There are very few things in a film that take you out of the experience like when the two romantic leads have no chemistry. You are trying to watch a story that is evolving about two people falling in love, yet, you can tell there is no spark between these two. It is like being forced to sit through a two hour meal with your aunt and uncle who you can tell only pretend to like each other for every one else’s sake. The thing is, if this is a two hour movie you are talking about, and a core element of your movie is the believably of these two falling in love and/or desiring each other, your film will fail if your two leads have no chemistry.
Here, for your consideration on the subject, twelve on-screen couples who had no chemistry…….
Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets – We are not condemning the film at all, which was surprisingly enjoyable. We are simply calling out the fact that there was nothing believable about the romantic spark between Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson in this film. Truth is, Helen Hunt almost seemed a little scared of him.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in Gigli – The irony here being that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were an off-screen couple as well, but you could not tell from watching these two force their flirting in this abysmal movie. Gobble gobble. If you have seen the film and get that reference, I feel bad for you.
Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp in The Tourist – So what happens when you get the two most attractive and well known actors of the time, and place them in a movie opposite of each other? You get no chemistry, that’s what. This one still shocks us considering Angelina Jolie is a goddess and Johnny Depp seems like such a cool cat.
What went wrong here? Image source
Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman in The Star Wars Prequels – We will totally blame this one on Hayden Christensen, as Natalie Portman is a stunning creature, and to not have chemistry with her must mean you need to get your pulse checked. But seriously, for a huge movie, these two had no chemistry at all, which was just one of the many sour notes the prequels hit with the fans.
Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in Australia – The problem with the lack of chemistry between Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in the movie Australia was, that was the whole selling point of this admittedly epic film which went on to be an admittedly epic box office fail. In this case, no chemistry between the leads cost the studio millions.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in Twilight Series – Again, much like the Gigli example up above, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson may have been a real life couple, but between her stammering, and his pale looks of self doubt, these two had about as mark spark as a broken Zippo lighter.
Ah, felt nice to get that out of our system. Image Source
Anne Heche and Harrison Ford in Six Days, Seven Nights – Sometimes, not only is there no chemistry between your two leads in a film, but you add that to the fact that it may be a bad film to begin with and you have a perfect storm of fail. This one did not boil down to an age difference between the leads, which some felt was to blame for the lack of chemistry. It just boiled down to the fact that Harrison Ford and Anne Heche obviously were not attracted to each other in any way.
Perhaps better casting would have led to be a better film, but we’ll never know. Image source
Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Pullman in Mr. Wrong – Not for nothing, but the writers of this film had no idea how accurate the name of this film would be. Both Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Pullman are great actors in their own rights, but the romance between these two felt awkwardly forced.
Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte in I Love Trouble – So, you didn’t know Nick Nolte and Julia Roberts made a film together in the 90’s where they ended up together? Do you know the reason you didn’t know that? Because there was no chemistry between the two. Actually, no chemistry is us still being kind. Is Julia Roberts so good an actress she can convince you she is attracted to Nick Nolte? No. No she isn’t.
Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler in Bounty Hunter – A movie that felt phoned in by two leads who could have done better at convincing us they were meant to be together, when they hardly seemed meant to be together in the same room. Note this lack of chemistry with co-stars is a running theme in Jennifer Anniston and Gerard Butler’s careers, oddly enough.
Paul Rudd and Tina Fey for Admission – Tina Fey is one of those “everybody loves her” people, especially when it comes to intellectual men.Paul Rudd is one of those “everybody loves him” people, especially when it comes to mature, successful woman. So it makes sense these two would work on screen, right? Yes, in thoery. In execution is another story, though, and this film just did not have the spark it should have between these two.
Rosie O’ Donnell and Dan Akroyd in Exit To Eden – You know what? When it comes to no chemistry, file this one under “kind of makes sense”. We have a nagging feeling some casting directors were probably fired for this one. So what couple on film do you think had no chemistry? Take to the comments and let us know. Best comment wins the pride of knowing we think you’re right, and just like chemistry, you just can’t force that.
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