# Best--and worst--onscreen chemistry **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2007, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694 "2007-06-12T12:36:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/81 "2007-06-13T14:28:16Z")
Here’s an example of great chemistry that goes back a few years: Captain Frank Furillo and public defender Joyce Davenport on _Hill Street Blues_. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/82 "2007-06-13T14:32:46Z")
[QUOTE=HelloKitty] Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner in the first PotC (it’s harder to think of bad chemistry pairings for some reason!) [/QUOTE] Oh yes. If I had been directing the film, it would have been these two kissing. I don’t think of bad chemistry much because to me most romance is bad chemistry, i.e., I really don’t like romance in my flicks. I find it terribly annoying and thus don’t watch romantic flicks. And once I thought of the Star Wars Anakin-Padme duo, it’s hard to think of anything worse than that. ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/83 "2007-06-13T15:22:29Z")
[QUOTE=Second Star to the Right] Good call. I also think Jack and Elizabeth had decent chemistry. They both seemed very into that kiss at the end of the second movie. [/QUOTE] Word. I remember from the very first film, buying the romantic tension between the two of them on the island much more than any between Elizabeth and Will. Spoilers for 3rd movie… I still can’t believe they completely abandoned that in the third film. _sob_ And now, to delve into my other obsessive fandom: Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper had amazing chemistry in the first season of the new Doctor Who. I know several folks who were pleasantly gobsmacked when they first watched the new Who, thinking “Jeez, they’d better tone it back a few notches if they plan on keeping the ‘No hanky-panky in the TARDIS’ rule intact!” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/84 "2007-06-13T15:29:58Z")
No mention of the great comedy acts of yesteryear under best? Abbot and Costello Laurel and Hardie Hope and Crosby I also thought Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub gelled in _Big Night_; both the original odd couple (Matthau and Lemmon) and their TV counterparts (Klugman and Randall) worked perfectly together. Pesci and DeNiro always worked well together. As for a TV couple that just doesn’t click for me, the actor and actress who play Lee Adama and Anastasia Dualla on Battlestar Galactica just don’t mesh. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/85 "2007-06-13T16:17:05Z")
While I agree there was chemistry between Travolta and Thurman in Pulp Fiction, I don’t think it was as sexual as some are making it out to be. For one thing, Travolta worked for Ving Rames character and was very, very leery of having to go on a “date” with his wife. He specifically asked about the Samoan (Rocky Something) getting tossed out a window for looking at Thurman. Plus, Travolta’s on smack, and smack doesn’t lend itself to too much sexual activity. Thurman, for her part, plays a little cat and mouse with Travolta, but I never got the impression she’d stray from Ving Rames. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/86 "2007-06-13T16:24:17Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] Nikki and D.L. oh, hell, Nikki and anyone. [/QUOTE] Can I just say I caught \*Legally Blonde \* over the weekend (hey, Reese Witherspoon is cute, and my daughter wanted to watch it) and [Ali Larter](http://imdb.com/name/nm0005123/) was SO both Jessica and Niki in that movie! In the jail scenes she was Niki, but in the courtroom she was Jessica. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/87 "2007-06-13T16:27:05Z")
[QUOTE=Ranchoth] Worst: Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn in _Funny Face_. Runner up: Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron in _Daddy Long Legs_. [/QUOTE] BUt y ou gotta admit Fred and Ginger had some great chemistry. I wouldn’t necessarily buy them as a romantic couple but they were fun to watch on-screen. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/88 "2007-06-13T16:42:11Z")
I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned _Before Sunrise_ and _Before Sunset_’s Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy). Holy cow- THAT was a scorching couple. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/89 "2007-06-13T17:35:15Z")
Did we mention Hiro and Ando in “Heroes” yet for good chemistry? (Danged senile brain.) Bad chemistry - Ewan MacGregor and Scarlett Johanssen in “The Island.” Two very pretty people, pretty movie, no chemistry. Good chemistry - Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn in “The Terminator.” Ooh, ooh - thought of one for GREAT chemistry - Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman in “Beauty and the Beast” on tv. I was a heeeyuge fan of that show. ---
**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/90 "2007-06-13T18:03:08Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > I agree with those who say Wash and Zoe had no chemistry together in Firefly. If it hadn’t been for them periodically mentioning to somebody they were married (because even the characters in the show seemed to find their relationship implausible) you’d have never suspected they were a couple. Yeah, I’m with you there. Personally (and I’m not even a particular fan of this pairing, but), I think Mal and Zoe have tons more chemistry than Zoe and Wash. > [@plnnr](#): > > While I agree there was chemistry between Travolta and Thurman in Pulp Fiction, I don’t think it was as sexual as some are making it out to be. For one thing, Travolta worked for Ving Rames character and was very, very leery of having to go on a “date” with his wife. He specifically asked about the Samoan (Rocky Something) getting tossed out a window for looking at Thurman. Plus, Travolta’s on smack, and smack doesn’t lend itself to too much sexual activity. > > Thurman, for her part, plays a little cat and mouse with Travolta, but I never got the impression she’d stray from Ving Rames. Man, are you kidding me? How else do you explain that moment where they were dancing their way into the house, and then they stop and just look at each other silently… then Vincent says “Is that what you call an uncomfortable silence?” to which Mia replies “I don’t know WHAT you call that.” If that’s not a clear indication of romantic tension, I don’t know what is. Also, I can’t quote it right now 'cause I’m at work, but don’t you remember the little talking-to Vincent gave himself in the bathroom? Basically convincing himself to just behave, go home, and uh… deal with it? It _was_ chemistry. Vincent was first paralyzed with fear of his boss, and then thankfully saved from any further temptations by Mia’s overdose, but the desire was clearly there. