2003 was a big year for movies, with many bold projects, new takes on old genres, and attempts to hook audiences with exciting stories. Still, just like every other year, not every movie was able to win people over. In this trip down memory lane, let’s look at a group of 2003 movies that IMDb users didn’t like as much as they should have.
1. Gigli (2003)
Gigli is a love comedy with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez that had trouble getting going. In the movie, a low-level thug is told to take the mentally disabled brother of a prosecutor. Even though the two main characters were big stars, Gigli got a lot of bad reviews because of its confusing plot, cringe-worthy language, and lack of chemistry between the characters.
2. Kangaroo Jack (2003)
The plot of Kangaroo Jack has two buddies on a mission to find a lost bag holding money. But the movie had trouble finding a consistent tone, which led to a mix of childish humor and an unlikely animated kangaroo. Many people thought this took away from the movie’s promise.
3. Gods and Generals (2003)
War drama Gods and Generals explores the years leading up to the American Civil War. The movie was bold and criticized for being too long, not developing the characters enough, and having an uneven pace, making it hard for many people to watch.
4. Darkness Falls (2003)
Darkness Falls is a supernatural horror movie that focuses on the story of an angry ghost who is said to haunt a small town. Despite the creepy story, the film wasn’t scary or suspenseful enough. As a result, horror fans didn’t find it scary or suspenseful enough.
5. From Justin to Kelly (2003)
From Justin to Kelly is a musical romantic comedy about two college students falling in love over spring break. The leads are Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, both of whom competed on American Idol. Despite the movie’s well-known leaders, it was criticized for its forced story, lack of chemistry between the characters, and lackluster musical numbers.
6. The Cat in the Hat (2003)
This movie was based on the well-known Dr. Seuss book of the same name and tried to bring fun and humor to the big screen. But the movie got bad reviews because it didn’t stick to the book, used crude humor, and didn’t have the charm that made the book a classic.
7. Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)
As a prequel to the successful comedy Dumb and Dumber, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met, Lloyd attempted to replicate the film’s hilarity. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t have as much fun or chemistry as the original, so it was a dull comedy that didn’t win people over.
8. Alex & Emma (2003)
The film Alex & Emma, starring Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson, is a romantic comedy about an aspiring author and his stenographer who team together to publish a book. Despite the two leads being big stars, the movie was scolded for having a fake plot and fake romantic chemistry between the two leads.
9. A Man Apart (2003)
A Man Apart is an action movie starring Vin Diesel about a DEA agent who wants to get back at a drug lord who killed his wife. The film was supposed to be full of action and drama; it was disliked for its formulaic plot, lack of creativity, and overuse of genre clichés. Personally, I love this movie and disagree entirely with IMDb’ers.
10. National Security (2003)
An action comedy, National Security features Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn as security guards and police officers who wind up working together to stop a gang. Even though the movie was supposed to be funny, it was criticized for having obvious jokes and using racial stereotypes.
11. View from the Top (2003)
View from the Top is a love comedy in which Gwyneth Paltrow plays a girl from a small town who wants to be a flight attendant. The movie tried to be funny and romantic, but its formulaic story and lack of depth made it fail, making it hard to stand out among other films in the same genre.
12. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Literary characters like Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, and Captain Nemo come together in the steampunk-inspired action-adventure The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. However, fans and reviewers were disappointed by the film’s uneven pace, confusing plot, and departure from the book.
13. The Life of David Gale (2003)
The Life of David Gale, a thriller with Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet, discusses the death penalty. However, the idea for the movie was interesting; it was condemned for being overly dramatic, having story twists that didn’t make sense, and not subtly handling its themes. Again, I loved this movie and disagree entirely with IMDb’ers assertions.
14. Just Married (2003)
The center point of the romantic comedy Just Married revolves around the honeymoon experience of the characters played by Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy, who portray the recently married couple. The movie’s slapstick humor and lack of chemistry between the two main characters turned people off and overshadowed the playful romance it tried to show.
15. Basic (2003)
With John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson at the helm, Basic is a military thriller that follows the unfolding of a complicated plot during a routine training exercise. Even though the movie tried to be suspenseful and mysterious, its complicated plot, uneven pace, and confusing way of telling the story left viewers feeling disconnected and confused.
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