MovieChat Forums > Tamara Drewe (2010) Discussion > Again, the token American in a British e...

Again, the token American in a British ensemble film is a moron

posted 14 years ago by F_Gump
13 replies | jump to latest

I can think of about a dozen examples from Four Weddings and a Funeral to Gosford Park, to Peter's Friends to A Fish Called Wanda, etc, etc, etc. The one exception seems to be Richard Curtis who actually portrays his American characters as human beings with strengths & weaknesses rather than dumb stereotypes. The Laura Linney character in "Love Actually", the Julia Roberts character in "Notting Hill" and the Phillip Seymour Hoffman character in "Pirate Radio" are all recognizable human beings & not loud, clueless freaks from the lesser side of the Atlantic.

abcdefg hijklm nopqrst uvwxyz

[–] anything-19 14 years ago

Rubbish. He was intelligent, sensitive and affable, and ended up being the shoulder for Beth to cry on.

[–] London78 14 years ago

Why are Brits always portrayed as evil baddies in 90% of American films? Goes both ways!

[–] iseepinkelefants 14 years ago

Oh please you could say that about Russians, Germans and Middle Easterners. The only reason British actors seem to get these roles is because their accents are easier to understand. I can't even remember the last time I saw a British baddie (they're usually playing other nationalities). If anything Brits saturate about 40% of Hollywood films and tv, playing both good and bad characters.

In all my time watching Brit tv, if there is the very rare off chance there's an American on it (and not American tv shown in the UK), they're daft and too nice. Funny how you don't see the Brit stereotype on American tv.

If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all

[–] Flossieandflo 14 years ago

Completely agree anything-19, he was everything you say - intelligent, sensitive and affable - how could anyone not want Beth to end up with him? The moron was Nicholas Hardiment, who was of course an Englishman.

[–] ADawn07 14 years ago

I love your signature.

BUT, not a big fan of your comment.I don't like blanket statements. Usually, the person saying them comes off as the knob....not those it was directed at. Just saying.

I am a Usasion....and almost everybody I know is aware of a fair amount of international films. Especially British comedies...because, as a whole, I and many of my friends and family members, prefer British comedy to Usasion comedy. And British drama. And I am not the only Usasion who would tell you this with complete honesty. So, perhaps you should consider that you don't really know what you are talking about.

Anyway, good day to you. :)

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ADawn07 14 years ago

Haha. I actually have said that statement to a few people. Only one of them disagreed with me. I think it was more for her love of Steve Carrell. Which I don't get...I prefer Gervais. But, alas, the person that disagreed is family...so I have to love her anyway. ;)

By the way, I am a female. I still appreciate the thoughtful "good day", though. And, back at you.

[–] Halftoncheeseburger 13 years ago

Ha, most of The Office fans I know would say the UK version is better, or they say they're so different that you can't really compare them. We don't get a lot of British marketing over here, Hollywood kind of drowns it out. Those of us who seek something different out find gems like this, if only several years after they're released.

I've seen the silly American stereotype before, I don't get mad though. I see far too many stupid people here to get upset about an accurate portrayal.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] randommovies2002 14 years ago

I thought the American writer was sweet, and as he pointed out to Nicholas, he had integrity, which is one of many qualities Nicholas lacked. Nicholas was the moron.

Richard Curtis wrote Four Weddings and a Funeral; the Carrie character is what everyone HATES about that film. Julia Roberts isn't exactly likeable in Notting Hill, and Laura Linney's character in Love Actually was actually written as an English woman but was changed during casting because Curtis kept saying he wanted to cast someone "like Laura Linney" but couldn't find anyone right for the part so he finally decided why not just cast Laura Linney herself?

[–] AZINDN 14 years ago

I didn't find the American character necessarily moronic, but he certainly presented the nebbish in some American males that exists among the intellectual academic set today. However, the teen girls, Jody and her BFF were certainly depicted in a little witches from hell formula representation.

-- If Ewan McGregor were a lollipop I'd be a diabetic strumpet --

[–] AssetsonFire 13 years ago

The irony of your username hasn't gone unnoticed. But you do realise that Richard Curtis wrote Four Weddings? And as for Wanda, they were all morons in that film.

[–] saintanger3 12 years ago

Well it makes a change for 90% of English characters being the villain in American flicks....