While watching TV on Sunday morning, I saw an ad for an upcoming comedy starring Cuba Gooding Jr. At the end of the ad, they announced the title of the film... "Daddy Day Camp", the sequel to the Eddie Murphy hit "Daddy Day Care".After doing some research I found that Cuba plays Charlie Hinton, the role held by Eddie in the original movie. I also learned that none of the original actors signed on for the sequel. Regina King (who played Eddie's wife Kim in the first movie) normally does a good job of selecting roles, so the fact that she took a pass on "Daddy Day Camp" doesn't surprise me. However, Eddie Murphy's resume is littered with cinematic treasures such as "Vampire In Brooklyn" and "The Adventures of Pluto Nash". How bad must the script to "Daddy Day Camp" have been for Eddie to say, "Thanks, but no thanks"?
It's puzzling how Cuba can go from Oscar winner to taking Eddie's leftovers in a little over 10 years. I've heard some people refer to winning the Best Supporting Actor/Actress Oscar as the career kiss of death. However, I don't buy that. Sure, there have been people like Gig Young and Mira Sorvino who have seen their movie careers take a nosedive after winning the statuette. On the other hand, performers such as Goldie Hawn and Denzel Washington have been able to avoid this alleged curse.
Cuba Gooding does have a prominent role in the upcoming film "American Gangster", which also stars the aforementioned Washington as well as Russell Crowe. Hopefully, this will help Cuba avoid having to resort to doing such potential misfires as "Snow Dogs 2" or "Daddy Day Nursery".
9 comments:
Eddie probably would have taken "Daddy Day Camp" but he's too busy getting engaged and having DNA testing. I am going to come to Cuba's defense because although I found "Snow Dogs" and "Boat Trip" to be pretty bad, his heart is in the right place. He was quoted a few years ago as stating that he likes doing serious work, but his children are not able to watch these movies. So from time to time he will perform in a family oriented flick, so that the kids can see Dad in action. While we find these films to be a horrible waste of his talents as an actor. Children enjoy them.
I think he is an awesome actor (check him out with Oscar Winner Helen Mirren in "Shadow Boxing"). He's a family man and I feel that we should cut him a little slack and allow him to make a few films that he can enjoy with his wife and kids.
Malcolm, I thought the same thing when I realized it was Cuba Gooding Jr. (I had to look it up on IMDB because I didn't believe my husband when he said who it was.)
On the other hand, if he *is* doing some schlocky movies now and then for his kids, good for him. (But aren't there better kids' movies? I know there are ... )
On the third hand ... LOL ... where have the quality movies been to balance out the schlock??
I shook my head when I saw this trailer. And although I think it is commendable he does some movies for his kids (as does DeNiro..ugh Rocky & Bullwinkle!) I have to agree with bookmama in that I'm sure their are better kids movies to choose.
And I agree, for Eddie to pass on anything tells you it's pretty bad. He'd sign up to star in a movie about toilet paper if he was able to wear a fat suit and act like a fool.
Bookmama,
I agree that Cuba could make better choices in his film selections. You asked what good Cuba Gooding movies balance out the shlock? Here goes: "Radio", "Pearl Harbor", Men of Honor", "A Few Good Men", "Losing Isaiah", "Boys in the Hood", "Tuskegee Airmen", "As Good As It Gets", "A Murder of Crows" and I didn't even mention his award-winning "Jerry McGuire". There are better children movies, but it is usually voice over work..."Shrek", "Cars", "Toys" etc. You also have to be asked to do these films.
Yeah, that IS interesting. He hasn't done ANYTHING good since Jerry Maguire. Strange....
I used to be REALLY hard on good actors/actresses who appeared in substandard material. Later I adopted the attitude, "Hey, they have to eat too." I know that I have had jobs in the past that I didn't like.
However, it still pains me to see someone with the talent of Cuba waste it on some of the choices he makes. If he was a run of the mill actor, I wouldn't care.
Since his Oscar-winning performance in Jerry Maguire, he has done some quality work (some of which was listed by Pjazzy). After thinking about it, I feel that it comes down to perception. Cuba's good movies post-Jerry Maguire seem to fall into one of two categories:
1. He is not the main star (for example, "Pearl Harbor" and "As Good As It Gets"). Therefore, we don't think of them as Cuba Gooding movies.
2. The ones in which he is the star aren't big box-office hits. As a result, a good deal of the public tends to forget about them over time.
On the other hand, a bad film like "Boat Trip" will linger in the public's mind regardless of whether or not it's a box-office hit. It's not fair, but that's the way it is.
Here's something to think about: Could it be that the state of Cuba Gooding's career is more an indictment of Hollywood's treatment of minorities and women as it is about the choices he makes?
I guess we have a dialogue going. Malcolm, you make an excellent point about Hollywood and the lack of roles for people of color and women. For instance, Alfre Woodard is very selective about which films she chooses to do. How many times did she work last year? The elite actors, like Cruise, Nicholson, DeNiro, etc. get offered the choice roles, while there is little or no work for the likes of Whoopi Goldberg or even Michelle Pfeiffer who worked a whole lot more in her prime. It's the good ole boys club in full effect and unless you are Denzel or Will Smith. Let's face it, actors like Cuba got to get in where they fit in. Maybe he did "Daddy Day Camp" as a favor to Eddie. Cuba was also in "Norbit" so I am told because I did not even see it. I am so tired of Eddie dressing up like fat women, but I digress.
Being one of Cuba's biggest fans (to my husband's chagrin), I was very disappointed as well when I saw he was going to be in this movie. I saw him on an episode of Ellen last week, and he said that the reason he hasn't been in much since Jerry Maguire is because he is able to be more picky about the movies he is in. I laughed out loud when he said this. Really Cuba? Boat Trip? But as some of you said, he's gotta eat, and raise kids. I am just looking forward to his next big film. I know his career as an Oscar winning actor isn't over.
Angela: You cracked me up with what you said about Cuba's comments about him being picky about the roles he takes. I had the same reaction.
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