Ben Stiller has made a comeback to movie-making, yet his latest effort has brought about mixed results. He’s been a prominent figure in Hollywood for decades, debuting in “Hot Pursuit” (1987). He’s renowned for roles like Alex in “Madagascar” (2005), Larry in “Night at the Museum” (2006), and Walter Mitty in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (2013). Over his career, he’s won a BAFTA Award, a Directors Guild of America award, and an Emmy.
Since 2017, Stiller has mainly focused on small projects, taking on minor roles to boost his productivity as a director and producer. His last major role was in 2021’s “Locked Down”, which was still smaller than usual. So, his return in a significant role was unexpected. His new role in “Nutcrackers”, a Hulu streaming movie directed by David Gordon Green (“The Exorcist: Believer”), hasn’t received strong acclaim from critics. In the movie, Stiller’s Mike Maxwell has to take custody of his nephews before the holiday season. Released on November 29 on Disney+ and Hulu, it’s scored low on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 32% Tomatometer.
Critics generally agree there’s nothing offensive in the movie. Rachel Labonte of Screen Rant gave it 6 out of 10 stars, saying Stiller’s performance salvages it from being too generic. But most critics think the funny script can’t rescue the rather formulaic concept. The movie’s predictable from the moment Mike learns he’ll take custody of his nephews. While Stiller’s performance stands out, the overall movie suffers.
“Nutcrackers”’ divisive Rotten Tomatoes scores is that they’re somewhat deserved. Stiller’s return doesn’t distinguish itself from other holiday movies. While it’s not fair to rate it so low with a 32% score, it’s not outstanding either. But its cast, including Stiller, earns it some respect. Being formulaic doesn’t mean it’s unwatchable. It’s great to see Stiller back in major acting roles, which is reason enough to watch.
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