The Best and Worst of Alan Arkin

The "Best and Worst" series profiles the best and worst work of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week I take a look at the filmography of "Going in Style" star Alan Arkin.

Films starring Alan Arkin that I've seen:
Edward Scissorhands
Glengarry Glenn Ross
Grosse Point Blank
Firewall
Little Miss Sunshine
Sunshine Cleaning
Get Smart
The Change-Up
The Muppets
Argo
Stand Up Guys
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Grudge Match
Million Dollar Arm

Best Performance: Argo (2012)
One of the few elements of 2012's overrated best picture winner Argo that really worked for me is Arkin's performance as miserable Hollywood movie producer Lester Siegel. Arkin's fantastic comedic timing and believable bitterness makes his character a thoroughly entertaining detour from the generic political thriller proceedings that make up most of the film. 

Worst Performance: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Where Argo demonstrates how great Arkin's wisecracking, miserable old-man routine can be when it clicks, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone serves as a reminder of how grating it can be when it fails. Every sarcastic quip Arkin spews lacks the stinging delivery that made his previous disenchanted old man roles so memorable and without the venom-filled laughs to back it up, the "I'm elderly and pissed-off" shtick turns into an annoying gimmick.

Best Film: Get Smart (2008)
Example #6,024,853 of why I have terrible taste in movies: I like Get Smart more than Glengarry Glenn Ross and Little Miss Sunshine. The Steve Carell-led adaptation of the 1960's TV series just happens to be one of the many dumb action comedies that I find to be super entertaining, hilarious and highly-rewatchable.

Worst Film: Edward Scissorhands (1990)
There probably isn't a figure in the film industry that I have a deeper-seeded hatred for than Tim Burton. While I've enjoyed some of his projects (Mars Attacks!, Big Eyes, both of his Batman movies),  every time he goes into quirky "let's put some goth makeup and wacky clothes on Johnny Deep " mode, I want to vomit all over the place. Edward Scissorhands birthed this toxic film movement/collaborative relationship and for that reason alone, it has a special place in my personal cinematic hell. This film's relentlessly cheesy storyline, horrific acting and overwhelmingly blatant desire to try and be unique undercut the shit out of its noble intentions to say something meaningful about being a misunderstood outcast in society. 

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". Next week, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "The Fate of the Furious" star Tyrese Gibson.