Let There Be Movies

There are many cases where a single A-list actor or actress can carry a movie and make it great. We have plenty of those today. But there is something special about those films which feature a tandem of stars that mesh just perfectly. Whether it be in romance, drama, comedies or action, some pairs just seem made to compliment each other on the big screen. Sometimes in pairings of the opposite sex, the bond is so strong it leads to real life intimate relationships. With all that in mind, we each came up with our favorite on-screen duos, and reasons why we love them.

Elliott: Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan

One of the best chick flicks ever made is You’ve Got Mail. I can’t imagine that any of you aren’t familiar with this flick, but Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan play the main characters. Ryan is a small bookstore owner, who gets driven out of business by Hanks, the co-owner of a big chain of bookstores. Despite being “enemies” in the business world, they unknowingly meet on IM and form a great friendship. From their banter/discussions over IM, to their face to face conflicts, Hanks and Ryan have great chemistry. They do a spectacular job and despite having seen this many, many times it never gets old. I credit this not just to a great story, but to these two excellent actors(ress). Honorable mention: White Christmas- Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Hitch- Will Smith and Kevin James.

Tres: Brad Pitt & George Clooney

My favorite on screen duo is Brad Pitt and George Clooney. The Ocean’s trilogy is one that I have seen countless times. The way the two come off as suave, cunning, and carefree is impressive within itself. On top of that the way they come across as genuine friends and play off of each others remarks, jabs at peers such as Matt Damon, and constantly scheme and plan throughout the movies. They are a duo I’d like to see more of on the big screen.

Gene: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly

I think one of the most fun things about watching good actors interact on screen is not necessarily how well they perform their role, but how well they play off each other. No other genre accomplishes that quite as well as comedy, and no other duo can do it quite like Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. These two seem to approach their roles together like a competition for who can have the most fun with it. They have appeared together in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and Step Brothers. The latter is a pretty crude movie, start to finish, but I found it hilarious. They are truly at their best in Talladega Nights where just about every line is a lesson in keeping a straight face. If these two can make a couple more movies together we could be looking at one of the best comedic duos of all time.

Logan: Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones

My favorite has got to be Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black. Jones is great in every role, but his serious agent-like demeanor mixed with Smith’s goofy persona makes a great balanced team. They’re comical from start to finish, but do so in a way that always complements, instead of just being carbon-copies of each other. There have been many on-screen male duos, but they are the one that sticks out in my mind, and always will.

Eric: Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson

I should really only need to say “Wedding Crashers” but there are so many great comedies starting these two. They always seem to play off each other very well. Vaughn always plays a character that is more of a free spirit and wants to take short cuts while Wilson seems to always be the levelheaded down to earth type that in the end helps Vaughn’s character become a better person. I really enjoyed their newest venture together, “The Internship”.

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There you have it. Now what are some of your favorite pairings on the big screen?