Movies where one actor obviously wandered in from another movie altogether.

[Voyager]

@AK84

Famously Slim Pickens in Dr Strangelive played the role as straight as he could instead of comedic. Empire Strikes Back, Harrison Ford seemed to play his role as serious as possible unlike Hamill and Fisher.

However Pickens intended to play it, Kubrick directed it so it was right in synch with the rest of the movie. He was a comedic but believable character, and a great last minute choice. No more over the top than Sellers as the good Doctor.

One day a long time ago I was home sick from school and I watched an “Ozzie and Harriet” movie. (This was long before cable and satellite.) It was as bad as you would guess, except that in one scene Alvy Moore (Mr. Kimble from Green Acres came to the Nelson door and did like five minutes of shtick that had nothing to do with the movie, and then left. And showed he was a better comic than any of the clucks in that show.

[corkboard]

@Wheelz

Will you take a TV show example?
The first thing that came to mind was Martin Short’s guest spot as “Uncle Jack” on Arrested Development. He played the role like a sketch comedy bit; far too broad and over-the-top for that show, I thought.

This is a perfect description. His appearance always irked me for some reason, and this explains (to me) why.

[John_Bredin]

@Chimera

In every one of these cases I can only as “where was the Director in all of this?”

Same as John Schuck as Draal on Babylon 5. Just way over the top hammy acting like he thinks it’s an episode of Lost in Space or something. Nails on chalk board every time I watch it, takes me completely out of the story. Every bloody time I have to wonder why the Director and other actors didn’t reign him in.

It’s understandable that he’d make the mistake of thinking he’s in Lost in Space, when Bill Mumy (Will Robinson) is also in the show.

[Accidental_Martyr]

@Snowboarder_Bo

Glover’s performance is one of my favorite things about that movie. I think it underscores just how insane the events and mindsets of the other people were, that they found his ideas to have merit at all when he’s pretty clearly a raving lunatic.

I agree. I’ve always liked that movie.

[alphaboi867]

@stegon66

To be fair, these aren’t even b-list actors we’re talking about-they’re pretty much members of George Romero’s extended family who were likely working for peanuts. Still, they were supposed to be portraying people who were, you know, trapped in an underground cavern by literally millions and millions of zombies. I’d be pretty freaked out. And I’m pretty sure Doctor Logan was supposed to be a bit on the mad side anyway.

Yeah, Doc Logan was insane. Personally I always thought it very strange that neither Rhodes or his men seemed to have the slighest interest in raping Sarah (the last women on Earth as far as they knew).

[Horatio_Hellpop]

I remember watching some horror movie back in the 90s. No idea which one, I’m thinking it may have been Pumpkinhead or something like that. Despite the low budget, most of the actors were trying to play it straight. Suddenly, in comes Linnea Quigley with her whole “scream queen” schtick and actually ruins the tone.

[winneee]

@carlotta

All of the other actors in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (and that included Alec Baldwin) seem to understand that they are in a silly just for kids movie (with a really dreadful script that does not rise to the level of your average episode of Thomas the Tank Engine, but Alex Baldwin really gives it his all) but Peter Fonda seemed to think he was in a serious indie that required a realistic portrayal of clinical depression.

I know, Alec Baldwin and Peter Fonda and Thomas the Tank Engine? All I can think is that they knew they would make billions on the DVD around the world and could afford to drive a dump truck of money up to both of their houses.

+1

Good call on a totally obscure movie!

[Bambi_Hassenpfeffer]

Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest. The entire cast seemed to be in on the joke that it was a terrible movie, but Faye was clearly gunning for an Oscar with her insanely dedicated performance.

[cjepson]

These are both intentional, but:

In A Shot in the Dark, I always liked how straight the rest of the cast played the scene in which Clouseau makes his gambit to reveal the killer. It’s like he’s from another planet.

Also, George Raft in Some Like It Hot – playing his standard B-movie character perfectly straight.

[AndrewL]

Ruby Rod in The Fifth Element. I’m not sure what movie he wandered in from.

[Corner_Case]

Wil Smith and Kevin Kline in Wild Wild West seem to walk in awkwardly from other movies repeatedly. They don’t seem to be in sync with what’s going on or with each other. It’s at times like they were green screened into the scenes.

Casino Royale by Woody Allen has almost everyone coming in from some other movie, character, and accent …
Evelyn Tremble: Mr. Mathis, there’s something that’s been worrying me…
Inspector Mathis: Yes?
Evelyn Tremble: Well, you’re a French police inspector, yet you speak with a Scots accent.
Inspector Mathis: Aye, it worries me, too.

[grude]

@alphaboi867

Yeah, Doc Logan was insane. Personally I always thought it very strange that neither Rhodes or his men seemed to have the slighest interest in raping Sarah (the last women on Earth as far as they knew).

I can’t decide whether I like that the movie avoids that angle, or hate it. It just seems to be something Romero isn’t interested in exploring.

Hell what was with Sarah’s delusional “relationship” with Miguel? They are supposed to be a couple but he never shows her on bit of affection.