Colin Firth and Hugh Grant would have played the character differently, but I was surprised at how well Russell Crowe handled this romantic comedy, SO different from his usual far more dramatic work. He did do a comedy before that I know of, Mystery, Alaska. He's quite versatile!
shareActually, as much as I like Colin Firth, I highly enjoyed Russel Crowe in this! Like you, bonnie_j, I was quite impressed by his performance. He broke away from his usual dramatic roles, and it was a nice change.
"Don't care what people say. Don't give a damn about their laws." Édith Piaf
I was thinking that during the tennis scene - "I wonder if they tried to get Hugh Grant for this role?" He's certainly good at playing likeable *beep*
shareHugh Grant plays too cute. Crowe gave a far stronger and more interesting performance than Grant ever has or could.
shareFrank Z...agree with you completely.
shareFrank Z I also second that :) ..He was a real surprise actingwise , specially the Tennis Scene & the Victory dance ;)...Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute yet naughty
shareNo way - this wasn't a romantic comedy - Russell Crowe played this perfectly.
shareuhmm... no
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Another actor - different movie.
shareI was really impressed with Crowe in this film, he gave it some edge. Firth and Grant would have been far too wet for this part. Crowe has a natural arrogance and cockyness that the type of person he was portraying often display.
shareFirth can play arrogant and cocky. He plays D'arcy and Valmont for crissakes, lol.
Grant can play it also. He was that jerk in Bridget Jones.
Having said that, Crowe was a joy to watch in this. I don't think either of those guys would have been better even though they would have been good.
"What happens to a dream deferred?"
Hugh Grant would have turned the film into "just another Hugh Grant movie". I think Crowe did an excellent job. He broke away from his usual role and delivered a great performance. Russel gave the film a hilarious but slightly serious tone that Hugh Grant cannot.
"But the good news is; the whiskey works." -Bob, Lost In Translation
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