Favorite Characters from Bad Movies, Pt. 1

PART 2 

Sometimes cool characters just seem to get lost and end up in bad movies.  Here’s my list of characters unfortunate enough to have this happen to them.  A few disclaimers, though:

                -If there are two characters who stand out, I’ll dedicate a spot to them, but no more

                -If a minor character is also not significant enough, I might give them an honorable mention   

                under another character

                -I’m not including sequels if it they substantially feature likable recurring characters (Colonel

                Stuart (William Sadler) from Die Hard 2 gets an honorable mention, though)

              -Or sympathetic characters whose likability is too much of a given, such as the title character of

                Jack (1996)

30. SPEED

Steven Wright, The Swan Princess Series (1994-)

He’s a likable character overall, and I like how his dreary voice contrasts with the fact that he’s actually a rather positive person.

 

 29. GRU

Steve Carrell, Despicable Me Series (2010, 2013, 2017)

A pretty likable character with style and a lovable loser quality, but he’s not likable enough to carry the movies.  His name is also a nice historical allusion.

 28. MITTENS

Susie Essman, Bolt (2008)

Bolt is pretty much a rehash of Buzz Lightyear, and the hamster is a generic fanboy-like character, but Mittens is pretty complex.  She acts tough and intimidates birds with her claws for food, but she’s actually a frightened, de-clawed cat who was abandoned by her owners.  Also, kudos for using a relatively unknown voice-actress in a celebrity-dominated cast. 

HONORABLE MENTION: Penny and her mother, who both provide some good emotional moments.

 27. GOVERNOR RADCLIFFE

David Ogden Stiers, Pocahontas (1995)

One of the few interesting characters in this movie.  I like Stiers’ voice acting and this song.  Also, there’s this line.

HONORABLE MENTION: Meeko and Flit, the comic relief animals, do manage to be funny in one scene.

 26. OPAL

Geraldine Chaplin, Nashville (1975)

It’s been a while since I watched this movie, and I don’t remember being particularly impressed by it.  The only part of the movie I like is the scene in which she’s covering a junkyard full of cars in a forced attempt to be poetic.  Then again, it's been a while since I've seen the movie.

 

 25. ELI MICHAELSON

Alan Rickman, Nobel Son (2007)

It’s a completely underwhelming and missable movie aside from starring a snarky Alan Rickman.

 24. VIKTOR

Bill Nighy, Underworld: Evolution (2006), Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Nighy, apparently aware he’s in a mediocre movie, gives an enjoyably hammy performance in Evolution and even has a few good sarcastic lines in Rise of the Lycans.  I don't think he's amusing enough in the first movie to comment on here.

 23. AGENT HARRY LEE

Terry Chen, Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002)

The only good thing about this mediocre film (aside from the action scenes’ having their moments) is this mauveshirt who miraculously survives the movie despite showing the protagonist a photo of his family.  Respect.

 22. WHITTINGTON

Gregory Hines, Wolfen (1981)

A witty character, he was the only person in the movie I cared enough about to see live.  Unfortunately, he also happened to be the black character in a horror movie.  At least he did a funny double-take before the wolf killed him.

 21. BUTCH CAVENDISH

William Fichtner , The Lone Ranger (2013)

This isn’t going to be the last appearance William Fichtner on this list.  He seems to have a thing for being the redeeming feature of bad movies.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS FROM BAD MOVIES, PT. 2