Itâd be nice if most movies could live up to Selma, Birdman, Boyhood and other Oscar hopefulsâ standards, but every now and then, you just need a good bad movie. It could be a film thatâs such an utter failure that itâs fun to get a laugh at its expense, a subpar movie that you enjoy watching simply because youâre into a certain genre, actor or character, or perhaps a movie thatâs actually pretty good, but just isnât your thing whatsoever. No matter which classification you prefer, the beauty of a Best Worst movie is that it manages to spark interest and/or entertain, but for the wrong reasons.
Hit the jump out to check out my Best Worst Movies of 2014.
10. I, Frankenstein
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Stuart Beattieâs I, Frankenstein may be a boring, washed out heap of CGI vomit, but it does have one thing going for it - gargoyles. Forget super mopey Adam (Aaron Eckhart) and his cookie-cutter love interest, Terra Wade (Yvonne Strahovski). I want a film about Queen Leonore (Miranda Otto) and the Gargoyle Order. Theyâve got a rich history, a society with interesting rules and a bunch of members (Mahesh Jadu, Caitlin Stasey, Jai Courtney) that get a fraction of the screen time that Adam does, but are exponentially more memorable.
9. Wetlands
Sure, âhateâ is a strong word, but I hated Wetlands. In fact, it might have been the most miserable experience I had watching a film all year. However, that doesnât mean I can classify it as a bad film. In fact, itâs not by any means. Iâm a pretty neat and clean person so I suspect this is just a case where, A, I couldnât relate to or connect with the main character and, B, I just had no interest whatsoever in watching someone stick her finger up her butt and revel in using disgusting public bathrooms.
8. Non-Stop
The only reason Non-Stop works is because Liam Neeson is in it. The texting component is absolutely ridiculous and the whole whodunnit scenario isnât satisfying in the least, but thereâs just something about watching Neeson save the day and kick some butt at 30,000 feet that makes it well worth a watch. Itâs easy to forget that Julianne Moore, Scoot McNairy, Michelle Dockery, Nate Parker, Corey Stoll and Lupita Nyongâo are all in the film as well, but when youâve got Neeson doing things like bribing unruly passengers with free international flights to save the day, thereâs just no way anyone else can come close to stealing the spotlight.
7. Night at the Museum: Secret of the TombÂ
Iâm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I laughed throughout a good deal of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. There are a lot of jokes that fall painfully flat and the whole father-son thing feels forced, but whenever Dan Stevens is on screen as Sir Lancelot, which is a lot, the movie is absolutely hilarious. A good deal of the franchiseâs humor comes from the fact that museum exhibits are waking up in an unfamiliar time period, but Iâve never seen a character work the concept as well as Sir Lancelot, especially during an unforgettable cameo scene towards the tail end of the film.
6. That Awkward Moment
That Awkward Moment sends all the wrong messages about dating and has a particularly deplorable group of main character at the core, but I canât help but to be the slightest bit charmed by them. Call me a hypocrite, but thereâs just something undeniable about Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordanâs on-screen presence, even when their characters are stupid, selfish and borderline sociopaths. Thereâs no harm in getting a giggle out of some silly dick jokes and ogling big screen man candy (ugh), but god help any moviegoer who turns to That Awkward Moment for dating tips.
Continue Reading Best Worst Movies of 2014 on Page 2
5. Ouija
Thereâs a reason we get a slew of horror movies that use and abuse the same old tired concepts; thereâs something appealing about them. I know Ouija makes little to no sense, has scares weâve seen time and time again, and doesnât tap into the nostalgia of playing with a Ouija board as a kid, but thereâs something fun about watching a group of mildly likable victims get picked off one-by-one. Itâs tough to explain and certainly might not hold true for those who arenât big suckers for the genre but, to me, if a horror movie tries something new and fails, itâs got little hope, but if it misses the mark while following a familiar formula, thereâs still a chance you can get swept up in it and enjoy some mindless fun.
4. Vampire Academy
Vampire Academy isnât the greatest young adult book-to-film adaptation out there, but it certainly doesnât deserve that ugly 9% on Rotten Tomatoes. The filmâs biggest flaws are the overabundance of exposition, the one-dimensional leads and the worthless adult characters, but none of that comes anywhere close to sucking the fun out of the film. (Pun intended.) Vampire Academy rocks a vibrant environment, a killer soundtrack and a wildly charming lead performance from Zoey Deutch, making the movie a very worthy guilty pleasure with some serious pizazz thatâll send you on your way with some added pep in your step.
3. InterstellarÂ
Interstellar is somewhere in between being a best worst movie and a worst best movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it while watching it, but the more I think about it, the more I wish it were something else. However, that also hasnât stopped me from defending the film when friends and colleagues pinpoint plot holes, crack jokes about the all-corn diet or get a laugh out of Matt Damonâs character. Interstellar is a captivating and daring movie that digs deeper and goes bigger than most would, but thereâs also no denying that when I came down from the high of seeing it, it totally fell apart.
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Jonathan Liebesmanâs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is pretty uninspired and brainless, but as someone who grew up with every Ninja Turtles toy, VHS tape and video game imaginable, all Liebesman had to do was deliver a fun romp that captured at least some of what I loved so much about the Turtles. There are a lot of missed opportunities, the Turtlesâ monstrous design takes some serious getting used to and Michelangeloâs creep factor can make you a bit uncomfortable too, but overall, the movie keeps enough of their personalities and relationship dynamics intact to win over a longtime fan.
1. Winterâs Tale
Winterâs Tale is the ultimate best worst movie. I still canât quite wrap my head around how something like this even gets made, and with such big name talent nonetheless! Youâd think Russell Crowe would have read the part when Pearly Soames rips someoneâs face off, draws a picture of Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay) with the blood from said face-ripping and then has his henchman ID find her using his bloody finger painting and passed on the project, but thatâs not the case. Winterâs Tale is an utter failure in every respect and while I do poke fun at Colin Farrellâs haircut, the flying horse and the atrocious dialogue, I really do enjoy watching the nonsensical melodrama. Thereâs no nice way to put this considering Iâm essentially getting a big laugh out of many peoplesâ hard work, but for what itâs worth, the time that I spent watching Winterâs Tale is truly some of my fondest memories of 2014.
For more of our Best of 2014 coverage, browse the links below:
Movies
- Perri's Top 10 Horror Films of 2014
- Best Cinematography of 2014
- Adam's Top 10 Films of 2014
- The Top 10 Scores of 2014
- 10 Best Surprises of 2014, From Emily Blunt as an Action Star to THE LEGO MOVIE Not Sucking
- 5 Great Film and Music Moments From 2014
- 10 Great Films of 2014 You May Have Missed and You Should Absolutely Watch
- Oscar Beat: For Your Consideration â Overlooked Films, Performances, and Directors from 2014 That Warrant Recognition
TV
- Comicbook Countdown: The Best Comic Book Shows of 2014 Including ARROW, THE FLASH, CONSTANTINE, GOTHAM, S.H.I.E.L.D., and THE WALKING DEAD
- 10 Best TV Episodes of the Season Thus Far
- Allisonâs Other TV Bests of 2014
- Allisonâs Top 12 Returning TV Series of 2014
- Allisonâs Top 12 New TV Series of 2014