REVIEW: THE BOUNTY HUNTER

In an open letter, Christo Oberholzer writes to Jennifer Aniston; questioning her about her increasingly poor choices in film roles of late:

01 April 2010

Jennifer Aniston

Brillstein-Grey Entertainment

9150 Wilshire Blvd.

Suite 350

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

USA

Dear Jennifer

Let me start by saying that I think you’re great, I really do.

For years, as Rachel Green, you successfully entertained myself and the masses before transitioning (some would say successfully, others unsuccessfully) into mainstream films.

You’ve tackled dramatic (The Good Girl) and thriller (Derailed) roles but your staple (and that of the audiences who love you) is comedy – as it should be. You’re a talented comedic performer that has great timing, charm and intelligence.

You should be dominating in the romantic comedy arena, however, this isn’t the case.

The Bounty Hunter is yet another example of a poor film choice made by yourself and the people who represent you. I would put the film on par with the banal Marley and Me – if only slightly more interesting.

To be fair, The Bounty Hunter does have an interesting setup. The story about a recently divorced woman skipping bail and then being tracked down by her former husband/bounty hunter is novel and should’ve provided great conflict and energy to carry the film through from beginning to end. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.

The film is bland and simply ticks the boxes required for it to satisfy the demands of the romantic comedy genre. The Bounty Hunter doesn’t even try to be more and this, regrettably, reflects poorly on you. That may seem harsh but it’s the truth.

The greatest complaint I have against the film is that it doesn’t take any chances. The secondary plot line (where your character gets involved in a murder investigation) is a prime example. This could have provided the film with a great dramatic twist and elevated it above mediocrity but the screenplay plays things safe.

Now, you may be wondering why I’ve singled you out. Film, of course, is a collaborative medium and this means that I could just as well blame director Andy Tennant or screenwriter Sarah Thorp.

I could, and do in part, but as the film’s headline actor (coupled with your past success and status as a Hollywood star), your interest in a particular project like The Bounty Hunter ensures that it gets made. Granted, Gerard Butler is a star on the rise but I can’t believe that, if on his own, his interest in The Bounty Hunter would have got the project off the ground.

You may counter that The Bounty Hunter was the number one film in America in its opening weekend (grossing $90 million) and I would respond by saying that that’s great but, ultimately, an empty achievement. The Bounty Hunter is a critical failure regardless of its commercial success.

Jennifer, I know that you know that The Bounty Hunter was a poor choice on your part. The film may have lined your pocket with a nice cash injection but at what cost?

Soulless filmmaking of this kind will do plenty to harm your career in the long run, even if the effects aren’t evident immediately.

Moving forward, I urge you to forget films like The Bounty Hunter and focus on more engaging and exciting projects that dare to take some risks and showcase your talent more effectively.

Out of five, The Bounty Hunter is a single star film. Again, I know you know that’s a fair rating.

Film analysis aside; as always, I think you’re great, I really do.

Sincerely yours,

Christo Oberholzer