Meghan Markle’s big Hollywood comeback may be over before it even began as critics are already slamming her new Disney movie Elephants, which is set to start streaming on Disney+ on Friday.
Last week, it was announced that Meghan would be narrating the Disneynature documentary as her first Hollywood undertaking since her marriage to Prince Harry. Unfortunately for her, however, critics have blasted both the movie and her performance, which has been described as vastly overdramatized.
Ed Potton of The Times of London [1] wrote that the former “Suits” actress traded “pomp and circumstance for schmaltz and cheesiness.”
“The silken tones that Meghan employed on the legal series ‘Suits’ and which were often muzzled during her time as a full-time royal are now given free rein,” Potton wrote. “And yes, she certainly has an actor’s way with a phrase and a likeable sense of mischief. ‘Oh! Who did that?’ she coos in mock disgust when one of the elephant calves breaks wind. The sense of performance, though, often feels overegged. Even the underwhelming moment in which the elephants rip some bark off a tree is presented like the announcement of the winner for best picture.”
Potton went on to criticize the movie itself as well, saying it serves as proof that “evidence-based nature documentaries” are a thing of the past, adding that the film “feels a bit shallow.”
He was not the only critic to go after Meghan for her abilities. Empire [2]‘s Ian Freer said that she came off as “over-eager to please” with her narration, although he added somewhat helpfully that she did manage to stay on “the right side of annoying.”
Markle was hired for the Disney movie months after Daily Mail [3] obtained video of Harry pitching her for a voiceover role to Disney CEO Bob Iger while they attended the London premiere of the remake of The Lion King.
“You know, she does voiceovers,” Harry can be seen telling Iger while pointing to Meghan on the red carpet.
“Oh really, I did not know that,” Iger said, to which Harry pressingly replied, “She’s really interested.”
“We’d love to try,” Iger replied.
Imagine casually having a conversation with Jay Z and Beyoncé, while your partner is marketing your skills to this the CEO of Disney — and thus securing tf out of your bag.
Harry is a damn husband okay?! pic.twitter.com/bup92gMM4s [4]
— C O U R T (@courtnationnn) January 13, 2020 [5]
Elephants marks Meghan’s first Hollywood project since she and Harry announced that they were stepping down as senior members of the British royal family back in January. Though they initially moved to Vancouver, Canada after leaving the U.K., they have since moved to Los Angeles, California, where they are currently said to be looking at homes in the ritzy Malibu area.
This piece was written by Daniel M on April 2, 2020. It originally appeared in Objectivist.co [6] and is used by permission.
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