Miscast

Ever watch a movie and think, "I just can't see [insert actor or actress] in that role?"

The last two movies I watched were plagued with this problem. I had to watch Pretty Woman for my romantic comedy screenwriting class, and while I enjoyed it (a little too much, I'm embarrassed to say), I kept thinking, "Julia Roberts is the most unconvincing hooker EVER." Seriously. Prostitutes don't have that many teeth. And Jason Alexander as the sleazy lawyer? All I kept thinking was, "Why is George Costanza doing this?!" Of course, that's not a miscast, that's just my cultural perceptions getting in the way.

Today I watched a little known movie called A Price Above Rubies, which stars Renee Zellweger as a discontented Hasidic Jewish woman. Really, Renee Zellweger? I mean, she played the part as best as she could, but I still snickered every time she said Yiddish words like "schtupped." Her fellow Jews were played by Julianna Margulies and Edie Falco. *headdesk*

What are these casting directors smoking? Is it me?