7. Jane Lynch, Wreck-It Ralph
As I watched Wreck-It Ralph, I thought to myself, this must have spent a lot of time in production. I mean that mostly as a compliment, as the details and storytelling are endlessly rewarding, and it is clear that a lot of passion and time went into this project. However, the one sore spot was Jane Lynchs voice casting. While Lynch has been working for a while, her surge in popularity came alongside the premiere of Glee in 2009. After that, it seemed that everyone wanted to work with her. However, as Glee declined in critical favor, Lynch seemed to bear a lot of the criticism for her dully brash one-liners and unstable characterization. Because of this, Lynchs voice grates immediately upon her first line in Wreck-It Ralph, especially because she doesnt bother to change her intonation much from her work as Sue Sylvester. In addition, her harsh voice doesnt quite match the look of the character. This bit of casting can only be seen as lazy and simplistic, and the decision was clearly made when Lynch was still a hot ticket. If Im casting a no-nonsense military sergeant in an animated comedy, of course my first thought is Jane Lynch, but is the easiest decision always the best?
6. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina, in all its purposefully artificial glory, seems to have been cast with the members of a repertory theatre company. Some people, such as Keira Knightley and Alicia Vikander, fit in quite nicely. Some, such as Jude Law and Domhnall Gleeson, may seem physically off-kilter but make up for it in performance. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, however, is a huge question mark across the board. Physically, he doesnt fit, lacking a true magnetism that would explain Annas affection for him. More importantly, however, Johnson is a boy in mans clothing. The film attempts to portray him as an equal to everyone else, but when he finds himself in a love triangle with Knightley and Law, two incredibly refined and mature actors, both Johnson and his character shrink. I never shook the idea that I might be watching a high school boy playing a role meant for a grown man.