The Buzz

All About Steve: Worst movie of the year?

by Arts Online Posted: September 8, 2009 1:29 PM Last Updated: January 28, 2010 1:29 PM

Categories: Movies

arts-bullock-392.jpgU.S. actress Sandra Bullock arrives for the world premiere of All about Steve in Hollywood, Calif.(Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)

Well, folks, the opening weekend reviews are in, and it’s sounding like Sandra Bullock’s latest rom-com, All About Steve, has hit theatres with all of the impact of a major stinkbomb. I can’t say I’m surprised: Judging from the trailers I’ve seen, this “comedy,” which features Bullock as a smart crossword puzzle creator who somehow morphs into a demented woman hell-bent on stalking Bradley Cooper, looks unfunny at best, mean-spirited and misogynistic at worst:

Thus far, the critical response to All About Steve has been truly venomous, with some going so far as to crown it the worst movie of the year. It all got me thinking about my own early contenders for the worst of ’09, and off the top of my head, I would say the biggest crimes against cinema that have occurred in the past 9 months have all happened in the romantic comedy genre. I’m thinking Bride Wars and The Ugly Truth.

I’m reluctant to work myself up into a full rant on the heels of a nice long weekend, but I will say the new trend towards crappy rom-coms – a genre that the winning Bullock used to own and that, many moons ago, featured some terrific roles written for smart, snappy women – distresses me. I hope studio execs are paying close attention to all of the negative feedback that All About Steve is generating today. Somebody needs to get back to writing some non-shrewish roles for Bullock, since the critical consensus today seems to be she deserves much better than dreck like Steve and the other recent dud, The Proposal.

As per the worst movie of the year, I’m not naming my pick until the fat lady sings (a sight that will undoubtedly occur onscreen before 2009 is through). Something tells me the strongest contender is yet to come, since the Robin Williams/John Travolta vehicle Old Dogs isn’t opening until November.

Until then, I’m curious to hear your early picks for the worst movies of 2009.

-- Lee Ferguson