As fans of the hit show, Obi-Wan Kenobi, would testify, movies and television shows are often subject to levels of scrutiny that other art forms rarely are. Complex narratives require a complex cast of characters, some of whom only serve to keep the plot functioning, while others are, simply put, just a bit annoying.
One of the criticisms leveled at Obi-Wan from some sections of the fanbase was the over-reliance on the character of a young Princess Leia, whose all-action approach seemed suitably silly compared with the seriousness of what was unfolding around her. Redditors have taken to the online platform to suggest other characters in movies who have detracted from, or even downright ruined, a perfectly good film.
Alfrid Lickspittle In The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies (2014)
Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is a rip-roaring fantasy action prequel that generally pleased fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. Redditors, though, were less than impressed by the villainous character of Alfrid Lickspittle in the film.
Antagonists in movies aren't supposed to be likable, but Alfrid Lickspittle is a particularly disagreeable screen presence and the frequency of his appearances in the movie irked several Redditors. Reddit Wakattack00 comments, "Why did they have to keep cutting to him every 5 minutes? So unnecessary."
Nicole In Dawn Of The Dead (2004)
Horror movies, and zombie horror flicks, in particular, tend to expose their characters' self-destructive sides more readily than other genres. For every emotionally intelligent character in a horror flick, there is a character who is doomed from the off.
Zack Synder's Dawn of the Dead updated the classic zombie movie to exhilarating effect, but one character, in particular, rubbed Redditors the wrong way. Nicole, who spends much of the movie tending to a rescued dog, made one Reddit squirm due to her knack for putting the rest of the cast in peril. Lanceturley says that Nicole "risked everyone's lives, and got several people killed, to 'rescue' a dog that was in no danger whatsoever."
Amanda Kirby In Jurassic Park III (2001)
Out of Jurassic Park III is perhaps the most openly criticized, but it is still an enjoyable entry into the popular dinosaur franchise. The movie has some likable protagonists in its cast, but Redditors found one character, in particular, insufferable to watch.
For all her faults, to give Amanda Kirby credit, she has been put in a precarious position. With a failing marriage, a missing son, and prehistoric monsters to contend with, she could be forgiven for finding her situation too much to withstand. But Redditors were far from impressed by her decision-making in the movie, with Reddit beersforfears saying, "After hearing her scream into that megaphone, I wanted her to be killed off right then."
Yon-Suk In Train to Busan (2016)
Train to Busan is a film that is about survival at all costs. It pitted its unlikely, and unlucky, cast of characters in a position where they had to think quickly or be eaten alive by flesh-eating zombies. In a situation such as the one Train to Busan posits, working together is the key to survival.
The outlier for this theory is the character of Yon-Suk, who has irritated Redditors with a selfishness that is directly responsible for the deaths of many of the ill-fated engers on the train. Redditor Opeace says Yon-Suk is "pretty much responsible for 90% of the deaths in that movie. I get that his role was necessary as a metaphor for the elites being responsible for our demise, but I think he at least deserved a more painful demise."
Joey Starrett In Shane (1953)
The typical story arc of a classic Western movie often involves a cowboy who is burdened with the unenviable task of looking out for the well-being of a youthful counterpart. Enter Joey Starrett in Shane, whose idolization of the titular cowboy in the movie was far from adorable in the eyes of many Redditors.
In fact, with every scene Joey Starrett is gifted, his screen presence becomes ever the more jarring and Reddit s note that above all else, the young character's voice was the most irritating. Reddit awsomeoo8000 says, "Little Joey Starrett from Shane has to be one of the most annoying children ever put on screen. It's still great but good God his voice is so grating and they gave him SO MANY lines."
Ruby Rhod In The Fifth Element (1997)
Luc Besson's The Fifth Element saw plenty of renowned actors play seminal roles in the film. One of these all-time great performances came from Chris Tucker, who played Ruby Rhod and provides much of the movie's comic relief throughout its narrative.
Several Reddit s note that whilst the character of Ruby Rhod initially irritated, upon repeat viewings, Tucker's portrayal became more and more iconic. Redditor SoVerySick314159 comments, "The FIRST TIME (and I stress, the FIRST TIME) I saw The Fifth Element at the theatre, Chris Tucker's Ruby Rhod really threw me. So obnoxious (...) On repeat viewings, I've grown to love the performance and its place in the movie." It just goes to show, that sometimes the most infuriating of characters can grow on viewers in time.
C-3P0 In Star Wars (1987 - )
C-3PO has been an almost ever-present character in the Star Wars franchise and is often the anxious voice of reason during perilous situations. This, in turn, can be frustrating, not only for the robot's fellow protagonists but for the movie's viewers, who would prefer that characters were more proactive in their decision-making.
Thankfully, the characters in Star Wars also share fans' frustrations with C-3PO, and one Reddit recalls a particular scene in The Empire Strikes Back when the robot's whinging becomes so insufferable that he is rendered obsolete. Redditor justan0therjeff says, "I revisiting Empire Strikes Back a few years ago and thinking that C-3PO was really annoying in it. Then Leia turns him off and I thought, 'OK, it's not just me.'"
Jenny Everdeane In Gangs Of New York (2002)
Bad accents in movies are sometimes able offenses and can be forgiven if the acting is of a generally high standard. This could certainly be argued about Cameron Diaz's portrayal of Jenny Everdeane in Gangs Of New York.
Some Redditors, though, thought that Diaz's Irish accent was not up to scratch and detracted from her performance, making each scene she was in close to farcical. In an otherwise great movie, a bad accent can be its undoing, and Reddit Captain_Comic doesn't hold back in voicing their frustrations at Diaz's effort, calling her accent "terrible."
Samuel In The Babadook (2014)
The central plot in the critically acclaimed horror The Babadook revolves around the possessed child of Samuel. It is Samuel who sets his beleaguered mother off into a spiral of suspicion and terror, and so it is no wonder that he is somewhat of an irritant to viewers of the movie.
Redditors were far from enamored with the character of Samuel in the movie and even go as far as suggesting that, unlike in other horror movies, they would prefer the villain to come out on top in a battle of wills. Redditor RedditMayne forlornly its, "It's challenging to watch a horror movie when you start rooting for the monster."
Willie Scott In Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)
Being a former beauty star, Willie Scott could be forgiven for finding herself in the unfortunate position of fending for her life against a murderous ancient cult in Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom. Luckily for the character, she had Harrison Ford's Indian Jones for company in the movie to aid her survival hopes.
Redditors dislike Scott for a number of reasons, not least for her entitled moaning throughout the film. Reddit Tethros says, "She ranged from shrilly obnoxious to putting Indy in grave danger, and had little chemistry to boot. It's made worse by the contrast to Marion Ravenwood from Raiders, who was a certifiable badass."
