The 5 Worst Movie Star Performances In Musicals

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by Oliver Lyttelton
June 14, 2012 3:14 PM
21 Comments

After a few of years since the last major effort (the ill-fated "Nine"), the live-action movie musical is back again, with two starry efforts due this year about as far away from each other as you can get. This Christmas will see the terribly serious-looking "Les Miserables" hit theaters, with a star-studded cast including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway. But first is "Rock of Ages," which arrives in theaters tomorrow, with another A-list ensemble including Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Musicals have given serious career boosts to stars like Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Nicole Kidman and Eddie Murphy in recent years, but if you pick the wrong project, or are more self-confident about your pipes than you should be, it's also the best way to embarass yourself completely. In honor of Alec Baldwin's tone-deaf belting in "Rock of Ages," we've collected five of our favorite big-name performances in movie musicals that the stars would likely rather sweep under the carpet and delete from the resume. Check them out below, and feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section.

Pierce Brosnan in "Mamma Mia!" (2008)
For all of the many flaws of "Mamma Mia!" (principally that it's been directed by someone who appears to have never seen a movie before), it's hard to argue that the cast aren't throwing their all into it. Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper are a little dull, but their elders -- Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, and Christine Baranski -- seem to be having a whale of a time. And if they're not exactly going to be finalists on "The Voice," they're at least performing on the level of a relatively competent karaoke competitor. Then Pierce Brosnan arrives. Brosnan can be a hugely entertaining actor (see: "The Matador," "The Thomas Crown Affair"), but he seems hopelessly adrift here. And then we discover why: while he doesn't have all that many musical numbers, compared to his cast members, he's got a couple of big ones, including an "S.O.S." duet with Streep, and his voice can best be described as a cross between Joe Cocker, a deaf Chewbacca, and an oil tanker trying to warn smaller boats out of its path. It's both the worst, and kind of the best, thing in the movie, and something that will permanently scar your eardrums.

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More: Features, Rock Of Ages, Clint Eastwood, Gerard Butler, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Pierce Brosnan

21 Comments

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Random | October 1, 2012 1:04 PMReply

I used to think Butler did an astounding job, but after hearing Ramin and the rest of the play Phantoms. Yeah, great actor, not a bad singer, but they all wipe the floor with him.

Don't give me the "raw" argument, he's meant to be a musical genius with an unearthly angelic voice. He's supposed to teach Christine how to be a great singer for crying out loud!

I actually didn't like Micheal Crawford at first, too nasally for my tastes.
However, while I still get irked a bit by some of his notes, he's certainly grown on me.

Then I read the book. I was horrified by what Butler did to the Phantom. So toned down, so not threatening almost relying on his looks in a way. They didn't have to gore him out like in that Robert Englund version, but come one, he was like the Twilight of the Phantoms. (He did do a great job, though, so don't attack me fans!)

But then again, beauty is in the ear of the beholder.
Gemini71 | August 4, 2012 4:39 PMReply

I disagree with Gerald Butler being on this list. If you think about what The Phantom represented to Christine: excitement, rebellion, edgy passion. These are character traits indicative of Gerry Butler's various on-screen performances. His voice was rougher, more rock and roll, and I think Joel Schumacher was right to cast him. He also, I have to say, choose wisely in casting Emmy Rossum as Christine.
Robert Connor | July 30, 2012 7:33 AMReply

Lost Horizon cast couldn't handle the tunes? Damned with faint praise indeed, given that Ullman, Finch and Hussey were all dubbed by professional singers! Actually, I quite like Kellerman's tremulous tones in this, although her hoofing with Hussey in the library is hilarious.
Albert | June 26, 2012 1:38 PMReply

I agree about most of them, especially the cast of "Lost Horizon", but I have to disagree about Eastwood. I thought he did pretty well considering the fact that he's not a singer. He's certainly got a better voice than Lee Marvin. And if you dislike him in "Paint Your Wagon", why didn't you include his singing in "Bronco Billy" (which I have not seen, but I did hear that he sings in it)?
sidsbowl | June 18, 2012 12:31 PMReply

Hugh Jackman has a stellar broadway career. He's not my favorite actor, but the guy's very talented.
Spike | September 13, 2012 1:55 AM

I want to see him play King Arthur Pendragon in a new version of Camelot; come on, Hollywood, the man's not getting any younger.
caseytheyank | June 17, 2012 11:32 PMReply

Cmon, Butler should not be in this category! He has a nice, pleasant, even a good voice, but definitely not brilliant as some gals claim he is. I agree with Celtic Charm. Thought he showed fear, strength, courage, weakness and a variety of other emotions and was very appealing, even to some guys!
Todd | June 17, 2012 5:39 PMReply

