The Best and Worst of Zoey Deutch

“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 “Zombieland: Double Tap” star Zoey Deutch.

Films starring Zoey Deutch that I've seen:
Dirty Grandpa
Everybody Wants Some!!
Good Kids
Why Him?
Before I Fall
The Disaster Artist
Flower
Set It Up

Best Performance: Before I Fall (2017)
Without Deutch, Before I Fall likely would've been nothing but a middling YA drama with a gimmicky time loop hook. She takes advantage of the re-living the same day plot device to give a believable, subtly powerful performance that keeps the entire project afloat and makes the inevitable tearjerker ending stunningly effective.    

Worst Performance: N/A
In her short career thus far, Deutch has proven to be a lighting rod that boosts the quality of every project she's in. Her off-the-charts magnetism and exceptional versatility as a performer is reminiscent of her Zombieland: Double Tap co-star Emma Stone. If she continues on her current trajectory, I think she'll be one of the best actors on the planet for the next several decades.

Best Film: The Disaster Artist (2017)
James Franco's adaptation of The Disaster Artist is pretty much perfect. The acting is sensational, the laughs are abundant and most importantly, it captures the warm spirit that exists underneath the stubborn, eccentric exterior of The Room mastermind Tommy Wiseau.    

Worst Film: Flower (2018)
All signs pointed to me enjoying Flower. It was a pretty engaging coming-of-age movie with a nice, morbid sense of humor and yet another commanding lead performance from Deutch. Then the last 10 minutes happened. The story takes a HARD left turn with a plot development that I can only describe as uncomfortable. Worst of all, this bizarre ending is presented as a heartwarming moment that changes the outlook of the bitter, sarcastic protagonist. What came before this gross finale was still enough to prevent Flower from being a dud, but this perplexing and tasteless writing choice undermines a lot of the positives that came before 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 “Black and Blue” star Frank Grillo.