10 Insufferable Rom-Com Leads That Don't Deserve Love

5. Joe Fox - You've Got Mail

Love Actually Creepy
Warner Bros.

On the surface, this character really should have been a slam dunk. First of all, Joe Fox is played by Tom Hanks, probably the most likeable Hollywood actor since James Stewart, who played the role in The Shop Around the Corner, which this film is based on.

So how is Joe Fox so indisputably terrible? Well, first of all, he's a mega book store owner who gets romantically involved with the poor little independent bookstore owner that he's actively trying to put out of business. It's gross, and he doesn't even seem to feel bad about it.

And the movie doesn't end with her getting to keep her shop, she just sort of realizes that his gluttonous megastore isn't so bad and excepts her livelihood's inevitable demise. Luckily, he'll get his own back in a few years when Amazon completely destroys his own business model and independent bookstores become the preferred outlet for shopping locally.

Contributor
Contributor

Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.