Romantic Leads Who Lacked Chemistry

[emuboy]

When producing romance and romantic-comedy films, casting two leads who have chemistry between them is very important. Sometimes this works well - for example Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett were perfect for their leads in Titanic, and were again outstanding together in Revolutianary Road 12 years later. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling were a perfect match for each other in The Notebook, with Geena Rowlands and James Garner also well matched playing the older versions in the characters. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore have teamed succesfully twice in romantic comedies - The Wedding Singer and Fifty First Dates, while in the past such pairings as Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh and Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made for classic films.

But sometimes, good actors are cast in such roles and for one reason or another there is just no chemistry between them. One recent example was a film I saw on a plane - Dear John. Leads Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried are very good actors, but for some reason they just didn't seem to click here. It was a similar story in romantic comedy Along Came Polly several years ago, where Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston seemed to be a mismatch. After watching this, I wondered if things would have been different if Debra Messing had tackled the role of Polly, and Jennifer Aniston had played the cheating bride Lisa.

Which other films can you think of where you found a lack of chemistry between the leads?

[Atheist]

Anyone + Nicole Kidman.

[matt_897]

Those two of the show Bones, terrible, terrible show.

[Warsaw]

For the better romantic leads, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, two fantastic films, with two fantastic performances.

[Atheist]

I watched Stranger Than Fiction the other night. It's easily Will Ferrel's best film. I thought he had pretty good chemistry with female lead Maggie Gyllenhall.

[RobbyRoy]

Christian Bale's one good actor who's always seemed to lack chemistry with his female co stars. I thought it was decent with Rebecca Hall in The Prestige, but he usually struggles on that front. I don't like Daniel Day Lewis as a romantic actor either, but I'm sure many will disagree.

[Dirtywhirl]

Jeniffer Aniston and Catherine Zeta-Jones always struggle. Hayden Christiansen and Natalie Portman in the prequels.

[Financialpanther]

I think Renee Zelwegger is a complete struggle with any costars.

[Kid Presentable]

Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan in Proof of Life. He may well have been up to his nuts in guts, but had no chemistry on the screen.

[james Dean]

. Hayden Christiansen and A Camera in the prequels.
Edited for accuracy

[Pessimistic]

Anyone + Nicole Kidman.

Moulin Rouge.

Fantastic film ruined by "broom up your arse" stiffness by the two lead actors


Also reminds me of first night where Binoches' guinevere was supposed to have an affair withRichard gere as lancelot, spurning Sean connery as King arthur.

Trouble is she obviously dug Connery and was cold on Gere -it really showed through.

Apparenly Gere wasnt very happy at the hit his ego took


I also heard that the male leads in Bridget jones and the piano were switched after casting. Too bad the age difference prevented that in First night

[Bosun]

Also reminds me of first night where Binoches' guinevere was supposed to have an affair withRichard gere as lancelot, spurning Sean connery as King arthur.

Trouble is she obviously dug Connery and was cold on Gere -it really showed through.

Apparenly Gere wasnt very happy at the hit his ego took



Think you mean Julia Ormond but wholeheartedly agree. Though it really looked like Sean Connery didnt want to be there at all. It was a shocking movie.

[Shell]

Ok, this one comes from left field a bit (and not a movie), but was watching Six Feet Under last night and it struck me how the two brothers (altho not of the romantic kind) have great chemistry together- the characters of Nate and David.

And imo David and his actual lover Keith dont have great chemistry- so go figure. :D

[Noddy Holder]

Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal

[Wallaby]

The Big Blue is a fascinating Luc Besson movie from the late 80s. It's about a Frenchman and Italian who were childhood friends/rivals who both become free-divers and chase the world record. Unfortunately, the backers must have decided they needed a 'big-name american star' for the US audiences.

So they got in Rosanna Arquette. It is quite clear that her scenes were grafted onto the screenplay to create the love interest. The director has no interest in making her character at all interesting, and the French guy (who she's supposed to be in love with) looks at her like she's an annoying bug.