...and now for another episode of When Apples Met Oranges, starring Tom Hanks and Paul Gross.

[primroseburrows]

I'm ecstatic (and very unsurprised) that Slings & Arrows is getting yet another rave review.

But, um.

The main player in ``Slings'' is actor-turned-director Geoffrey Tennant (Paul Gross, a Canadian Tom Hanks best known in this country for the TV cult claassic ``Due South''), who became interim artistic director of the festival....

I really like Tom Hanks (Philadelphia is one of my very, very favourite movies in the world). Very talented guy, and from everything I've heard, a very nice guy. But he and Paul Gross are nothing alike (aside from being talented and, hopefully, nice). Their acting styles are completely different, they don't look anything alike, they don't sound anything alike. WTF? It's also a bad way to promote the series, because not everyone likes Tom Hanks. Not to mention that Tom Hanks as Geoffrey makes me wince a little, no matter how much I like him as an actor. To be fair, Paul Gross as Forrest Gump makes me wince a lot.

Original article is here, but I'm not sure if it's accessible without signing up.


ETA: Visual Aids A and B:

A.

B.

Comments

[rosiedoes.livejournal.com]

I think they mean they're both talented, clean-cut and likeable.

One of those people you just can't not like.

Did I ever talk about Band of Brothers with you, btw? Tom Hanks directed part of that and it's so fucking awesome and so utterly slashy that I believer everyone ever should see it.

[topaz7.livejournal.com]

Or they're likeable, actors-turned-directors? Talented and multifaceted? I dunno. They are nothing alike, really.

[bjohan57.livejournal.com]

It is a tortuous comparison because I can seriously not think of anyone who is like Paul in the US and it doesn't help the reader at all to mention Tom Hanks when trying to understand who Paul is, as it completely disregards his other roles in the industry for which Paul is equally known.

I took the Tom Hanks thing to refer simply to their respective status: Paul is (highly arguably) the most famous and successful actor north of the border at present, as well as being one of its most versatile; but there the comparison ends really - it certainly wasn't referring to a physical similarity at all. Paul is far edgier as an actor, has way more gravitas and charisma and takes on more interesting projects in my view -and I like Tom Hanks, don't get me wrong, but he hardly dings my bell and I am rarely entranced by him although I appreciate his work.

And Paul as Forrest Gump? I can't believe for a minute that Paul would take on that pile of steaming sacchariny crap. Aside from a few mis-steps, he appears to have a very finely-tuned crapometer in terms of his career.
Of course the other big difference between the two actors is this: Paul has actually done really good work post-1995.

[joandarck.livejournal.com]

Hm. I think they mean the sweet-little-boy look, but it makes Paul sound more... well, boring, than he is. Paul Gross is flamboyant, a little bitchy and unpredictable. Tom Hanks is more of a, well, canvas for people to project onto. He has a kind of stealth darkness under it, but it's not the same effect.

[catwalksalone]

-_- *hides eyes from appalling comparison*

If I didn't know better, i.e. was a P.G. virgin, the Tom Hanks reference wouldn't have made me rush out and watch. Probably the opposite.

But yay! for rave review. Sooooooooo well deserved.

(My friend at choir has now watched all my DVDs and keeps nagging about s3 - everyone falls under the spell of Geoffrey in the end. It's inevitable.)

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

I join you in the general jawdroppery. Tom Hanks?!?

[ruthless1.livejournal.com]

*grabs soapbox*
It's cultural imperialism. The writer can't imagine that someone of PG's talent can exist in his own right outside of this country. So in order for the not-so-smart American cultural unelite to understand PG's talents - they have to compare him to Tom Hanks. Who is quite talented - but not nearly as much as our dear Canadian friend.
//end rant//

[sam80853.livejournal.com]

It's obviously meant as a compliment ... For Paul or Tom is anyone's guess. But I was laughing out loud reading it. The picture of Paul writing love letters to Meg Ryan sprung to my mind and ... ::chuckles:: ... ::giggles:: ... See?

[mickeymvt.livejournal.com]

Ehh, they sorta, kinda look like. If you squint. A lot. As much as I like Tom Hanks as an actor, I really don't believe he could pull off crazy-cakes Geoffrey. JMO, of course.