Will Smith: I Just Don't Get Him
 

There is really only one celebrity whose appeal baffles me and that is Will Smith. I don't know... is it just me? Obnoxious doesn't even begin to describe him.

I'd say the same about Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, and Reece Witherspoon. Actually most celebs nowadays.

I don't care for him all that much, but I'll admit that I've generally liked almost all the films I've seen of his. I also get why many like this man the way they do.

He comes across as a "nice guy" who's not a troublemaker, he's scandal and controversy free, and he seems like a decent role model. His acting is "pretty good" even if it's the same character in almost every damn role; but mind you, this works in his favor since many like what he does and how he does it.

I have to admit, I think he's come a very long way as an actor. I never really watched "Fresh Prince" and thought he was pretty much doing the same schtick in the Bad Boys and Men in Black films, as well as ID4 and Wild Wild West, but he's always been charming.

I think the real changes for me came with Hitch, where he actually held his own as a romanctic leading man, equally balancing humor and vulnerbility. His next two performances, in The Pursuit of Happyness and I Am Legend, just flat out blew me away. His performance as a struggling father was just heartbreaking, and even though this is going to sound lame, when he cried at the end, I did too.

I Am Legend was also very, very intense. I'm not an acting aficianado by any means, but I think his scene in the video store, when he's finally saying "hi" is powerful on so many levels. And even though his next movie, Hancock was a disappointment, he managed to pull off being an asshole really well.

What it really comes down to is that the guy knows how to pick a part. He knows how to find strongly developed characters in good screenplays, so even though he isn't the best actor in the world, his improving skills combine with a good role to deliver something really important.

As it would happen, I have ZERO interest in this new movie, but I'm sure Smith will deliver.

I think we had a thread about this a year ago. :p

I don't see what's obnoxious about him. Like Giantrobo said, he just comes across as a really nice down to earth guy without any quirks or controversies around him (Scientology rumors not withstanding).

I've loved watching him since Fresh Prince... I think he's a really funny guy.

let alone his first movie 'Six Degrees of Seperation' which cemented the fact that he COULD act, and not just do comedy from his tv work.

Agreed -- I briefly met him last weekend (he was in town to promote Seven Pounds). His "nice guy" persona carried-over into real life. Was pleasantly surprised.

Obnoxious? This thread is way more obnoxious than Smith will ever be. Dull maybe. Obnoxious? You must have him confused with someone else. I'm not even a fan of the guy either.

back in the fresh prince days he did a movie called The Six Degrees of Separation which was based on a Broadway play. His first real acting role. He played a gay homeless man who snuck into people's homes to sleep by pretending to be their kids' harvard classmate

1. He's not in the tabloids for doing stupid things
2. He seems like a nice guy.
3. He appears to have a stable family life
4. He's in successful movies.

How dare he!!!

I was surprised at how good he was in this. I enjoy his "likable wise-guy" film persona too.

Try this thread about the same thing. Maybe you can find the answer you're looking for there.

Will Smith - I can't stand this egomaniac, am I alone?

:lol:


If Smith can stay away from sequels and rip-offs of his own movies, I don't see him making too many bad choices.

I dont get his appeal either. Same with Adam Sandler or Jack Black.

Not a big fan of him, mainly beacuse the image cemented in my mind is his wise-cracking irritating turns in movies such as Independence Day. Since I have no interest in most of the mainstream movies he makes, it's not a big problem for me.

Aww, hell no, I don't get his appeal!

.

Yeah, I think the OP has confused Will Smith with Eddie Murphy. ;)

I wish he would do more R-rated movies. Tom Cruise may be a mega superstar, too, but he does a lot of R-rated movies.

I get the feeling he is pretty arrogant. I remember he did a music video where a flat-bed drove through Philadelphia, and the song was about how great he is and how much money he makes. That seemed like a douche move.

Of course, releasing horrible, myopic, self-centered music is what being a rapper is all about . . . and that's where he got his start. He's put forth a couple of solid performances on screen, but nothing too special. With that said, as many have mentioned, we could rattle off dozens of celebrities far more obnoxious than Will Smith.

I would love to see Bad Boys 3.

I came in here to say this! :lol:

Bad Boys II is EPIC.

He gets my respect for that, and that alone.

< Consistent answers in both threads. :up:

Yes, its just you.

