I blame Spielberg and the writers for that; Capshaw just gave them the performance they wanted. But, yeah, Willie Scott ruins the movie for me every time, and it's my least favorite of the Indiana Jones quadrilogy.
I think this actually covers a LOT of the complaints folks have in this thread. It's not so much the actor who ruins it, as it is the character. I mean, take Chris Tucker's character in 5th Element. As stated, he's supposed to be annoying. He's written that way and, to play that specific role, he knocks it out of the park. He does EXACTLY what they want him to do. Same with Kat Dennings in Thor. They wanted Two Broke Archaeology Research Assistants and they got it. It was exactly what the script called for, and she did the job admirably. Her job was to be the wiseass sidekick friend. It's not her fault that the role is written annoyingly.
I find kids in movies obnoxious 99% of the time and he for sure was thanks to that writing. I would laugh if they brought him back in the next indy movie all grown up.
When they're included for "cute" factor or "so the kids can relate" or whatever other manipulative not-for-story-purposes reason, yeah, they're annoying. Particularly when they're "child actors." I think casting kids is REALLY difficult because all too often their performances seem unnatural and too knowing, and as if they're too "adult" because they live their lives in this adult world. It's weird. On the flipside, if you get a kid who can't act, you end up with Jake Lloyd. Although, even there, I tend to blame the writing and direction. I mean, how are you going to convincingly work with "Whopeee" as a line? What the hell can you do with that line?!
I agree about Natalie Portman. She didn't wreck it, but it was a poor performance. She's a research scientist, but then gushes like a school girl whenever Thor is near.
She acted more grown-up in Leon, when she was 12.
Natalie Portman as the love interest in Thor is WAY worse than Kat Dennings, in my opinion. I just got ZERO chemistry between her and Chris Hemsworth. Like, really, this is the woman you consider giving up your godly powers for? THIS woman? Portman's a talented actress, but she's just....wrong for that part.
I know Goonies is a must see 80s movie but even in the 80s as a kid I didn't like it. Most movies with Steve Guttenberg in them as he's the 80s version of Adam Sandler.
Are you sure you aren't thinking of Cocoon or Three Men and a Baby or Don't Tell Her It's Me? 'Cause he's not in The Goonies.
Keanu in Bram Stokers Dracula. His accent is like nails across a chalkboard.
Ugh. So true.
Oh, for that matter, Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta. Her accent there is another one of those "I'm an American doing what I think a generically British accent sounds like." It's not even RP/BBC English. It's just "vaguely British-like." It's horrid. Although, in fairness, a lot of British and Irish actors do awful "broad-R" not-really-American accents.
