Comparing character (choices/performances) because of an actor's resume

[shrekster224]

Posted: 6/19/11 at 5:06pm

Just wondering, why is it always that actors are accused of doing the exact same performance as a past performance that they did as a semi-similar character? My biggest example right now is that Josh Gad's Cunningham is always compared to Barfee in Spelling Bee. He's pretty much type cast, does that make all of his characters the same, or make his performance any less commendable than it should be had he never did Spelling Bee?

[Taryn]

Posted: 6/19/11 at 5:23pm

Just wondering, why is it always that actors are accused of doing the exact same performance as a past performance that they did as a semi-similar character?

Probably because they feel like the actor is putting out two very similar performances.

If people think an actor is giving a performance near-identical to one he's given in the past, it's entirely legitimate to point it out. Does it mean the actor isn't doing that particular performance well? No. Do actors get caught in the restraints of type-casting? Yes. Are some actors just limited in their ability or perhaps lazy about developing unique performances? Yes. Is it acceptable to discuss these different possibilities? Of course.