Movie stars who have been in the public eye for years are constantly trying to reinvent themselves to stay in the game as new talents come along. Here are the five worst movie-star comebacks of 2013:
Cameron Diaz, “The Counselor”
Things haven’t gone nearly so well for the star of “There’s Something About Mary,” whose other 2013 release — a remake of “Gambit” with Colin Firth — was distributed only overseas after the failure of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” “Bad Teacher” and “The Green Hornet.” A scene where she straddles the windshield of a sports car sans panties in “The Counselor” can only have been viewed as a desperate bid for attention under the circumstances.
Jim Carrey, “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”
This onetime box-office champ hasn’t had a smash since “Bruce Almighty” a decade ago. He wasn’t bad as a gonzo magician in “The Great Burt Wonderstone,” but this awful comedy quickly disappeared.
Colin Farrell, “Saving Mr. Banks”
Still trying to live up to the early potential he showed in his breakthrough film, “Tigerland” (2000), Farrell has tried just about every kind of role (from “Alexander” to the “Fright Night” remake) with minimal critical and box-office success. But he’s rarely been quite as bad as P.L. Travers’ beloved, hopeless drunk of a father in the interminable flashback sequences of “Saving Mr. Banks.”
Ryan Reynolds, “R.I.P.D.”
You’ve really got to wonder how the ex-Mr. Scarlett Johansson continues getting leads in $100 million-plus movies after “The Green Lantern.” But there he was, ironically playing a dead police officer in “R.I.P.D.” Up next: another superhero blockbuster, “Deadpool.” We’re not betting on it.
John Travolta, “Killing Season”
The king of comebacks, Travolta has had more of them than some actresses we could mention have had facelifts. His latest bomb had him playing a Serbian war criminal hunting down retired military officer Robert De Niro. Well, there’s always that long-stalled John Gotti biopic . . .