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/91 "2007-06-13T18:12:07Z")
[QUOTE=nevermore] Yeah, I’m with you there. Personally (and I’m not even a particular fan of this pairing, but), I think Mal and Zoe have tons more chemistry than Zoe and Wash. Man, are you kidding me? How else do you explain that moment where they were dancing their way into the house, and then they stop and just look at each other silently… then Vincent says “Is that what you call an uncomfortable silence?” to which Mia replies “I don’t know WHAT you call that.” If that’s not a clear indication of romantic tension, I don’t know what is. Also, I can’t quote it right now 'cause I’m at work, but don’t you remember the little talking-to Vincent gave himself in the bathroom? Basically convincing himself to just behave, go home, and uh… deal with it? It _was_ chemistry. Vincent was first paralyzed with fear of his boss, and then thankfully saved from any further temptations by Mia’s overdose, but the desire was clearly there. [/QUOTE] Travolta may have thought he was going to get some of Thurman, but I don’t see her doing it. Playing with him - stringing him along for a little sport - seeing just how far he’s willing to go (before he, too, takes a dive out of window) - but never giving in. Of course, once she needed the needle to the heart, all bets were off. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/92 "2007-06-13T18:35:41Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] I can’t stand Adam Sandler in most things, but I thought he and the actress playing his Mexican housekeeper (too lazy to look up the name) had great chemistry in _Spanglish_. [/QUOTE] I thought he had great chemistry with Drew Barrymore in the Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates. Also think Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderez had great chemistry in Original Sin. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/93 "2007-06-13T19:09:56Z")
**Good chemistry** : Elizabeth Montgomery & Dick York in “Bewitched” (early years). **Not so good chemistry** : Elizabeth Montgomery & Dick Sargeant in “Bewitched” (later years). **No chemistry** : Will Farrell & Nicole Kidman in “Bewitched” (feature film remake). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/94 "2007-06-13T19:37:25Z")
I am just posting to get The **New and Improved Superman’s** name off the “last posted” list as it takes up half my screen in my User CP! ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/95 "2007-06-13T19:46:10Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] Good chemistry - Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn in “The Terminator.” [/QUOTE] Great chemistry. The scene where they get it on (conceiving John) is scorching hot. Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix are two people I never would have thought could be good together, but they were really believable in _Walk the Line_. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/96 "2007-06-13T20:29:07Z")
Hot: Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin, **The Big Easy** ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/97 "2007-06-13T20:31:48Z")
Not: Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock in Two Weeks Notice. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/98 "2007-06-13T21:04:52Z")
[QUOTE=Ichbin Dubist] Let’s toss in Ron Livingstone and Jennifer Aniston in _Office Space,_ I didn’t really see any sparks there. [/QUOTE] But Ron Livingston and Damien Lewis in _Band of Brothers_ had mucho chemistry. Then, on _Sex in the City_, back to no chemistry with horseface. My fave for chemistry would have to be O’Toole and Hepburn in _The Lion in Winter_. Snappy chemistry and snappy dialogue – what’s not to like? ---
**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/99 "2007-06-13T21:07:51Z")
[QUOTE=plnnr] Travolta may have thought he was going to get some of Thurman, but I don’t see her doing it. Playing with him - stringing him along for a little sport - seeing just how far he’s willing to go (before he, too, takes a dive out of window) - but never giving in. Of course, once she needed the needle to the heart, all bets were off. [/QUOTE] Doesn’t matter for my argument whether or not she’d do it. All that matters is the desire to, and I guess that’s a point of interpretation, but man, to me it definitely seemed like the space between them was the product of a rigidly enforced effort. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694/100 "2007-06-13T21:09:03Z")
Best ‘Buddy Cop’ chemistry: **Nick Nolte** and **Eddie Murphy** in _48 hrs_. Excellent Romantic chemistry in an under-appreciated film: **Dennis Quaid** and **Kathleen Turner** in _Undercover Blues_. You can even make it a troika and add in Muerte ( **Stanley Tucci** ). Oh, how I wish we had gotten some sequels to that movie. Those characters deserved to live again. I’ve gotta agree with the great chemistry between **James Spader** and **William Shatner** on _Boston Legal_. Surprisingly, **Clint Eastwood** and **Burt Reynolds** had pretty good chemistry in _City Heat_. Oh, and how about **Kathleen Turner** and **William Hurt** in _Body Heat_? Or maybe it was just Kathleen Turner… She was never hotter than in that film. Speaking of Kathleen Turner, she had good chemistry with **Michael Douglas** in _Romancing the Stone_. We might as well add **Nancy Allen** and **Harrison Ford** in _Raiders of the Lost Ark_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-onscreen-chemistry/407694.md?page=6)