In a recent RPadTV Google+ chat, RPadholic Tokz mentioned that Channing Tatum will be playing Gambit in an X-Men spinoff movie. My initial reaction was horror. While he’s an established Hollywood draw and attracts lots of female moviegoers, Channing Tatum is not a good actor. After thinking about the casting choice for a bit (more than a bit, actually, because my crap web server was down), I’m feeling pretty good about the casting decision. There are a couple of reasons why Channing Tatum as Gambit should work. After careful (not really) examination, I’m looking forward to it (also not really).
First off, Gambit is a crap character. In the comics, he started off as a cool thief with a unique Cajun background. Eventually, his backstory became way too complex and convoluted (a classic comic book mistake) to the point that the character became a bit ridiculous. At the end of the day, Gambit is a mutant Pepe Le Pew that throws kinetically-charged cards. That’s lame. Since Gambit is a crap character, it makes perfect sense for a crap actor to portray him. Channing Tatum is the perfect man for the job! (I’m half-kidding in this paragraph. While I think Gambit is a mediocre character, I’m exaggerating his craptitude just to rib Tokz.)
More seriously, I’m rooting for Channing Tatum. I think he can be incredibly entertaining in a Paul Walker kind of way. The late, great star of the Fast & Furious movies dazzled millions of moviegoers with his mesmerizingly bad acting. Tatum isn’t quite there yet. He still tries too hard and has delusions of grandeur of being nominated for an Academy Award. If Tatum embraces his formidable and natural ability to act poorly, he’ll carry the torch for Walker as the preeminent crappy actor of his generation. If and when he chooses to do, Hollywood will have a “special” talent on its hands.
Also, dude was in Coach Carter, one of the most criminally underrated movies made in the last 20 years. At the very least, everyone in the Coach Carter cast deserves immensely successful acting careers. At best, they’ll all be playing superheroes.
Okay, it’s your turn. What do you think of Channing Tatum as the X-Men’s Gambit? Will it work? Or will he just make a lame character even lamer?
I cannot imagine Paul Walker as a Cajun. Is it so hard to find a good, suave actor who is actually from Louisiana?
(Rhetorical question)
-M
Adam Sandler makes a pretty good Cajun.