The Best and Worst of Anna Faris

“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 “Overboard” star Anna Faris.

Films starring Anna Faris that I've seen:
Scary Movie
Scary Movie 2
The Hot Chick
Lost in Translation
Scary Movie 3
Waiting...
Just Friends
Scary Movie 4
Observe and Report
Take Me Home Tonight
What's Your Number?
The Dictator
Movie 43
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Keanu

Best Performance: Just Friends (2005)
I'd contend that this role is what helped Faris gain so much respect in comedy circles. Her manic performance as psychotic, narcissistic up-and-coming pop star Samantha James single-handedly helped elevate Just Friends from mediocre to legimately funny.

Worst Performance: What's Your Number? (2011)
It took me until her unforgettable extended cameo in Keanu to forgive Faris for this atrocity. The crippling absence of her usual superb timing paired with an abundant lack of chemistry with love interest Chris Evans made this an epic stinker for the grizzled comedy vet.

Best Film: Keanu (2016)
If there was any doubt that Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele weren't capable of thriving outside of the world of sketch comedy, Keanu shattered it. The cult comedy duo successfully brought their off-the-charts chemistry and absurd yet intelligent brand of humor to the big screen with this consistently hilarious romp about a pair of nerdy 30-something guys (Key and Peele) that pose as hitmen in order to get their beloved cat back from a powerful gang leader (Method Man). While it's unlikely considering the success of Get Out and his recent comments about wanting to solely focus on directing for the rest of his career, I hope that Peele will reunite with Key in front of the camera at some point over the next few years.

Worst Film: What's Your Number? (2011)
Outside of Sweet Home Alabama, I don't think I've ever seen a romantic comedy that was as lazy, unfunny and soulless as What's Your Number? How the casting director got so many talented actors with comedy backgrounds (Faris, Ari Graynor, Ed Begley Jr., Blythe Danner, Joel McHale, Chris Pratt, Andy Samberg) to agree to appear in a film that includes such side-splitting shit as women tripping in fancy wedding dresses, a vulgar ringtone going off in a formal situation and flashbacks featuring pretty people in fat suits is a staggering feat that I'll never be able to comprehend.


Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Breaking In” star Gabrielle Union.