Ashton Kutcher has been permanently typecast as the hunky-but-goofy romantic guy, so he cant be blamed for wanting to break out and try a nice juicy biopic. And not only did he get to try his hand at playing one of the greatest innovators of recent times, he also had a pretty good resemblance to the man too. Steve Jobs was a controversial figure, beloved by many but also famous for his temper and general jerkiness. To portray someone that complex needs an actor of great skill and depth to really bring it to life. They got Ashton Kutcher instead. The movie opens with Jobs - played by Kutcher with some seriously unconvincing make-up to make him look bald and middle aged unveiling the iPod for the first time. A chintzy John Williams like style score plays in the background. This is a horrible scene for a couple of reasons. One, the movie has barely started and it looks like a cheap made for TV biopic. And Two, Kutcher simply isnt convincing as Jobs. He doesnt have that commanding presence, or fierce passion in what hes saying. He plays the role like an actor hoping to convince people he should be taken seriously. It's like a feature length showreel rather than a story, and both the film and the performance feel empty as a result.
