Vanessa Hudgens: Unexpected Acting Star

Sucker Punch is the best move Vanessa Hudgens could have made for her career. What’s more, I think it’s going to make her much more successful in the long run than her beau Zac Efron.

Ex-Disney princess, former face of High School Musical, and temporary scandale, Hudgens has never registered in my mind as more than, say, Selena Gomez. She’s generically pretty, of average talent, and almost entirely forgettable. I have never found her offensive, but I also don’t go out of my way to watch her in things. In short, up to this film she has been one of a thousand fresh faced Disney starlets, vaguely entertaining and entirely disposable. Her acting resume up until now has included High School Musicals 1-3, something called Bandslam, and a surprising blip early on (Thirteen). Oh, and a bunch of random Disney show guest spots.

Enter Sucker Punch. I know it’s early to be speculating on this film – the trailer has only recently been publicized, and deciphering the plot line is a sticky tangled mess, but you only have to look at the (heavily photoshopped) posters to know that this is so far outside of Hudgens’ established acting zone it’s practically on another planet. She appears in a leather-and-nylon heist-style body suit, with lots of buckles, an awesome pair of goggles, and a gun that’s bigger than I am. She looks dirty. She looks a little scary. And she looks like a badass. (The Ultimate Badass title goes to Jena Malone, who not only looks like she can kill you with her brain in her shot, but can now deadlift 300 pounds as a result from the physical training she did for the film.)

Suffice to say, it’s a long way from Disney. It’s also connected to a director known for his gritty, action-filled noir influenced violence films (300, Watchmen, Dawn of the Dead). AND, to top off that already intriguing cake, she’s surrounded by established and capable actors, including Jon Hamm and Carla Gugino. The true test will be to see how she does in the film, but all in all, it looks like a remarkable set-up and could be her vehicle to a more diverse acting career. And if she proves her chops as an action girl star, we’ve got one more kick-ass chick in Hollywood, and that’s never a bad thing.

In contrast, here’s what Zac Efron has been doing (keep in mind, he’s supposed to be the more talented and more successful star than Hudgens): 17 Again and Charlie St. Cloud. Fluffy, romantic one-notes. He did do a pretty good turn in Hairspray, but since that’s SO closely related to High School Musical, I have a hard time thinking about it in terms of advancing his career.

Go you, Vanessa. Show us how a Disney girl can grow up and be awesome.

Dear Roman Polanski,

You, sir, are a criminal. It may have happened years and years ago, and the lady in question is an adult now, but the truth of the matter is that you took advantage of a minor in a sexual manner. This is a True Thing, that is not disputable.

Please do me, and my newsfeed, a favor and Suck. It. Up.

You can no longer hide out in Europe. The United States has ordered your sentencing will take place in the States and not in an impartial European nation. The jig is, as they say, up (not that it hasn't been up for a long time...how long were you in Paris, you coward?).

I understand that the woman would like the publicity to go away, but the precedent that says is too dangerous - I'm sorry, Ms. Geimer, but this isn't about you any more. It's about treating celebrities like they are real people, and just as liable for their indiscretions, lawbreaking, and other shenanigans as everyone else.

(Also, SHAME on all of you famous people who actually SUPPORT Polanski. The fact that he makes movies, and really good ones at that, does not excuse him or put him above the law. Please, prove to the world that you can GROW UP and accept responsibility for your actions.)

I understand that this is not quite timely, but I only recently saw the bit about Polanski being denied his motion to be prosecuted in absentia, and it FRIED MY BRAIN that someone could think that that would pass.