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Lay Off Lindsay Lohan for Turning Down The Hangover
As expected, the tabloids are currently ripping into Lindsey Lohan, implying that she's an idiot for turning down The Hangover. Hindsight is 20/20 and actors turn down golden opportunities all the time. But this is a situation where Lohan's choice wasn't all that inexplicable, and may have been beneficial to all involved. First of all, you can't go on and on about what a big surprise the film's success was, then make fun of someone who didn't see it coming. Second of all, the role probably didn't seem all that appealing on paper. Heather Graham's role wasn't exactly a goldmine of rich material. She was the obligatory 'hot stripper with a heart of gold', written more as eye-candy than a fountain of comedy. She was a solution to a plot-problem ('we want them to find a baby in the hotel, but we can't have them chucking the kid around the whole movie'). And finally, Heather Graham's star has dimmed enough that she could blend right in with the B-level cast (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and Bowfinger were ten years ago), while Lohan's celebrity is still such that she would have stuck out like the gimmick casting that it probably was intended to be. Point being, the filmmakers should thank Lohan for turning down the picture.
Scott Mendelson
For more of this nature, including why Michael Bay is wrong to verbally attack Megan Fox, and why Michael Bay might now wish that he kept his mouth shut, go to Mendelson's Memos.
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Actually I think this is a phony story planted by Lohans publicist. With her insurability problems there is no way that a smaller picture running on a tight budget would have EVER tried to hire her. She is just trying to get people in hollywood to think that people are still trying to hire her. Remember, just a few months ago she claimed to be putting together a movie with Sean Penn.......um, haven't heard anything about that either.
HATED the movie!!!!!! Didn't think it was funny until the very end.. when the singer starting singing...
Was a waste of my time!! Bruno, on the other hand!!!!..Was funny as hell!!..IMHO!!
Sob! Leave Lindsay ALOOONNNEEE! SOB!
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Oh, do grow up. :)
Two points, Scott.
First, The Hangover was a much, much better film for not having Lohan in it. She did everyone, except perhaps herself, a favor when she turned it down. Any actress who is as self-absorbed as she is can't help but come across as a phony on screen.
Second, Heather Graham may not be considered one of Hollywood's elite leading ladies but she's far superior in every conceivable way to Lohan. At least Heather can actually bring something besides her bloated ego and rail-thin physique to a role. Lohan has celebrity like Paris Hilton has celebrity; pathetic, empty and ultimately quite boring.
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Then we agree to... uh, agree!
"First of all, you can't go on and on about what a big surprise the film's success was, then make fun of someone who didn't see it coming."
Why Not?!
If you can't snark at Lindsey Lohan who can you snark at?
By the way, Mr Mendelson, THANK YOU for the first non-Michael-Jackson-related post in days! The absence of any celebrity-death-obsession in this piece was a breath of fresh air.
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Appreciated, but I'm sure the main reason this shot to the top of the page so quickly is because it was about equally tabloid-friendly Lindsey Lohan.
I see the parallel. Both are controversial white women who were successful as children and became punchlines as they grew older. I agree with mredder4 in giving you thanks for being one of the few to write about something other than Michael Jackson in the last two weeks.
It acutally worked out better for the film that Lindsay Lohan turned the role down. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have seen it if I heard that she was attached to it. I loved the movie, so it worked out for me, but I disagree with the premise of Mendelson's argument that her choice "wasn't all that inexplicable." I don't know if you've noticed, but her career is in shambles, few directors want to work with her, and her last few movies have been just awful (Georgia Rule, I Know Who Killed Me, Labor Pains). The only way she can salvage what's left of her reputation is to take roles exactly like this one. Someone in her position shouldn't exactly be turning down many roles that aren't in the porno classification.
I say take the porn gigs. Sasha Grey was in a Soderbergh film, at least. I'm sure she could pull down a fat paycheck for some DVDA.
It's a shame
I really hope Lindsay Lohan can get herself the help she needs.
For all her faults, she is a decent actress and I wish her well.
If she doesn't put on some weight, the only help she'll need in few months will be from a undertaker.
Makes sense to me. I don't understand the fuss at all. I got dragged to see Hangover and thought it was really dumb. BUT hey, whatever floats the kegger crowd's boat.....
I'm in my 50's and thought the movie was a riot!
Loved Mike Tyson!
I'm glad it worked out this way. As you said, Lohan would have been a distraction because of the attention and baggage attached to her. While I've no doubt she has some talent (that we have, hopefully, only seen sparks of in her earlier work before her life became a tabloid frenzy) and while maybe someday she'll get herself together and prove it, her body of work these days is sorely lacking. Heather Graham, on the other hand, while never reaching celebrity superstardom, has a respectable resume and is considered halfway decent at her craft. I don't see her doing Shakespeare anytime soon, but I've always enjoyed and respected her performances. She is very strong in comedic roles and, as a sweet, silly and somewhat ditzy hot chick, was perfect for this movie.
And, because it bears saying, Heather Graham at close to 40 is still way, way more beautiful than Lindsey Lohan.
Nah, they're both hot.
Nice to know Ms. Lohan has the blog equivalent of the viral YouTube vid of the guy who cries while defending Britney Spears.
maybe lindsay turned it down because she thought they were making a documentary about her life?
Plus, she JUST PLAYED A STRIPPER a couple films ago.
It may not have been the success it is with Lindseys name in the credits!
You argue "[f]irst of all, you can't go on and on about what a big surprise the film's success was, then make fun of someone who didn't see it coming. "
I submit that you seriously underestimate the capacity of the average American to ignore cognitive dissonance.
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Can't = should not or must not.
No argument there :)
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