Steve Zahn was just fantastic in Out of Sight. It was the first film I ever saw him in. He played this rat of a character with a decent conscience deep down. I knew right away I’d see more of him.
A few months later I caught Steve Zahn again in the Hank/Ryan comeday You’ve Got Mail. Once again a smaller background role, but one in which I thought he made a real showing for himself. Good things were ahead.
Then in 1999 the break came. Zahn got his first real lead role in Happy, Texas. What? Don’t remember that one. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It was an ok comedy, but hardly memorable. But still, it was a lead role and Zahn was on his way to superstardom…. right?
For me, the defining moment in Zahn’s career with the 2001 film Saving Silverman. A comedy wth tons of promise and LOTS of marketing behind it. This was the movie (in my opinon) that could have solidified Zahn as a permanent comedic leading man. The film flopped at the box office and with critics (although I didn’t think it was all that bad).
Zahn has done a LOT of bad films. But for some reason I still get interested in a flick whenever I see him appear in a trailer. And I always get let down. Until…
Finally got around to seeing Sahara the other night, and I thought it was pretty good (not great). But what I was thrilled to see was the first glimps of Steve Zahn returning to his true form. He played a solid supporting character with snarky sarcasm and quick wit… the type of character Zahn was born to play.
It’s an interesting thing when you see an actor that you figure can’t miss as a superstar… and then their star just drops right out of the sky. I had Steve Zahn pegged as one of those can’t miss guys… but at this point I think it’s safe to say that he has indeed √¢‚Ǩ≈ìmissed√¢‚Ǩ¬ù.
So here’s my question:
Why didn’t Zahn’s career take off? Was it just bad films? Was it a lack of talent? Was it something else?
Also, do you think he’s destined to just be the background comic relief for the rest of his career or could he make the jump to leading man again? Give me your thoughts.
