Gal Gadot has been in the industry for a while now but audiences and critics alike have been divided about her acting ability. The actress gained recognition through her portrayal of Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and later movies.
However, one action comedy put a blemish on her so-far-so-good filmography. The 2016 film Keeping Up with the Joneses experienced a disastrous reception at the box office and failed to create a substantial impact. Surprisingly, the lack of success was not due to the cast’s inability to perform, but due to the staleness of the script. Gadot especially managed to impress critics with her alluring and charming portrayal.
The polarizing reviews: Can she act?
Over the years, the audience’s views of Gal Gadot and her capability as an actress have taken a huge downslide. The actress aced her role of the suave and graceful Princess Diana in her DC debut movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).
While some critics praised her performance, others stated it was sub-par but that same year another movie featuring the actress was also released. Keeping Up with the Joneses was Greg Mottola’s aspirational action-comedy, which failed to make waves at the box office.
Made on a budget of $40 million, the movie, unfortunately, suffered a loss, making somewhere around $28 million worldwide according to The Numbers. However, critics’ main complaint from the Jon Hamm starrer wasn’t its star cast but the script which failed to deliver.
The plot revolves around a suburban couple Jeff and Karen Gaffney (played by Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher) who quickly get bored of their monotonous life. Unexpectedly, the duo gets obsessed with the idea that their next-door neighbors, the Joneses played by Hamm and Gadot, are spies in disguise.
Rotten Tomatoes rated the film at a low 20% but reviews mentioned that the Furious 7 actress was a surprising factor. The former Miss Israel was her usual charming and elusive self as the spy-in-disguise Natalie Jones.
The disappointing outcome: Another strike
Mottola’s comedies like Adventureland and Superbad managed to incite chuckles and even full-blown laughter from the viewers. Sadly, the director failed to create the same magic with his 2016 action-flick venture.
However, fans did appreciate the cast’s efforts to maintain their onscreen performances and chemistry. Many praised the actor’s bromance and the actress’s portrayal of suburban housewives.
Gadot’s portrayal of Natalie was well-liked by the audience, who were charmed by her sunny smile. The actress also spoke about her character in an interview with the Los Angeles Daily News.
I don’t like the meat-and-potatoes, obvious humor. I like it when it surprises you, when it comes from an unexpected place.
The Death on the Nile actress stated that she enjoyed a subtle approach to comedy, which made sense since her character was a spy-in-hiding. That year she was also nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Comedy.
Gadot may not delivered a moving or exceptional performance through the action-comedy, but she did nail what the script demanded of her. Only time will tell if the actress will be successful in changing the fans and critic’s opinions of her.
