MovieChat Forums > The Gambler (2014) Discussion > Characters don't HAVE to be 'likeable' f...

Characters don't HAVE to be 'likeable' for you to care...

posted 9 years ago by ztraybllet
8 replies | jump to latest

No this movie didn't have an overly 'likeable' character, but that is no reason to dislike the movie.

I've seen plenty of movies that had likeable characters, however, I stopped caring because the movie itself would just drag.

Just as an example, I tried to watch the movie '3 Days to Kill' and Kevin Costner is pretty much the classic hero -- trying to make things right with his daughter, killing the baddies with ease, making jokes etc.

But I just didn't really feel for him or like the movie much.

During 'The Gambler', yeah I realised early on that this isn't a traditional hero and not really a good guy in the traditional sense -- but I still wanted to know what would happen, and what would become of him by the end.

It doesn't mean you have to agree or even 'like' the character, you can still be interested in them and their pursuit.

Not every movie needs a'Will Smith' or a 'Brad Cooper' for us to be invested in them.

It can still be fascinating.

(human nature, that is).

It can definitely work and is a nice change.

To me anyway!

[–] jack-fitzpatrick 9 years ago

Exactly!
They also don't have to be logically or even sane.
This movie was basically about an addict, he *beep* up his life over and over again and you can sort of see from his poit of view a little, but in all of our own bias ways we can also see that the guy is a dumb ass. That he put himself in these situations. In someways it's tragic and we sympathise, but in other ways we can see exactly how he got there.

I didn't particularly relate to the character but I think he was much more human compared to many other movie characters. He definitely had flaws and he was neither the hero nor the villian of the story. He was just a guy that happened to have a story worth telling.

3 days to kill was *beep* by the way lol

[–] AdvanceIstheMan 9 years ago

I agree with what you're saying. It's not that simple in terms of what makes a good movie, but when there's a flawed main character you expect to at least be able to look forward to their redemption. I thought Wahlberg's character here was annoying, unsympathetic and deserved all of the bad things crashing down on him. I was curious to see what happens just as I am with any movie I decide to commit a couple hours to, but there was nothing about the characters that had me invested beyond trying to make it to the end.

[–] seans_life 9 years ago

ztraybllet thanks for the post you made. Yes a movie can be good even if the main character or characters are not likeable.

[–] ztraybllet 9 years ago

ztraybllet thanks for the post you made. Yes a movie can be good even if the main character or characters are not likeable.



[–] vabrown81 9 years ago

Lol I didn't like Wahlberg's character but I still enjoyed watching him squirm his way out of sticky situations.

If he wanted to, I could see wahlderg doing about 2 more of these movies with him dealing with different loan sharks and drug lords and some how pulling off some big move to get himself out of the predicament in each movie. Proving to the viewers why he's "the gambler". Probably see his mom again too since i'm sure that's not the first time they butted heads like that and walked away from each other.
Good girls go to heaven, all the bad bitches come with me 

[–] Iceman373 9 years ago

You are VERY RIGHT my friend. This movie was clearly not supposed to make you LIKE Mark Wahlbergs character. It was meant for you to envy the black dude with the hat, John Goodmans character, and Mr. Lee(who didn't say much except nod his head and have his men beat the hell out of Mark Wahlbergs character...lol.)

Its actually pretty inspirational. The inspiration is to not be like Mark Wahlbergs character as much as possible and get yourself into a position where you are like the other guys(The winners.) Those that LOAN the debt, not take on the debt and *beep* themselves

Those that GET IT seem to like the movie, the others the point/message seemed to go over their heads....such a sadness. Nothing better than a movie that that teaches you things while still being entertaining in my opinion. By TEACHES YOU I also mean reinforces a message, not necessarily LEARN something.

I know some are thinking...WHERES THE ENTERTAINMENT??? Dialogue can be very entertaining. I know it doesn't have explosions and shiny objects that grab your attention like you are some sort of mentally handicapped *beep* But it is what it is...and its great!!!

(Yes, I know my punctuation isn't the best but my shift key isn't working.)

[–] vdipietro4 8 years ago

You don't have to debase others simply because they walked away with a different interpretation of a film than you. I enjoyed the satellite characters, but wouldn't at all call them winners. There are ton's of people to look up to that don't make their living off of breaking legs to collect debt.

[–] vdipietro4 8 years ago

I don't believe we're required to like a character to be able to enjoy a film, but for a film to be enjoyable we need to be able to relate to them or at least understand their motivations in some way. I'm finding that there are a few people on this board that can sympathize with Wahlberg's positions through the film, but for me there's nothing to grab on to. I understand that he's suffering from an addiction, but his actions endangered the people around him, and that to me is unforgivable. It's one thing to paint an image of addiction, but by letting your family and friends wellbeing become dependent on a figurative coin flip, that crosses the line from addiction to sociopathic behavior.