Now, you’d think that the man who brought us Austin Powers and Shrek, would have quite a store of creative juices. When The Love Guru was released, we all thought he’d dipped into his creative cocktail and was going to deliver a comedy to rival his previous successes. However, this was not the case.
With almost every joke falling flat, The Love Guru was an unfunny pastiche of skits. Dressed in traditional Indian garb and a hippie, 60s vibe going on, Meyers really didn’t think this one through. Critics hated it, and the studio even more so – did you know that it only made $40.8 million worldwide, against a $63 million budget?! That’s what we call, ladies and gentlemen, a flop.
2010: The Last Airbender
Despite a cult following and a lot of hype leading up to its release, there were just a few small problems. For example, the fact that directors were trying to hire white actors to play characters written to be East Asian and even Inuit. Talk about controversial. The fans definitely didn’t like that, even if all they wanted was to see their graphic novels come to life on the big screen.
Following these glaring issues and the ensuing fan revolt, it’s unsurprising that this film was awarded the Golden Raspberry for 2010. With a sadly low 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert, an esteemed critic, salutes the film with the comment: “it was an agonizing experience in every category I can think of.”
2009: Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen
Babes, blasts, and BS – that pretty much sums up 2009’s Razzie winner. Directed by none other than Michael Bay, it’s no surprise that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was the hyped-up sequel to the world’s first look at the Transformers franchise. Where the first one actually had a storyline, the sequel was somewhat lacking in the imagination department.
CGI fights, Megan Fox in shorts, deception, Autobots, and end credits. Sorry for the spoilers, but we just saved you a $15 movie ticket. Sure, we were underwhelmed, but the critics were a little more verbal about it, as Empire writer Nick de Semlyen comments “a super-sized second helping, but the novelty factor and some of the charm’s gone..." Don’t say we didn’t tell you!
2007: I Know Who Killed Me
We didn’t think there could be a worse film than Bratz, but apparently, there was, according to the panel awarding 2007’s Golden Raspberry. The film beat out Daddy Day Camp, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and of course, Bratz. Starring Lindsay Lohan - this was after her career peak in the 90s and early 2000s - the film focuses on a student who is abducted and brutally tortured. After her ordeal, she assumes another identity.
The film won Worst Picture, with Lohan herself picking up a few Razzies; among them Worst Actress and Worst Screen Couple. Sometimes with child/teen stars, it’s better they make their money young, invest, and enjoy the funds because they’re set for life without needing further embarrassment.
2006: Basic Instinct 2
Now, Basic Instinct is just one of those films you don’t mess with. It’s iconic, sexy and thrilling for a reason, and this is most likely due to the decade it was released in. Sure, they might have brought Sharon Stone back for the sequel and perhaps even her little white mini, sans underwear, but more than 20 years later, were producers truly that desperate to make some coin?
You know it’s Golden Raspberry-worthy when the director of the original film scoffed at the new script and flat-out refused to direct a film which was going to be somewhat sacrilegious. With reviews like “ludicrous” and “predictable”, it should’ve been instinctual to know not to resurrect a film from another time.