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-   -   Least likable protagonist (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/620789-least-likable-protagonist.html)

davidlynchfan 06-24-14 05:49 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Not getting Grouchoed. Need more 2nd, 3rd opinions..

johnnysd 06-24-14 05:50 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt (Post 12149239)
The OP started with a Coen Bros. film, so immediately FARGO popped into my head. William Macy's character is pretty shifty. I guess some would argue that Francis McDormand's character is the protagonist, but I think Macy is more of the "lead" role.

I thought Macy in many ways was sympathetic actually. He was not completely dislikeable, just made some REALLY bad choices.

Rockmjd23 06-24-14 06:01 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
The main family in War of the Worlds (2005). All three of them were insufferable, and at least one of them was apparently immortal.

GoldenJCJ 06-24-14 06:19 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt (Post 12149239)
The OP started with a Coen Bros. film, so immediately FARGO popped into my head. William Macy's character is pretty shifty. I guess some would argue that Francis McDormand's character is the protagonist, but I think Macy is more of the "lead" role.

Watch the TV series. William H. Macy's character looks downright angelic by comparison.

Me007gold 06-24-14 06:26 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Christian Slater in Broken Arrow

Ky-Fi 06-24-14 06:37 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by Why So Blu? (Post 12148744)
The lead kid in Attack the Block. Hell, the whole gang of project thieves were assholes and I hated that movie due to their dumb asses.

Agree, and I think that was a real misstep in that film, which was otherwise pretty fun. If they had made the kids lame, wanna-be gangsters instead of actual would-be rapists and drug dealers, I think the whole film would have worked better.

Hazel Motes 06-24-14 08:32 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
any Dane Cook or Dax Sheppard protagonist.

HN 06-24-14 09:08 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
The spring breakers in Spring Breakers.

Adam sandler in many movies

Abob Teff 06-24-14 09:15 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
I can't believe Anakin hasn't gotten more votes. He was the first one to pop to mind. How about Jar Jar?

Has there ever been a movie series where the protaganist was so disliked the filmmaker flipped him to the antagonist in the sequel? I'm not talking about cases like Star Wars where this was always the intended story arc.

GoldenJCJ 06-24-14 09:23 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by Abob Teff (Post 12149432)
Has there ever been a movie series where the protaganist was so disliked the filmmaker flipped him to the antagonist in the sequel? I'm not talking about cases like Star Wars where this was always the intended story arc.

And can't think of protagonist to antagonist but Schwarzenegger was changed from the antagonist to protagonist in the Terminator movies.

UAIOE 06-24-14 09:27 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Kevin Costner as Robin Hood. I really wanted two hours of Alan Rickman's Sheriff getting frustrated at stuff.

Strapped4Cash 06-24-14 09:33 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
I've never seen Boxing Helena, but I can't imagine someone who likes having their limbs chopped off, or the person who did the chopping, being very likable. Though supposedly the people in the necrophilia film Kissed (which I didn't watch either) had likability, so I don't know.

Rockmjd23 06-24-14 10:32 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by Abob Teff (Post 12149432)
Has there ever been a movie series where the protaganist was so disliked the filmmaker flipped him to the antagonist in the sequel? I'm not talking about cases like Star Wars where this was always the intended story arc.

I think Van Damme's character in Universal Soldier became the villain in one of the DTV sequels. It's not an example of being disliked, but I can't think of any other times something like that has happened.

Brack 06-24-14 10:40 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by Strapped4Cash (Post 12149448)
I've never seen Boxing Helena, but I can't imagine someone who likes having their limbs chopped off, or the person who did the chopping, being very likable. Though supposedly the people in the necrophilia film Kissed (which I didn't watch either) had likability, so I don't know.

It's not a very good movie, but I don't think anyone was supposed to like or relate to the main character of Boxing Helena at all.

Brack 06-24-14 10:54 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Tom Green's character from Freddy Got Fingered.

Michael Corvin 06-24-14 11:25 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by Brack (Post 12149528)
Tom Green

You could have stopped there.

Brack 06-24-14 11:27 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
I liked him in Road Trip. :shrug:

davidh777 06-24-14 11:31 PM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Coincidentally, I'm watching Ferris Bueller right now since my kid wanted to find out what the fuss is about. I realize everyone else loves Ferris, though.

Brack 06-25-14 01:14 AM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Ferris is really that unlikeable? He didn't help his friend Cameron?

joliom 06-25-14 01:38 AM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
I'm guessing the OP meant protagonists that are intended to be likable but come off as dislikable anyway, as opposed to protagonists that were always meant to be seen as dislikable. If not, then you could include:

- Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange
- Mark Harmon in The Deliberate Stranger
- Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
- Benoit Poelvoorde in Man Bites Dog
- Charlize Theron in Monster

etc., etc.

Charlie Goose 06-25-14 05:59 AM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Charlie Sheen in PLATOON

Richard Gere in PRETTY WOMAN

Keanu Reeves in POINT BREAK

Jaymole 06-25-14 07:19 AM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Lena Dunham in Tiny Furniture

kefrank 06-25-14 08:38 AM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 
Lena Dunham in anything.

RoboDad 06-25-14 09:46 AM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by Rockmjd23 (Post 12148967)
The girls in Death Proof. I was rooting for Kurt Russell.

That's true, but let's be honest. When Kurt Russell is in a movie, everyone automatically roots for him. The guy is just naturally likeable. Even as Snake Plissken.

But also, I'll add one more vote for Anakin. Yeesh.

Jaymole 06-25-14 10:13 AM

Re: Least likable protagonist
 

Originally Posted by kefrank (Post 12149710)
Lena Dunham in anything.

I've been lucky, other than Tiny Furniture, I have not seen anything else she is in.

I still can't believe some critics were comparing her to Woody Allen.


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