The Best and Worst of Rainn Wilson

“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 “The Meg” star Rainn Wilson.

Films starring Rainn Wilson that I've seen:
Galaxy Quest
Almost Famous
House of 1000 Corpses 
Juno
The Rocker
Monsters vs. Aliens
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Super
Hesher

Best Performance: Super (2011)
Dwight Schrute's film career hasn't been full of gems or hits, but he's quietly turned in some quality performances in several under-the-radar indie flicks. My favorite big screen turn of his to-date came in James Gunn's brutal dark comedy Super. Wilson is bitter, hilarious and surprisingly empathetic as Frank Darbo-a depressed short-order cook who is inspired to become a costumed vigilante known as the Crimson Bolt after conversing with God in a vision.

Worst Performance: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Wilson's extended cameo as a horndog college professor in the most infamous entry of Michael Bay's Transformers franchise is an atrocious attempt at humor that is significantly more creepy than funny.

Best Film: Almost Famous (2000)
In a filmography that I can only describe as erratic in terms of quality, I'd say that this is easily my favorite movie from Cameron Crowe. Almost Famous is a loose, engrossing and incredibly well-acted labor of love from Crowe that beautifully displays why the 70's rock scene holds such a special place in his heart.

Worst Film: Juno (2007)
While her more recent projects (Young Adult, Tully) have been semi-tolerable thanks to excellent lead performances from Charlize Theron, writer Diablo Cody's knack for creating obnoxious characters that seem like they emerged from some kind of quirky douchebag nightmare realm has prevented me from enjoying any project she's penned. Cody achieved her peak level of insufferability early on with Juno. This all-out assault of quips, forced sentimentality and behavior that I would be stunned to see a living, breathing human being engage in broke my mind and ability to feel any emotion besides seething rage for several hours after I had completed watching it.          

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Crazy Rich Asians” star Ken Jeong.