Ah, people who start bashing threads looking for some cheap-ass comfort in thinking they aren't alone in their bullshit hateful opinions about people, whoever they may be...

Fuck them.

Yeah, I'd call that a personal attack.

He is one of my least favorite actors EVER for many of the same reasons Tom Hanks is my #1 all-time least favorite actor, but on both accounts to be dumb enough to "baffled why people like him", you are just being "that guy". I clearly get why people like him, although I am baffled as to what is funny about him, his endless one-liners make me cringe. I just find Will Smith utterly & completely boring & uninteresting, which sums up every performance I've ever seen him in.

I can't stand, A-list actors that never, ever take roles that are challenging or willing to portray them in a negative light. It just comes off like an ego thing to me (aside from a lack of skill in his craft), like he can't stand having people actually not like him. On top of that, what Will Smith movies I have seen, which haven't been that many, are just abysmally dreadful & painful to sit through. ID4 (although I've never seen the whole thing), MiB (only seen the 1st one), the stupid CGI robot movie, Ali (a role he clearly took b/c he felt it's a perfectly packaged Hollywood ticket to getting an Oscar). I do have to admit I like Bad Boys though.

But, obviously my opinions are wrong b/c all you have to do is look at his box office track record & the weekly "what are you buying" lists at this forum to see that everyone loves this man.

You must be a parent, 'cause you just don't understand.

Well at least you know :)

you said it, not me :D

I'm not a big fan of his films, but his broad appeal is easy to understand. He's a charismatic, confident leading man who is non-threatening enough to appeal to white audiences, yet has enough style and (admittedly mild) street cred to not be viewed as a bland sell-out by African-Americans. There was an Onion headline a few years ago that summed him up perfectly: "Will Smith: The Black Man Everyone At Work Can Agree On".

Only thing I didn't like about him is his performance in ID4 in which he was the only one clowning around in the movie with the wisecracks. And he seemed to think that he was the reason ID4 and MEN IN BLACK were hits. And during the ALI press tour he was very obnoxious.

I'm speechless. I almost walked out of the theater on that one it was so dreadful. More like EPIC Failure.

I'm with everyone else. You can dislike his film choices, but it's hard not to like the guy. He's level headed, avoids the tabloids and has a stable home life. I don't see how anyone could find him obnoxious.

I liked Bad Boys 2 as well, except it went on for 15 minutes too long. :)

Well, in all fairness, as an actual film with a plot, good performances, remarkable score and Oscar winning cinematography, yes it fails. None of those things are to be found anywhere near this.

But as a "dude, watch me blow this shit up" movie, it succeeds. Ten fold.

I totally agree! Except I'm a big fan of his movies I like many of his roles. Especially Bad Boys II...hahaha when he tells Martin Lawrence during an ugly car chase if his butthole puckered up :lol:

I also like him in I-Robot.

How completely awful for you :(
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That's the kind of movie I was expecting to see. It still failed.

Whatever. Most of his movies are good.

I love the Bad Boys movies. If you didn't see him playing a loudmouth, obnoxious douchebag, with a kinda' soft-side we were watching different flicks. I think that's what they were going for. The movie is called Bad Boys. If you want 'Nice Guys', watch Turner and Hooch or something.

I would say that Mike Lowery (Bad Boys) is his least redeeming character. Lets see... In "ID4", he plays a high and mighty Air Force pilot. In "Ali", he played a boxer with a widely-pubilcized ego. "Men in Black", he kind of 'comes around'. In "I Am Legend" and 'Pursuit.Happiness', he plays honorable characters.

I hear he's one of the most devoted, reliable actors out there. Don't forget that filmmakers make movies and work on sets and stuff. Critics (in general) seem to think that movies just 'get made' and the [the critics] don't seem to understand that it's a job - real live work. It's not just a fantasy-land. Where, in fact, shooting schedules, sets, etc. just rip you right out of the moments that we actually see on screen. Just creating a convincing movie is a task that requires talent.

Now he's getting his son into movies. I've got not problem with that. Get 'em early. With the proper work ethic and discipline, he'll just naturally into a good actor. I don't get how people can criticize child actors. I mean, what were YOU doing when you were like ten-or-so? Probably picking your nose and playing video games.

Anyways, whatever - life goes on. I think I posted in that thread from around a year ago, too.