When a new comer bursts onto the scene, it’s really easy to root for them, and I was one of the people in the very large Jon Heder cheering section after Napoleon Dynamite came out. This guy had a future and instantly became a pop culture icon. A world of potential… but 5 movies have come and gone since Dynamite, and it looks like Heder was a one hit wonder. And the trailers and clips from his new film “Mama’s Boy” certain don’t make it appear that the bust can be stopped.
For the record, I like Heder. He seems to have a fantastic attitude, by all reports he’s a genuinely nice guy and even though he had a sudden rush of superstardom thrust on him, he seems to have always kept his feet on the ground. He’s a likable guy. But you’ve got to call a spade a spade. I’m a nice guy too… but that doesn’t mean I can play in the NBA.
Sadly, Heder has been poor in each and every film he’s appeared in since Dynamite. Yes, Blades of Glory was a funny movie… but Ferrell carried that film and an injured monkey could have played the other part and it still would have been a hit. School For Scoundrels was a mess, The Benchwarmers gives me the runs whenever I even think about it, and even when he tried something different like Moving McAllister he just couldn’t take it up a notch.
Mama’s Boy looks like it could be his worst film yet, and that’s saying something. Deep down I still cheer for Heder… but it’s cheering for the losing team. I don’t expect to see him around much 3 years from now. It’s too bad.
