It’s hard to believe that the
2000s
It officially started twenty-five years ago. For millennials, tracks such as “Get Low” and “Toxic” don’t seem particularly ancient. This also applies to legendary movies from the 2000s like
Legally Blonde, Bring It On,
and
Mean Girls.
People continue to discuss and cite these movies even today.
Sadly, not all movies from the 2000s have stood the test of time. Films that garnered acclaim during the early years of the decade can seem quite dated today when we take into account contemporary standards and sensibilities. The poor aging of these flicks often stems from outdated visual effects, insensitive humor, or shifts in societal attitudes.
Shallow Hal is guilty of weight stigma.
Released 2001
- Director: The Farrelly Brothers
- Genre: Comedy
- IMDb Score: 6.0/10
Even though life isn’t going well, Hal (Jack Black) still has shallow ideas about success and love. After being hypnotized by Tony Robbins in an elevator, he starts to see past people’s outward appearance to their inner beauty. This leads to love with a 300-pound woman named Rosemary (Gwyneth Paltrow).
The Farrelly Brothers were directing from behind the camera.
for many 2000s comedies
like
Fever Pitch
and
Me, Myself & Irene.
The film in their collection that has not aged well at all is
Shallow Hal.
Being fat was the entire joke of the film, and audiences today are way more sensitive to body standards. For that reason, the comedy doesn’t land.
The Complexity of Crash Was Not As Apparent in the Early 2000s
Released 2004
- Director: Paul Haggis
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Score: 7.7/10
Several destinies converge in the
Best Picture winner
,
Crash.
The movie plays like an anthology, following different people in Los Angeles. Each character is grappling with some kind of struggle in their lives.
When
Crash
was released in 2004, it received a ton of accolades. Critics felt it was profound and deep, with a moving story. Now that viewers are years removed, the movie doesn’t quite have the same resonance in retrospect. People criticize it for being melodramatic, clichéd, and lacking nuance in its themes of prejudice.
Morgan Spurlock Consumed More Than McDonald’s in Super Size Me
Released 2004
- Director: Morgan Spurlock
- Genre: Documentary
- IMDb Score: 7.2/10
McDonald’s has never been considered a health-conscious eatery.
Super Size Me
He pushed it even more by demonstrating exactly how detrimental their meals could be for an adult male’s eating plan. Morgan Spurlock consumed only McDonald’s fare for thirty days, with disturbing outcomes.
Not one thirty-something failed to watch
Super Size Me
In our health class, we watched a documentary.
hurt McDonald’s reputation
And led to the removal of their contentious “supersize” choice. Behind the scenes, Morgan Spurlock’s bodily changes and declining well-being extended past his consumption of Big Macs. Additionally, he engaged in heavy drinking, which has marred the documentary’s reputation and influence.
Modern Audiences Won’t Say “I Do” to I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Released 2007
- Director: Dennis Dugan
- Genre: Comedy
- IMDb Score: 5.9/10
Adam Sandler movies
has experienced a difficult past with numerous negative reviews.
I Now Declare You Chuck & Larry
It is no different. The old film revolves around two straight men who feign homosexuality to obtain domestic partnership benefits.
Being gay is the butt of the joke.
I Now Declare You Chuck and Larry.
Although this might have seemed amusing back in the early 2000s, contemporary audiences do not find it humorous anymore. Despite the writers probably having good intentions, the continuous fight for marriage equality means that portraying such issues lightly is now viewed unfavorably by many people.
The computer-generated imagery in King Kong has not aged very well.
Released 2005
- Director: Peter Jackson
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- IMDb Score: 7.2/10
King Kong
Follows a troupe of performers who journey to Skull Island as part of their movie project. During their stay, they encounter aggressive locals and a gigantic, 25-foot-tall gorilla.
monster named Kong
. The director of the film (Jack Black) sees dollar signs and has ideas to bring this towering simian back to New York.
Peter Jackson enthralled viewers with the remarkable computer-generated imagery in his work.
King Kong.
Yet, upon revisiting the film, the visual effects may not stand the test of time. A portion of the criticism can be attributed to the technological constraints of the era. However, the genuine issue lies elsewhere.
