It's time for Matthew Broderick...

[jv92]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:43pm

...to be put out to pasture. I just rewatched some of last night's show and he isn't even miscast or mis-anything. He just looks bored. Unless his next role is as Grandmother Willow in Disney's stage version of POCAHONTAS, this dull-as-wood performer should either retire or actually look like he cares.

Granted, the show is not a masterpiece, and the songs don't require the depth that some others do, but at least look like you're having fun!

And yes, this needed a new thread. It's been a long time coming for Mr. Broderick, and last night sealed the deal.



Updated On: 6/12/12 at 03:43 PM

[rorschach37]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:46pm

You're right. He did look bored last night, however he did seem much more excited last night than he did when I saw the show last month. I'm a life long fan of Matthew and I know he can do better than this, but for some reason he's choosing not to. It's depressing. :/

[jv92]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:50pm

Indeed.

[Buscee]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:50pm

I agree. It seems that Matthew won a Tony for How to Succeed...15 years ago, and has decided to continue to play everything the sameway...

He used to be a wonderful actor. I don't know what he continues to walk through shows.

I will add though the audiences as a whole seem to love him, and he is very sweet to his fans.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:51pm

He acts as if he's already out to pasture. Such a vacant and hollow presence.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:52pm

Agree also. If ever somebody looked like they were "going thru the motions", it was him last night.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:53pm

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! I thought it was only me. At the performance of NICE WORK and Tonys, the man looks as if he can barely stand being there. Andhlis lazy "dancing".

He can't be put to pasture, though. Sarah Equessica Parker would eat all the hay.

Updated On: 6/11/12 at 03:53 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:58pm

Oh please! He was looking at his feet during the dance steps!

[ABB2357]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 3:59pm

I actually thought he was livelier than usual last night, but only because he had slightly more energy than his lethargic performance on Letterman a few weeks ago.

[Overkill]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 5:48pm

^ Yeah, I was about to say, his Letterman performance was much better.

I always flip flop on Matthew. On stage, I haven't enjoyed him since The Producers, but I've enjoyed him in several films since then. Finding Amanda and Wonderful World were great roles for him, and he was the ONLY good thing in Tower Heist. It was when The Producers film came I out, I went "...something's not right here...", then I saw him in The Odd Couple with Lane and it was PAINFUL. I felt so bad for Nathan, having to carry Matthew, while still trying to make it look like a team effort.

I really think that he should stick to film. It's where his "quirks" somewhat work. Unlike stage, where they just annoy you to no end.

EDIT: Dolly - He ALWAYS looks at his feet when dancing. If you watch him in "I Wanna Be A Producer" in the movie, it's every other move... That being said, he's a nice dancer when he wants to be. Updated On: 6/11/12 at 05:48 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 5:52pm

he may have been lethargic because he's so bloated. The only thing I enjoyed him in was the film of The Producers.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 5:59pm

Leave the poor man alone. Last night he was trying to tally in his head how much his wife spent for the Dinner with the Obamas and Anna Wintour that will happen later this week.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 6:15pm

He was probably the worst thing about THE PRODUCERS: THE MOVIE MUSICAL (which was pretty awful to begin with) until Susan Stroman's audio commentary on the DVD.

[Overkill]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 6:17pm

I still say they should have gotten Martin Short, but they were trying to recreate the magic of the OBC. Fail. :/

[jv92]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 6:19pm

Sadly, onstage magic doesn't equal onscreen magic. And Stroman's audio commentary could have been called "The Producers: Interpreted for the Blind and Retarded", since she basically just described what was going on in every scene and who was in it. Love her work, but not her DVD bonus feature.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 7:00pm

....to become a stay-at-home dad.

Why do people keep hiring him with the track record of listless, disengaged performances he's been giving on stage and screen over the past decade. I certainly haven't seen everything he's in, but what I have shows so little energy or investment. It's like there's no there there anymore.

[mc1227]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 7:11pm

I guess once again I will put my two cents in for Matthew. I don't know what anyone is talking about when they say he looks "bored". What does that mean specifically? I think he was very into it last night and until that point in the show was the best thing about it, including Kelli O'Hara's boring performance. If you follow him at all you know that he's very understated in most of his work. I thought he was as energetic in that dance as he was allowed to be based on choreography. The song was abbreviated so I'm not sure what else he could have done. He's a 50 year old man who had back surgery to take on this role. If he looks large its probably because he's wearing a brace. If you see him at stage door you will see as I have that he is not that big in person.
No matter what role he takes on, people will continue to point to some role and say he's doing the same thing. As someone has already pointed out, if you watch some of his indie films you will see that. I think he would do very well on TV if he chose to commit to that. I also thought he was very good in The Starry Messenger a couple of years back in a small theater with a good story. Musicals may not be his strong suit since he's not the greatest singer or dancer, but his comedy in this show is terrific and allows all the craziness around him to happen. The audiences at Nice Work have been enthusastically supportive of Matthew at curtain call. They appreciate the full performance, not just a two minute clip on TV or internet.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 7:40pm

He indeed looked very uncomfortable with the jaundice of the actor who is miscast and knows it.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 7:43pm

You may be right. He may be physically hindered, or even in pain. Then he shouldn't be on stage. Before I saw NICE WORK, I wondered why Matthew wasn't nominated. After seeing it, I realized why. I hope when he's replaced, it's by someone who can give a freshness to the role. (I'm no hater, btw)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 7:50pm

Maybe he's on medication.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 7:55pm

Joey, are you using a euphemism?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 7:57pm

I thought it was cruelly funny that the number was introduced by Matthew Morrison, who possesses all of the skills (he's a crooner, he's got charisma, he can dance) necessary for the role that Broderick seems to lack.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 8:31pm

There's no question that Matthew was the weakest element in the show. If it hadn't been for the need of some box office appeal, I humbly suggest that Jeremy Jordan would have been a more appropriate choice for the role. IMO.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 8:40pm

Morrison would be better. Or James Marsden.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 9:34pm

He looked unwell to me. But who knows? The brace thing does make some sense but I wonder if there is something more?