MovieChat Forums > Friends with Kids (2012) Discussion > Chris O'Dowd's Accent

Chris O'Dowd's Accent

posted 13 years ago by ellenrs3
10 replies | jump to latest

I have MUCH love for Chris O'Dowd (big fan of IT Crowd), but that American accent was awful. He sounded like he was from Minnesota half the time (being from Wisconsin the accent is familiar to me). What would have been so wrong with him just keeping his Irish accent?

Love the guy, but just a bad, bad attempt at an accent.

[–] Ginsu Victim 13 years ago

The fake accent was bad enough to make sure I never watch this. Chris' Irish accent is AWESOME and he should never stray from it.

[–] proodense 13 years ago

I totally agree. There is absolutely NO reason he couldn't have maintained his natural accent here. his american accent was not that good to begin with and in my opinion it hindered his delivery. It seemed too forced, not natural... They really neutered Chris in this film and I feel bad. Also I didn't really like the movie - Adam Scott's character was a total douche with no redeemable qualities, and the comparisons to "Bridesmaids" really misled my expectations. This film didn't have too many laughs, much more in tune with the "dramatic" side than comedic.

[–] lkrobinson26 13 years ago

Really? I thought he sounded totally fine. I didn't know his background or anything so he actually had me wondering if his Irish accent in Bridesmaids had been the fake one.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Ash00456 13 years ago

I was wondering the same thing. Knowing many of his other performances, I couldn't help but feel like he was putting all his efforts into delivering that strange accent, and leaving none for the acting; it felt overly forced. I had to turn the movie off after 30 minutes, because I couldn't believe what I was seeing. They should have kept his original accent.

[–] porcelain_god2000 12 years ago

An Irish accent is strange? I completely agree that taming his accent was very distracting. Think of Sean Connery trying to talk with an American accent.

[–] Ash00456 12 years ago

I was referring to the accent that he was acting as strange. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I heard that :)

[–] rossjohnson2806 12 years ago

It was insanely bad, after the hearing it on the first day shooting how could they not have just told him to talk normally.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] shonoffilm 12 years ago

I used suspension of disbelief, a rarity among moviegoers, and assumed his character wasnt originally from the USA and his native accent was still lingering. All Americans dont sound like stereotypical Americans (which includes all regional American accents). Heck, his character may have lived in America due to his marriage but he may not have been a citizen.