King Kong
heavily relied on effects to tell its story. The end result is a dizzying viewing experience that’s over three hours long.
Love Actually Has Many Flaws
Released 2003
- Director: Richard Curtis
- Genre: Romance
- IMDb Score: 7.6/10
Love Actually
has eight narratives within a single film. It revolves around various British couples navigating through their intricate romantic entanglements. To make things even more challenging, they must contend with the busy holiday period surrounding Christmas.
Not all
holiday classics
hang around indefinitely. Just take a look at
Love Actually,
This includes several narratives that have not stood the test of time. The most notable issue arises with the storyline involving Mark (played by Andrew Lincoln), who secretly records a wedding and develops an inappropriate attraction towards the bride (portrayed by Keira Knightley). This subplot comes across as odd yet is intended to be romantic.
“John Tucker Must Die” Falls Under the male gaze critique
Released 2006
- Director: Betty Thomas
- Genre: Teen Comedy
- IMDb Score: 5.7/10
There is no violence present in this content.
John Tucker Must Die.
In the movie, the teenage girls go after what wounds him the deepest: his social standing. The main character, the well-liked guy known as Jesse Metcalfe, discovers the consequences of his cheating ways when he gets tricked into developing feelings for a young woman called Kate, played by Brittany Snow.
It’s surprising that
John Tucker Must Die
The film was directed by a female director. Nonetheless, it has faced criticism for being overly influenced by the male perspective. In the movie, the teenage girls are portrayed in a highly sexual manner, despite their age. Additionally, there is a scene where two of them kiss without any clear motivation besides titillation.
appeal to the teen
boy viewers.
Kirk Lazarus Is Troublesome in Tropic Thunder
Released 2008
- Director: Ben Stiller
- Genre: Comedy
- IMDb Score: 7.1/10
Classic Hollywood actors are mocked in the parody.
2000s comedy
Tropic Thunder
.
In the movie, the actors filming a war scene find themselves trapped in a dense jungle and get ambushed by aggressive indigenous people. Initially, they believe it’s just another act from the screenplay, but soon realize their survival is truly at stake.
Tropic Thunder
It has an ingenious concept, a side-splitting turn from Tom Cruise, and what might be the finest collection of faux advertisements in cinema history. Nonetheless, it falls short due to Robert Downey Jr.’s employment of blackface. His role involves him appearing as one guy disguised as another pretending to be yet someone else, using offensive makeup to depict a Black serviceman. This gag does not stand the test of time gracefully.
The Portrayal of Martyrdom in “The Blind Side” Deserves a Skeptical Look
Released 2009
- Director: John Lee Hancock
- Genre: Drama
- IMDb Score: 7.6/10
Michael Oher is an acclaimed linebacker.
In the NFL, who spent five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens?
The Blind Side
narrates the authentic tale of his childhood. He transitioned from poverty to accessing numerous opportunities after moving in with Leigh Anne Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock).
Sandra Bullock received an Academy Award for her performance in the film.
The Blind Side.
It’s unfortunate that the movie hasn’t held up well over time. Many critics point out that it exemplifies what is known as “white savior” syndrome. The film is grounded in real events, yet by depicting Leigh Anne as a virtuous figure, it fails to offer an accurate portrayal of the family central to the narrative.
The Hot Chick’s Gender Swap Is Wildly Outdated
Released 2002
- Director: Tom Brady
- Genre: Comedy
- IMDb Score: 5.6/10
Two years before
starring as Regina George
, Rachel McAdams played another Mean Girl in
The Hot Chick.
Her character is a cheerleader named Jessica who treats others unkindly and seems to have the perfect life. Everything changes when she switches bodies with a greasy petty thief (Rob Schneider).
Even with strong lead performances from Rob Schneider and Rachel McAdams,
The Hot Chick
only reinforces clichés about men and women. It includes many crude jokes about anatomy that may come off as immature nowadays. Additionally, there’s an entire group of people who experience being stuck in a body of the opposite gender, lacking humorous resolution.