. Like has been said those were pretty one dimensional
characters that are hard to hold a film together. WHo know know maybe
I missed a good film. >>
I know it gets trashed, but I really enjoyed "Stuart" and many people I
know did as well.
But I can see why many people didn't like it. Because the tone is very
different from the skits. It's not really a comedy <insert sarcastic
remarks here> It's a small sentimental film that addresses what the
title says, and if you take it as that, it does quite well.
JacquesZMonkey
ComaToast wrote:
>
> Two. What about Meatballs? That has to be on the best list.
>
Well, he only lists one per performer. And under those rules, I'd have
to go with "Groundhog Day." It's not his funniest performance, but I
think the best.
Meatballs was a cute comedy, but I'd hardly call it a great
performance. Bill just playing a one note wise-ass is hardly a stretch.
Steve Worek
I definitely agree with "Anchorman", though - I don't think Will Ferrell
will ever be able to top that. That was probably one of the greatest SNL
alumni led movies ever.
<tmc_...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1144457349....@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
quote...@yahoo.com
Bill Murray, Where the Buffalo Roam
Dan Aykroyd, Mr. Mike's Mondo Video
Laraine Newman, Endsville
Gilda Radner, Animalympics
Jane Curtin, Brooklyn Lobster
Garrett Morris, Jackpot
Chevy Chase, Walk... Don't Walk
John Belushi, Old Boyfriends
Harry Shearer, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
ComaToast
video I don't remember a theatrical release so I did not count that
one.
deb...@comcast.net
would think that with Chris Elliot, who is funny, on board, he would be
an asset to the film. But somehow, he blows it. His one joke: "Did
[Phil] just refer to himself as 'the talent'?" is botched.
Inexplicable.
Sorry, I'm not buying this one. They just needed a # 20, so they threw
Chris Elliot's "Groundhog Day" performance in there. It doesn't belong
on a "Worst 20" list by any means.
The Chris
news:1144473004....@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:
>
> 1) The Blues Brothers, Dan and John
> 2) New Jack City, Chris Rock
This entry reminded me of how hilarious CB4 was...
The Chris
@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
Don't totally agree. I liked 'The Waterboy'. And how could they not
mention 'Coming to America'....Is the original Blues Brothers even on
there?? Or does that not count for some reason??
Mean Girls is one of the best?? It ain't better than 'Joe Dirt' :)
Robert Ford
- "I just wish I hadn't drunk all that cough syrup."
lab~rat >:-)
<ky...@lostweekendrecords.com> puked:
Stripes?
--
lab~rat >:-)
Do you want polite or do you want sincere?