The Best and Worst of Reese Witherspoon

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 "Sing" star Reese Witherspoon.

Films starring Reese Witherspoon that I've seen:
Election
American Psycho
Little Nicky 
Legally Blonde 
Sweet Home Alabama
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde 
Walk the Line
Monsters vs. Aliens
Water for Elephants
This Means War
Mud 
Wild  

Best Performance: Walk the Line (2005)
Given her propensity to appear in bottom-barrel romantic comedies, it's easy to forget that Witherspoon is a pretty talented dramatic actress. Her Academy Award-winning turn as Johnny Cash's second wife June Carter in Walk the Line is a raw, complex piece of work that elevates the film from respectable-to-decent to good-to-very good territory.    

Worst Performance: Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
There is no shortage of films that highlight Witherspoon's ineptitude as a comedic performer, but Sweet Home Alabama has a narrow lead over the rest of the half-a-dozen duds that are stinking up her resume. The woeful comedic timing and stunning absence of likability she displays here puts her alongside the likes of Katherine Heigl and Kate Hudson in the female romantic comedic lead Hall of Shame.

Best Film: American Psycho (2000)
It's legitimately embarrassing that it took me until the spring of 2013 to see this twisted, insanely clever piece of satire directed at the yuppie movement of the '80s. The hilarious monologues, pure insanity of the plot and Christian Bale's unreal performance as douchebag businessman/serial killer/Phil Collins enthusiast Patrick Bateman make American Psycho a masterclass in dark comedy filmmaking.  

Worst Film: Sweet Home Alabama (2002)  
A study hall during my freshman year of high school was the only reason I ever saw Sweet Home Alabama, and dear god am I ashamed that I didn't have the stones at the time to leave the room and wonder aimlessly around the hallways for the duration of the period like every other teenager on the fucking planet. I hope the asshole that was responsible for exposing me to this hate crime on the world of comedy and cinema as an artform is currently living a joyless life somewhere in Middle America.  

Thank you for reading this week's installment of "The Best and Worst of". In 2 weeks, I'll take a look at the best and worst work of "A Monster Calls" and "Silence" star Liam Nesson.