Peter O'Toole in "Goodbye Mr. Chips" was pretty bad. The fact that he can't sing a note is the least of his worries in this film.
CMC | June 17, 2012 7:56 AMReply

I was very much surprised by Butlers voice. I loved him as the Phantom..he was both sexy and soft at the same time. His voice I thought sounded better then Michael Crawford who was way too nasal. I have both cds and like the movie version better.
Liz | June 16, 2012 3:13 PMReply

I LOVED Gerard Butler in "Phantom"..As ALW said, the phantom has to have a rock and roll sensibility...Gerard's voice was raw and powerful. I remember seeing it in the theatre for the first time. I was awed, and the man in front of me when leaving exclaimed,"Wow! That gu's vocie ws powerful." I saw M. Crawford in the part, and I was so disappointed whenI went to
Broadway...Everyone was so in awe of him..why? His nasal , girlish wobbly vibrato was annoying...I know he had his Stage Door Janes, but he wsn't sexy, engaging, or empathetic. His English Music Hall timbre of his voice was quite effeminate. Butler's voice made me see the movie twenty times!!! And I didn't ev n know hwo handsome he was in the mask! Lay off him, you jealous critics!
Celtic Charm | June 16, 2012 6:19 AMReply

Every button was pushed on the "creative" perception of Mr. Butler in POTO, which is allowed. Not only did Butler step into an iconic role he owned it. Musically Gerard Butler became the Phantom but more importantly he added superbly the human condition to the character. To understand and feel his performance you must go deep. Butler portrayed the Phantom as a monster when needed. The ingredient that Butler had the ability to add to this famous figure, was a soul.
Leslie | June 15, 2012 8:17 PMReply

Yes! Gerik's on the list! I used to like Gerry in this role, but I opened my eyes to other Phantom versions.
Ella | June 14, 2012 11:07 PMReply

You are so wrong about Gerard Butler's performance in "Phantom of the Opera." He was superb in his portrayal of the phantom. He was sexy, romantic, scary, sad and emotional - fantastic! When my husband and I saw the movie in the theater, we were absolutely mesmerized and couldn't wait to see it again. The critics were unnecessarily harsh towards this movie. Both Amazon and IMDB have high ratings for the movie and most people loved it. Their comments are for the most part GLOWING about Gerard's performance. The critics don't even like the stage play or Andrew Lloyd Webber so of course they were going to hate the movie. I felt that this critique of all of these actors was totally mean spirited!
Sean C | June 15, 2012 5:53 PM

Sadly, no, he was not. He was equally floundering when he played Dracula in Dracula 2000, but then again, the whole script was a mess, from start to finish, so to blame it all on him is like blaming the sinking of the Titanic on one specific rivet.

Butler can be good in certain roles, but lately, ie since 300, he has picked nothing but bad roles.
zoe | June 14, 2012 11:21 PM

"As pretty much every comments section piece on every piece we've ever written on Gerard Butler attests, the Scottish actor has a fervent female fan base who'll ride to his defense at even the faintest breath of criticism directed towards him."
cadavra | June 14, 2012 5:32 PMReply

Of course Lane & Broderick are over the top in "The Producers." They're SUPPOSED to be over the top. Do you not understand the concept of burlesque? It was Ferrell and Thurman who were the weak links, but we understood that they were cast so there would be a couple of movie stars for box-office insurance--and as it turns out, they didn't help, after all. "Producers" is an excellent rendition of a tremendous show, and in years to come people will look back on it and realize that "we" blew it the first time around.
Sean C | June 15, 2012 5:56 PM

The best production of The Producers, was the original Mel Brooks film, the Producers.

I agree, Uma and Will were not great in it, but the biggest flaw was the Removal of LSD, Lorenzo St. Dubois. The character is hilarious in the original, and his omission was a terrible decision.
kingslayer | June 14, 2012 5:03 PMReply

wow brosnan really went full retard there
Mikey M | June 14, 2012 3:56 PMReply

No Michael Beck in Xanadu?
Sean C | June 15, 2012 6:07 PM

Michael Beck is bad in Xanadu (His casting was a Joel Silver mistake that has gone down in history as one of the worst casting decisions ever.) but he never sings in the film, so he doesn't count.

I'm surprised nobody from 'At long Last, love' was included in that list. Most notably Cybill Shepherd.
Anyone who has heard her singing...then ouch, just ouch.
nolan | June 14, 2012 3:41 PMReply

Pierce Bronan gave me a seizure 20 minutes ago