Where’s the Love for Vince and Ben?
Vaughn, Taylor, Stiller
An interesting pattern is emerging during the voting so far for this year’s Earmuff Award Nominees. It’s no surprise that the critically acclaimed box office successes I Love You, Man and The Hangover are doing well in the voting. What is a surprise is that two box office champs from two beloved Frat Pack stars are not doing well.
Both Ben Stiller’s Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Vince Vaughn’s Couples Retreat were $100 million blockbusters. But you wouldn’t know that from the Earmuff voting. In fact, their vote totals so far are much closer to the maligned Frat Pack counterparts Year One and Land of the Lost than the titles mentioned above. With Land of the Lost, I get it (and today’s Razzie nominations were brutal to the Will Ferrell film). I happen to have liked Year One and even voted for it in several categories. But, for that film, even I “get it.” Not beloved by audiences or even fans of Jack Black, Michael Cera, Judd Apatow, or (certainly) Harold Ramis.
But with Stiller and Vaughn I’m puzzled. Both films had great ensembles and many memorable moments. Neither is the best in either actor’s canon but I guess I’d have expected them to garner much better support than they are currently receiving. I won’t break down the voting per se, but let’s just say that if you’re a fan of either actor or movie they both could use your vote.
I’m not going to give Vince my vote just because I’m a fan. I wouldn’t have even nominated him (had I voted).
I thought Couples Retreat was just as bad as Land of the Lost and Year One, NATM2 was very average, nothing earmuff worthy.