NEWS: Seriously, Why Do You Like Will Smith?

That'd be me, good sir.

Hollywood is pretty much a talent-less morass when it comes to comedy nowadays, there are a few bright lights, but they've got such a cult following that you can't really have much hope for them.
He's not terrible and, unlike Chris Tucker, his voice doesn't make me want to rip my ears off with a wood chipper.

Why do we like Will Smith? Because he makes money for the studios, so they put their star-maker machinery** into high gear to flood you with positive Will Smith vibes. He understands the system and is willing to play along, plus he doesn't possess an outsize ego or abrasive personality, so he doesn't alienate people inside or outside the business.

As long as his movies make truckloads of money, he will continue to be cast in them. As long as people will shell out money to see summer blockbuster drivel just because he is in it, he will have a job. The minute this changes, Will Smith will be dropped like a hot potato by the studios.

Would he become another "where are they now" name, like Bronson Pinchot or those two Corey guys? Or could he fall back on his acting abilities (as seen in "Six Degrees" or "Ali") or recording career? This is the measure of his "deserving" his fame (as if anyone deserves fame the way this society metes it out), whether there is really something there behind all the hype. I think there is.

** Didn't think you'd get a Joanie Mitchell reference on SG, did you?

I don't know if you know this, but the book I Am Legend is one of the greatest vampire anythings ever, easily greater than at least two of the three things you listed. I haven't read Dracula since I was young enough that I'm not going to make that call.

Anyway, I'm going to stick up for, at least, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince a bit here, first of all because DJ Jazzy Jeff is actually a legitimately respected DJ. I realize that doesn't directly apply to Will Smith, and I can't make you like Jazzy Jeff but other people do (The Roots, as a single example, described him as a hero to them in the liner notes of Things Fall Apart) and that's the music half of the group. But second, and directly applying to Will Smith, the songs in that group were never meant to be anything other than exactly what they were: goofy pop fun. Nothing wrong with that. No, he's not an amazing rapper, or especially good, but it's hard to hold that against him. He works within his range, and half the bands I listen to don't have particularly good lead singers anyway.

In acting, he's never blown me away in anything (I've yet to see Happyness, to be fair), but he's done some solid jobs, as mentioned. Six Degrees of Separation was somewhat marred by his unwillingness to actually kiss a man while playing a gay man (he later said he regretted not going far enough), but it was still a good performance. Ali wasn't a great movie, but he was good in it.

In other news, I'm surprisingly not that bitter about the way I Am Legend looks. I was when I heard about it, and bitched that you could easily do I Am Legend as written for a tiny budget and have it turn out amazing. And you absolutely could, but it's clear that the upcoming movie isn't doing that; it looks a bit more like The Omega Man. Okay, fine. So they're not doing what I would do if given that material. But once I got past that, the teaser at least didn't look bad to me. There was, to my surprise, a sense of weight and emotion to it. It could still suck, of course, but even if it does, who gives a damn? I have the book either way.

Anyone read that?

I don't really think he's ever been THAT well-loved..

It's all about the fresh prince

but see, The Pursuit of Happiness sucks ass. I actually felt worse for watching such a downer of a movie, but you're right, its perhaps one of the only movies where he doesn't play a comedic black guy, but one bleeding-heart movie doesn't make him a great actor. It was kind of like..The Terminal; you were just waiting for something big to happen, or for the character to get his way, something good to happen, and nothing does. It just drags on and on through the mud making you wonder if the movie critics were all on ritalin when they watched this film.

Me either. Then I read this thread. Jesus, I'm seriously surprised.

Why do I like Will Smith?

I've seen Ali.

Because Mos Def Won't Fight Aliens

You mean a "where were they ever" name? By the way, my guess is Mypos.

Why is this in News of all places... Usually when people take a dig at someone in this section, it's because the victim is victimizing someone else with some shitty new movie or a plague of a song...

This just came out of nowhere.

And for the record, Will Smith is fucking rad. He's funny. He's witty. He's got his head about him, and he knows how to entertain. Sure, he's not the greatest actor or the best comedian. But the fucker's gotta be coming up to his second decade in the spotlight. That has to stand for something. He can hold his own.

Before him, the "loud-mouthed black comedian" pool was practically empty. He practically paved that way...

Say what you want, I Am Legend is going to be a really fun movie...

If you're really so upset that a favourite book of yours is going to be shat all over, either stop watching movies, or stop reading books. I don't know how old you are, but I'm sure you've noticed that there's no such thing as a "good" movie that has been based off a book.

Well, at least that's what all the nerds who read books say.

(Note: Fight Club was fucking sweet and Palahniuck himself said he liked the movie version better, haha...)

I hate to repeat myself, but in short: Stop expecting things, and learn to enjoy them. Otherwise you'll live a life full of disappointment... Aaaaand internet complaints...

God save me from ever being this concerned about the success of an entertainer.

Let's not talk about Mos Def in the Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

Everytime I see that scene I cringe at his "git R done" line.

It's like what, they only gave him ONE chance to shoot that?

Zing! Uh, I guess...

But aren't TONS of things funnier than this article? Do you love them too? Be more selective, m'man.

Yes, but the point is he should be MUCH, MUCH funnier than me. Believe it or not I'm not the barometer for Hollywood success.

(Cue double take followed by "Dammmn! Ya'll Be BLANK," line)

A little cheesy he is.

He's the rap version of Bill Cosby and along with a handfull of other rappers he can actually make songs about stuff that doesn't involve "thugging", so keep going Fresh Prince.

I think he's actually a decent actor. Certainly not the best, but he tends to be entertaining and watchable.

Also, I don't care what anyone says - Independence Day is awesome.

What he said. Will Smith can act really good. Usually he doesn't, but there are movies in which he's just amazing.

Well, only Ali comes to mind, but hell, that's one more than most actors working in Hollywood these days.

It's actually shocking that you have no idea how articles work.

He was dead to me the second they fucked up I Robot so badly.

He gained my respect after Michael Mann's Ali.

I think its funny how everybody keep saying he's a rapper. Clearly he is a pop singer! As for his acting, yes for the most part he plays the same type of guy in all his movies. The same can be said for all actors. Right now think of your fav. actor and the movies they have been in. Its the same person!! Will Smith is no better or different from any of us with the small exception of the fact that he is the one who got on stage and made it happen. He is the one who went to the auditions and got the part in the movie. All I'm saying is he worked hard to get where he is.

P.S. I hated "Bad Boys"