CENTURY CITY, Aug. 11, 2001 — What goes up eventually must come down. And Freddie Prinze Jr., who once reigned as BMOC of the recent teen-movie genre, has learned that once the bubble bursts, the fall is steep.
Since the 25-year-old’s film career peaked in 1999 with She’s All That, he’s found that no amount of Teen Choice Awards ease his transition into grown-up fare. Prinze puts some blame on the press for the pigeonholing, and recently revealed such frustration to Hollywood.com.
“I like picking films based on the character … I was making teen movies, but I was picking cool characters. If you can’t understand that, that’s why you’re not an actor and that’s why I am.”
“Unfortunately,” he continues, “I had to close [teen-oriented roles] because people were just getting retarded or hateful, so I’m sorry to people who liked me making those movies. But I gotta pick what’s the best out there for me. It’s sad. I’m sorry.”
But Freddie my love, there’s more to it than the media. You may be taking your first post-boom R-rated film with Summer Catch, playing a struggling small-town pitcher who spouts the F-word (but only when you’re really mad) and chugs beer from a bottle held between a girl’s knees. But have you seen the ads? The studios have loved to market even your post-college films as Freddie Prinze Jr. Movies. Adult or not, you’re still romancing another pretty girl (Jessica Biel) and flashing your angelic smile.
Sound familiar? Let’s take a look back at your earlier films and your previous comments to Hollywood.com. Then keep reading to get our career advice:
| Film | Role | Comments | Career High or Low? |
| The House of Yes (1997) | Anthony, the sweet teen who’s enchanted by the lovely Lesly (Tori Spelling) | “It happens to be my favorite movie. I don’t like my performance in it, but I like the movie. If I could do it again, there are a lot of things I could do and I genuinely believe I could do them better.” | High. Indie cred and Parker Posey on your résumé are always good things. |
| I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) | Ray, the sweet college student who’s enchanted by the lovely Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) | “Ray goes from somebody who really lets you down to somebody who ends up saving the day. He goes on a long journey, and that’s the main reason I wanted to do the role.” | High. First film hit box-office jackpot, riding crest of teen-horror wave. |
| She’s All That (1999) | Zach, the sweet jock who’s enchanted by lovely Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook) | “I’ve never had more fun on a movie. I’m not trying to sound egotistical, but out of the few films that I’ve made, this is the best one.” | High. Achieved household name status; kicked off the teen-romance machine. |
| Down to You (2000) | Al, the sweet aspiring chef who’s enchanted by the lovely Imogen (Julia Stiles) | “I wanted to make three movies that spoke to a generation. She’s All That was the first…Down to You is the get-out-of-high-school years.” | Low. You can’t tell us that as leader of the youthquake, this was the best thing out there. |
| Boys and Girls (2000) | Ryan, the sweet college student who’s enchanted by the lovely Jennifer (Claire Forlani) | “I wanted to finish up with something really strong … I felt like it was the best one out of all three. And I’m more proud of this film than any film I’ve ever made.” | Low. Two words: You’re coasting. |
| Head Over Heels (2001) | Jim, the sweet executive who’s enchanted by the lovely Amanda (Monica Potter) | “Are there things I’d change? Yeah, of course. But can I? No, so I accept them. I know how hard I worked — which wasn’t too terribly hard ’cause I had the greatest part in the world — but it was fun just the same.” | High for wearing business suits, but otherwise low. |
So what should Freddie do next? (keep reading)
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What Freddie Should Do
Now Freddie, don’t fret. There’s still a chance to turn things around here. We’re not too sure about you playing Fred in the Scooby-Doo movie (if “Jeepers! A clue!” ain’t regression from adult roles, we don’t know what is), but we can help you take that teen-flick success and go the way of John Cusack rather than the Coreys (Haim and/or Feldman).
Try these career tips:
– Take your name off the marquee above the title. Getting that weight of the film off your shoulders will be a big relief.
– Appear in a testosterone-driven Bruckheimer actioner, like Ben Affleck in Armageddon. Avoid roles where you’re the one with the girlfriend (we want you as manly as you can be). While you’re at it, sniff around Affleck’s mailbox to see what scripts he’s looking at.
– Get yourself into a heavy-drama war epic, the way Josh Hartnett did with the upcoming Black Hawk Down. Brandish guns. Grow a beard and make sure you get really dirty. (Right now you’re the poster boy for Noxema) Better yet, get disfigured. Lose a limb.
– Beg the hip, quirky director of the moment to get you into their next project, like Steven Soderbergh‘s follow-up to sex, lies & videotape. You’ve called House of Yes your favorite film; follow that instinct. Utilize the Latino part of your heritage and get a meeting with Robert Rodriguez.
– Take a sidekick role. Your father, the late Freddie Prinze (Chico and the Man), excelled in comedy, and you also seem to go for the funny stuff. Cut your teeth on the types of roles that Casey Affleck or Seth Green land. You may be too good looking to be the over-the-top type, so study Don Cheadle for subtlety.
– Get schooled. Denzel Washington‘s your dream collaborator. Since Ethan Hawke nabbed your place in Washington’s upcoming Training Day, find another veteran who’s not too reclusive to mentor you on the set (Tom Cruise was just as pretty as you, but raised his cred by working with Newman, Duvall and Hoffman). Find a director who will run you into the ground, drive you crazy — and make you realize what you’ve got (again, Cruise with Oliver Stone).
– Say no to a Scooby-Doo sequel.
