Comedy's Biggest Stand-Up Won't Be Hollywood's Next Leading Man
The comedian Nate Bargatze is an indisputably titanic name in his field. He’s been the top-grossing stand-up in America for two years in a row, he hosted last year’s Emmys (albeit to mixed reviews), and he’s even planning on opening a theme park called Nateland in his hometown of Nashville. Consequently, there was every reason to think that his new movie, The Breadwinner, would break through with audiences; it’s a breezy comedy aimed squarely at families, ostensibly filling an underserved part of the market. But the film has been roundly dismissed by critics and theatergoers, basically disappearing from the box office after opening last week. Bargatze’s first effort as a leading man, it seems, is yet another reminder that even the country’s biggest performers might not be able to make a comedy into a theatrical hit anymore.
Comedy’s Biggest Stand-Up Won’t Be Hollywood’s Next Leading Man Nate Bargatze’s first leading role in the family comedy The Breadwinner has failed at the box office, despite his status as America’s top-grossing stand-up comedian. The film, a remake of Mr. Mom, is criticized for its outdated jokes and Bargatze’s excessively laid-back performance, which struggles to carry a movie. Despite a talented supporting cast and some stylish direction, the movie’s visual flatness and heavy product placement make it feel uncinematic, ultimately failing to connect with modern audiences accustomed to bolder cinematic breakthroughs.
- Nate Bargatze, a highly successful stand-up comedian, starred in the new family comedy The Breadwinner, which has failed at the box office.
- The film is a modern update of Mr. Mom but features dated jokes and Bargatze’s overly relaxed performance, which is deemed insufficient for a leading role.
- Despite a strong supporting cast and director Eric Appel’s previous stylish work, The Breadwinner is visually flat, filled with product placement, and perceived as too ordinary for today’s audience.
- The movie’s failure highlights a potential shift where even major comedy stars may struggle to make comedies theatrical hits in the current film industry.
No comments yet.
Write a comment