It's time for Matthew Broderick...- Page 2

[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?

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 9:54pm

Don't mean to keep the Broderick bashing thread going, but I remember seeing him on the street a year or two ago and he looked absolutely MISERABLE. Hunched over and just filled with gloom. He might have been tired or whatever but the days of Ferris are over.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 9:59pm

Poor guy, but if he's so miserable, why must he torture his audiences with his joylessness?

[binau]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 10:02pm

I wonder why he is miserable. He has a hot wife, a job that many would kill for/regularly gets work.

Updated On: 6/12/12 at 10:02 PM

[ObiHave]

Posted: 6/11/12 at 10:27pm

I'm sorry I thought he was supposed to be dead and they were pulling some kind of Weekend at Bernie's bit...well then he just sucked!

[goldenboy]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 12:13am

Matthew has done some great work. Most of it hasn't been in musicals.
Brighon Beach Memoirs, Ferris Buellers Day off. Even the Cable Guy with Jim Carey.
but

He ruined How to succeed and can't believe they gave him a Tony for that performance
He ruined Music Man and the other poor casting choices didn't help.
He was good In the Producers.. That's it.

Keep him out of musicals.

[Patash]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:17am

What most of these posts seem to ignore is what the character that Broderick is playing in Nice Work is supposed to be. The guy is a rich "loser". Even his own mother thinks he's a loser. Should he wow us with personality? No -- that's not how the part was written or what he is supposed to be. Maybe the real complaint should be that the writers should have made his character a super personality, rather than a meek and mild milk toast. But they didn't, so Broderick plays the role it was intended to be played.

Yes, he plays it like most other roles he's done. That's probably why he was cast in the role -- he does that sort of thing so well.

[ken8631]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:24am

I thought he was perfect for the role. He always pretty much plays the same character, but so does Nathan Lane. And I think they are both great! I really liked the play, but didn't like what they chose for the Tony performance - Kellie is MUCH better in the play than what was portrayed......

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:30am

I agree with the poster who thought his Tony performance infinitely livelier than recent media exposure connected to this show. His discomfort performing the dance number with O'Hara on THE VIEW was palpable and painful. When dancing fails to look effortless, it's squirm inducing. He seems to be Bacall doing "One of the Boys" in most of this show. And though hardly fat, one wonders why he didn't slim down more for this role, especially because, as short waisted as he is, tight vests made him look penguin-y. Shouldn't he look his very best here? I agree, this sort of blank, bored aging bachelor is a trademark. But he's truly devoid of surprise, the worst thing you can say about an actor or his performance. It's all predictable, and the by-the-numbers thing, charming in his youth, now feels labored. When he moves outside his comfort zone -- Harold Hill -- he is, well, out of his element.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:38am

"ll 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?"

The look of boredom isn't difficult to recognize. It's a specific look. We've all had it on our faces and body language.
" including Kelli O'Hara's boring performance."

See ^ you've recognized boring in a performance yourself.

"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."

Perhaps, but the look of "bloated" for me is a puffiness in the face.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:55am

I assumed he had health issues. He seems like Michael Crawford in recent times.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:56am

Jane2- I thought he looked terrible and you are right with the puffiness in the face. Maybe it is due to medication if he is having back issues. I thought he needed better hair gel job also, did not think the hair falling down on his forehead was a good look. I think there is a difference between playing a "loser" in a role and looking bored, I thought he looked bored also.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:57am

Mathew posed for a picture for me last Friday. He was very nice and actually looked better in person than when I saw him on The View. However, he was walking very slow. So there maybe some truth that he is in alot of pain. Its possible his back was fine at the beginning of Nice Work and he has reinjured himself.

[After Eight]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 9:05am

It's both sad and mystifying how his career has developed. He was so wonderful in the Neil Simon shows, and had a unique and charming stage presence. Then, for whatever reason, things went awry. He decided to adopt a zombie-like persona for How to Succeed and for mostly everything since. The result has been disastrous for him, and a great disappointment to audiences. The Producers represented a return to form, but, unfortunately, that turned out to be something of an anomaly. I felt he displayed more energy in Nice Work (in the theatre) than he has shown in recent years, but he was not a perfect fit in the role.

What a squandering of talent.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 9:08am

He very well could be bloated and lethargic due to pain medications. I'm sorry for him if that's the case. I guess he was a trooper in going on with the show.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 9:15am

ArtMan - if he really is in that much pain then he should leave the show. It is not fair to him personally or to the audience paying top dollar. I understand he is a "star" and sells tickets but if he is not able physically to handle the role it is just crazy for him to continue.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 9:46am

Just read Broderick is going to be one of the headline performers for the July 4th celebration in Washington DC, hope he does better at that show.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 10:09am

He's probably on prednisone. That would explain the puffiness.

[mc1227]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 1:57pm

Jane2: my comment about Kelli O'Hara's performance did not imply she was bored, I was bored. So saying someone looks "bored" is something I can't relate to. I can relate to being bored not telling if someone else is bored while they are singing and dancing. Maybe if they are yawning?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 2:02pm

It's not just musicals that he's bad in lately. Anyone who saw his performances in THE PHILANTHROPIST and NIGHT MUST FALL will agree that they were sleep inducing events.

And Sarah Jessica Parker is "hot"??? Well, maybe if you like a woman who has a man's face.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 2:06pm

"Maybe if they are yawning?"

LOL!

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 2:19pm

Referring to the poster who saw him on the street looking absolutely miserable, Matthew Broderick may suffer from chronic depression. It is hard to look cheerful when you are severely depressed. I know, because I have chronic depression for which I take medication which is only somewhat helpful. That and his back problems may account for his demeanor. Just a thought.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 2:24pm

Dolly, Sarah Equessica has a HORSE'S face. Not woman.

[Overkill]

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

Others have been saying that Matthew was miscast, and someone like Matthew Morrison or James Marsden were better choices - I disagree. Matthew, in theory, is right for the part. The part, as stated before, is supposed to be a "loser". I wouldn't buy Morrison or Marsden as losers for a second. The character is more similar to Dudley Moore's ARTHUR. While I think Broderick was cast right, it's his lack of personality/charm that makes me unhappy with him in the role. His deliveries work, but there were so many missed opportunities with his characterization.

Someone like Martin Short would have even been a better choice, if they were going for a name - or Steven Weber. As far as people who are really right for the role: Norbert Leo Butz, Roger Bart, Christian Borle, Brian d'Arcy James... among others.

Updated On: 6/12/12 at 03:50 PM

[mc1227]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:16pm

Most audiences seeing this show are familiar with the fact that Broderick is not a singer or dancer. They go into it (or should) knowing that. Which is why his dance with Kelli is so well received by the audience. They absolutely love it because neither are known as dancers, it actually makes it sweet and enjoyable. Seen out of context on The View may have been out of place to some but the audience there ate it up too.

Broderick's character, played by anyone else, will not have the audience on their side. The character is a drunk, dim-witted loser who is a playboy. What Broderick brings to the role is a certain charm and likability that makes the character's shortcomings acceptable. You have to have the audience on your side and Broderick pulls it off. Maybe someone else would be a better singer and dancer, but they can't replicate what the audience feels. I've seen this show more than once and the audience is wildly enthusastic when Broderick takes his bow. Say what you will, you can't cast that.

Updated On: 6/12/12 at 08:16 PM