The Best and Worst of Sarah Silverman

“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 “Ralph Breaks the Internet” star Sarah Silverman.

Films starring Sarah Silverman that I've seen:
There's Something About Mary
Say It Isn't So
Evolution
School of Rock
Bad Santa
School for Scoundrels
Take This Waltz
Wreck-It Ralph
A Million Days to Die in the West
I Smile Back
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
The Book of Henry
Battle of the Sexes

Best Performance: I Smile Back (2015)
Comedians ability to successfully transition to more dramatic fare is always slept-on and Silverman's turn in I Smile Back is one of the stronger recent examples of why people need to stop underestimating the acting chops of people who rose to prominence telling jokes. As an affluent, seemingly happily married woman who secretly lives a double life defined by substance abuse, infidelity and other self-destructive behavior, Silverman carries this flawed indie drama on her back with a transformative performance that is equal parts riveting, horrifying and heartbreaking.  

Worst Performance: Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
I love Silverman, but Vannellope von Schweetz is a flat-out insufferable character. von Schweetz is such an overwhelmingly grating presence here that she made this otherwise completely fine film a relatively unpleasant watch.

Best Film: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
After waiting nearly a decade for another shot, The Lonely Island triumphantly returned to the big screen with Popstar. This wide-spanning satire of music documentaries and the music industry in general is a beautiful showcase for their unique brand of insane, sneaky smart absurdist humor. I'm elated that Popstar has gained a cult following after flopping at the box office and I hope somebody (Netflix perhaps?) will grant them the opportunity to make another movie in the near future.

Worst Film: School for Scoundrels (2006)
How Todd Phillips, Billy Bob Thornton, Silverman and at least a half-dozen more talented people teamed up to create a comedy this forgettable is kind of astonishing. If you're going to put forth less than 100% effort on a project, at least have the decency to create something that's epically awful instead of something that's neither funny enough to be enjoyable nor unfunny enough to make you cringe. Fuck up harder next time guys!  

Thank you for reading this week's edition of “The Best and Worst of”. The next victim of my praise and ire will be “Head Full of Honey” star Matt Dillon.