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Elizabeth Banks
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Review by Zara 
June 5th, 2007
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The Little Strumpet that Could
You know her. I bet you think you don't, but chances are you're already in love with her. Just another pretty little blonde face is most likely what you're thinking, yet Elizabeth Banks managed to pull a Donnie Wahlberg on the nation and be so good that we've collectively put her out of our minds.
Funny, considering that she starred with the less talented Wahlberg in INVINCIBLE While that wasn't a movie that I cared for, I won't say that she wasn't a shining feature in it. Bright and smiling, that too pretty to be the girl next door and yet she was playing the girl next door, that one who knew all of the sports scores, that one that you rooted for the guy to end up with.
Yet that's most likely not where you know her from. You might know her from WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, where she gets down with Paul Rudd, licking his face with as much aplomb as he goes after hers. A total tart and yet you end up relating and liking the girl.
Yet even THAT'S probably not where you know her from. I won't make mention of SEABISCUIT, since NO ONE seems to have seen that movie (and a damn shame at that). Perhaps SLITHER, where she held her own with the delicious Nathan Fillion?
Nope. And I bet you won't have realized that she was the incomparable Betty Brant in all three of the SPIDER-MAN movies. Needless to point out the fact that opinions varied wildly on the third installment, even the biggest of us haters admits that their favorite scene was when she was giving J. Jonah Jameson a buzz at his desk to take his pill... no, not that one.
I'll tell you where you know her from and while you don't realize it was her, you're still having wet dreams about it. Elizabeth was simply Beth in THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, the hot book store chick who is willing to let Andy put his bike in her big trunk - hey!
I feel this chick is only poised to get bigger and better. As pretty as Rachel McAdams but funnier and more willing to put herself out on a limb than Rachel was back in her beginnings, Banks has a good future ahead of her.
Consider this: on her upcoming completed, post-production and filming slate are some big name movies. From DEFINITELY, MAYBE, a new-age romantic comedy in which she co-stars with Ryan Reynolds and Rachel Weisz, to BILL, a movie co-starring the also fantastic and underrated Timothy Olyphant (as well as some chick named Jessica Alba) and dealing with a guy and his desire to get out of the mob.
Let us not forget that she's the go-to chick in the potential blockbuster FRED CLAUS. Not to mention the mini-series "Comanche Moon" getting released later this year and starring everyone from Steve Zahn to Val Kilmer to Karl Urban to Rachel Griffiths to Adam Beach to Linda Cardellini to Wes Studi.
(I'm more interested in something called STARSHIP DAVE - a movie co-starring Eddie Murphy and detailing an alien space ship - yes, SHIP - that falls in love with an Earth woman played by Banks.)
My biggest fear is that Hollyweird will try to turn her into another cookie cutter of Rachel McAdams. While she's got that generic hot blonde girl look, there's something behind her eyes that shows more. Let's just hope that she doesn't get wrapped up in being just the pretty wrapping paper.
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 | Zombie Boy
Jun 5, 2007 8:19 PM
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| I thought she killed in Slither. |
 | Jenny
Jun 6, 2007 11:46 AM
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| I love her. She's who I'd pick to play Tulip in "Preacher", whenever HBO gets around to putting it out. :) |
 | Jamie
Jun 8, 2007 3:44 PM
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| Holy crap, you are right on the mark. That's EXACTLY where I know her from. I'll have to check out some of those other movies. |
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Jun 5, 2007 9:29 PM