The Best and Worst of Kate McKinnon

“The Best and Worst of” series chronicles the career highlights and lowlights of an actor starring in one of the week's new theatrical releases. This week, I take a look at the filmography of “Yesterday” star Kate McKinnon.

Films starring Kate McKinnon that I've seen:
Life Partners
Sisters
Finding Dory
Ghostbusters
Masterminds
Office Christmas Party
Rough Night
The Spy Who Dumped Me

Best Performance: Rough Night (2017)
While poor box office numbers have prevented the Saturday Night Live star's big screen breakout from happening, McKinnon has turned in several sensational performances thus far. Out of this bunch of standout work, her turn in Rough Night has a slight edge over the rest of the pack. Even among a great comedic cast (Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, Zoe Kravitz, Paul W. Downs, Eric Andre, Bo Burnham, Ty Burrell, Demi Moore), McKinnon's frenzied energy, ace timing and unreal commitment to selling every joke allows her to be the MVP of every scene she appears in.  

Worst Performance: N/A
Her relatively short list of credits may be part of the reason for her spotless acting record thus far, but I think it's more indictive of her rare gifts. McKinnon is the type of effortlessly funny, immensely dedicated performer who enhances the quality of a project simply by being there. Nearly everything that comes out of her mouth generates a smirk, chuckle or hysterical laughing fit-which makes her a powerhouse presence that commands attention at all times.

Best Film: Rough Night (2017)
Rough Night got a raw deal from the jump. This black comedy from Broad City mainstays Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs was unfairly compared to 1998's Very Bad Things due to its plot centered around the accidental death of a stripper at a bachelorette party-making it a popular target for criticism from people throughout the moviegoing community. Personally, I thought it was a near-consistently hilarious ride that deserves to go down as one of this decade's most underrated comedies. Its clever morbid humor, pitch perfect ensemble cast and flashes of since sentimentality underneath all of the absurd hijinks that drive the story make Rough Night a memorable raunchfest.

Worst Film: Life Partners (2014)
A base level of competency in the acting/directing department and rare representation of a close friendship between straight and gay characters can't save Life Partners from a being a middling indie romantic dramedy. Poor writing that is too reliant on contrived obstacles breaking up the relationship between the protagonists (Gillian Jacobs, Leighton Meester) and failed attempts to pull at the heartstrings crushes any chance Life Partners has of finding its footing.

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Spider-Man: Far from Home” star Marisa Tomei.