Often ridiculed as the worst casting decision ever made in the Bond franchise, Denise Richards' performance in The World Is Not Enough signalled a sacrifice of quality for star power. Utterly unsuited to the role, she unconvincingly pranced around as Christmas Jones (a name which, of course, led to a godawful pun during the film's final scene). A common criticism focuses on the decision to clothe Richards in a skimpy vest and shorts for much of the film, despite her character's hazardous job as an on-site nuclear physicist. Another crucial flaw is her delivery; it's impossible to take the tough-talking Jones seriously, as her attempts to match Bond's wit come across as entirely forced. To make matters worse, Sophie Marceau turned it a storming performance as Elektra King, firmly shoving Richards' paper-thin character into her shadow.
