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I said "plain at best" -- in this movie, I found her to be just plain ugly. Of course, the idea was to make her the ugly sister of the immaculate Zeta-Jones, so maybe the makeup artist dirtied her up a little, but frankly I've never thought she was particularly attractive in ANY movie. Her nose is too big and triangular, her lips are nasty -- combine that with some weird teeth and she has one of the most noxious smiles in Hollywood, her skin tone is too ruddy and full of blemishes for anything other than red hair (makeup doesn't help much) and her eyes are too close together. And, needless to say, I don't like her body too much either, as I prefer voluptuous women and despite what you saw in "Erin Brockovich" and "Pretty Woman," she's seriously lacking up top and far too thin elsewhere as well. She's looked absolutely haggish in most of her recent movies (this one, "The Mexican," "Notting Hill" -- the interesting thing about "EB" is that she was supposed to look trampish, yet because of the right hair-makeup combination for once, she actually looked about the best she has in years). I think the vast majority of bona fide Hollywood actresses (much less the Skinemax girls and Playmates) are prettier and sexier than she is. Ever notice that they don't often give her a strong female co- star? I've never thought much of her looks but perhaps it's only because she was standing next to nearly flawless Zeta-Jones for most of this film that I felt the need to say something. Even her elder Susan Sarandon looked a lot better than her in "Stepmom." The only other movie in the last few years in which she's had a major female co-star was "My Best Friend's Wedding" -- and needless to say, Cameron Diaz is quite a bit more attractive than Roberts, even in her "Being John Malkovich" get-up. Perhaps Roberts realizes it's best not to put herself in a situation where her face will be compared with another actress'. (Of course, her $25M salary might have something to do with it, too.)
It has long been established that Crankyland women are of a different vein from the "general population." For example, Crankyland women are wild about "Fight Club." (With notable exceptions.) I have a single female friend in real life that can even stand that movie. On the same note, Pseu, I could take your theoretical quote "I LOVE her, I can't wait to see that movie because SHE'S in it" to my female friends and I bet 9 out of 10 of them would agree with it. Heck, seven of them asked me about going to this screening before I even brought it up (how rude :)) and most of them mentioned Julia in their requests. My closest friend, on the other hand, hates Julia. She's also, as best as I can tell, the one most likely to be a Crankyland poster (though I've never suggested to her to post here). Then again, I live in the South and Julia's from the South (one of my high school classmates now teaches at Julia's high school in Smyrna) and has a strong fan base here, so maybe the women here are atypical as far as Roberts is concerned. Personally, I don't know any men who think there's anything exceptional about her appearance, but then again she is almost 34 and most the males I know are younger than me so they think Julia is a little old for them to have the hots for anyway. Katie Holmes, Shannon Elizabeth and our dear Reese is more of what catches their fancy...
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