Top 10 2000s Movies That Haven't Aged Well
#10: “Garden State” (2004)
When it was released, “Garden State” was a critical success, garnering comments from film writers like, “Not since "The Graduate" has a movie nailed the beautiful terror of standing on the brink of adulthood with such satisfying precision." That’s quite high praise. But as the years have worn on, and Natalie Portman’s character has come to exemplify the trope of the manic pixie dream girl, people have become less enamoured with this film that was once considered a cult classic. The movie is the opposite of subtle, beating you over the head with metaphors and “artsy” shots which, with some perspective, just look like a try-hard move.
#9: “Crash” (2004)
This movie may have won the Academy Award for Best Picture along with many other accolades, but even while it was being praised many questioned its quality. Now it is considered by some to be one of the worst movies of the decade. It attempts to tackle race but does so without any true perspective, redeeming a racist character when he clearly doesn’t deserve the audience’s sympathy. While it gets points for its diverse cast, it loses them quickly for its portrayal of racism in America. In retrospect, we really wish “Brokeback Mountain” had taken home the big award that year.
#8: “Knocked Up” (2007)
“Knocked Up” may have 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is quite a feat for a stoner romantic comedy, but in the decade since its release, it has lost a whole lot of fans. The plotline employs many tropes that were popular in the 2000s, like the uptight and straight laced woman who finds herself dating the loser dude. Even one of the film’s stars, Katherine Heigl, has called the movie sexist, saying that it "paints the women as shrews, as humorless and uptight, and it paints the men as lovable, goofy, fun-loving guys.”
#7: “Brüno” (2009)
We get it, “Bruno” is supposed to be satire, but even when something is created with a satirical edge, it can still end up being offensive. The film was criticized for leaning on gay stereotypes, and in the process perpetuating them, even if the intention behind the project was good. Rashad Robinson, a representative of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) said that, “Sacha Baron Cohen's well-meaning attempt at satire is problematic in many places and outright offensive in others.” While we may have laughed at it when it hit theaters, it just doesn;t feel funny anymore.
#6: “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” (2007)
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The simple concept of this 2007 movie seemed dated almost as soon as it was released. Two male firefighters decide to pretend to be gay and get married for insurance benefits, and you can bascially imagine where the plot goes from there. On top of gay marriage being played as a funny plot device, this film also offers up some straight up misogyny as well. The Wall Street Journal deemed it offensive to pretty much everyone, calling it, “an insult to gays, straights, men, women, children, African-Americans, Asians, pastors, mailmen, insurance adjusters, firemen, doctors — and fans of show music." Whew!
#5: “Shallow Hal” (2001)
If you really look at the big picture, “Shallow Hal” is supposed to be about looking past appearances in order to really get to know people. But this movie manages to twist that general concept into something that is undeniably ugly, especially with a couple of decades of perspective. A man who generally focuses on appearances finds himself falling in love with an overweight woman - because his mind sees her as being thin and beautiful as he’s so taken with her personality. Throughout the rom-com, there is a ton of fat shaming and jokes based on women’s appearances, which definitely wouldn’t fly today.
#4: “The Notebook” (2003)
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We love “The Notebook” as much as anyone else, but you can’t deny that in today’s social climate, many of the scenes would be considered more creepy than romantic. Sure, it’s considered one of the best romance movies of all time, and we agree that there are a lot of great parts, but the way that Noah pursues Allie at the beginning makes us cringe today. Of course, the stunt he pulls on the ferris wheel is weird and over the top, especially when he essentially threatens to kill himself if she won’t go out with him. But the follow-up conversation where he approaches her on the street really isn’t much better.
#3: “Love Actually” (2003)
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Another beloved rom-com, another movie that sadly isn’t as well received today. In the age of #MeToo and Time’s Up, people aren’t nearly as wild about a plotline where the Prime Minister has a relationship with one of his staff members (especially the part where he tries to get her fired because he’s attracted to her). We once thought it was charming when Mark pursues his best friend’s wife and tells her he’s in love with her using poster boards, but now it seems like a crappy move. Not to mention all the fat jokes! We’re not saying you should cancel your annual viewing of this film when December rolls around, but maybe be a little more critical of how the characters act.
#2: “Avatar” (2009)
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Considering it is one of the most successful films of all time, it should come as no surprise that there has been a certain amount of backlash when it comes to “Avatar”. It broke records upon its release and was praised for its visual effects, but a decade on the plot has some problematic elements to it. Not only have there been many accusations that the story told in “Avatar” was simply borrowed from other media (“Pocahontas” anyone?) but more importantly, it has been characterized as a “white savior” movie. This is because a native people need the help of the white man to save their society for them in the epic sci-fi flick. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “The Love Guru” (2008) “The Ugly Truth” (2009) “Bride Wars” (2009) “Me, Myself & Irene” (2000)
#1: “Wedding Crashers” (2005)
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Where do we even start with this one!? The basic premise of “Wedding Crashers” is troubling to begin with: two guys sneak into strangers’ weddings with the intention of lying to women in order to get them into bed. Throw in a racist grandmother, the trope that all gay men are predatory and some unconsensual physical intimacy and you’ve got an absolute mess of a movie that... unfortunately we all loved in 2005 when it was the highest grossing comedy of the year. Even one of the film’s stars, Isla Fisher, said, “I'm not sure that a Wedding Crashers sequel would work in the Time's Up movement.”
