ROTTEN TOMATOES: What The Hell Happened To ... Cuba Gooding Jr.?

What The Hell Happened To ... Cuba Gooding Jr.?

Show him the money.

by Jen Yamato | September 05, 2008

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When we first started this column, we asked, "How did Wesley Snipes end up in direct-to-video hell?" In our second installment we pondered, "Where did Shannon Elizabeth go?" This week, Rotten Tomatoes turns its gaze upon the once-promising, now perplexing career of a certain boat-tripping, dog-sledding Oscar winner in hopes of pinpointing just where things went wrong. So what the hell happened to Cuba Gooding Jr.?

Perhaps it is as simple as the Oscar curse. Before his fervent acceptance speech at the 1996 Academy Awards, Cuba Gooding Jr. was an A-lister on the rise; after that, it all seemed to go downhill. Cuba Gooding Jr.'s career choices, to put it mildly, became erratic. Could behind-the-scenes management kerfuffles also have been to blame? Should Gooding not have chosen, as Tropic Thunder's Kirk Lazarus might say, to "go full retard" in Radio? And who will answer for the abomination that was Boat Trip? (And Snow Dogs? And Chill Factor? The list goes on...)

The complete Tomatometer history of Cuba Gooding Jr. Click for more info.

Read on to begin our investigation into the rise and fall (and rise and fall) of Cuba Gooding Jr.

First up: The Early Years

Next Page >>

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(1-20 of 87 posts) | Reply

knowingtoast85 writes:
on Sep 05 2008 04:21 PM

Nicholas Cage has made a litany of terrible film choices recently (and according to the Tomatometer, his worst yet has just been released upon us all) but he hasn't weathered one direct-to-DVD flop yet. Let us take pause to examine the big difference between these two entertaining overactors.

Just sayin'.

*I'm also aware that Ghost Rider and National Treasure 1 and 2 made bank. Note that Norbit cleaned up too.

(Reply to this)

jjaeggers writes:
on Sep 05 2008 04:24 PM

1st

(Reply to this)

halose7en writes:
on Sep 05 2008 04:32 PM

This says that Snow Dogs and Radio are both "fresh" at 23% and 34%. This must be a mistake.

I feel a little bad for the guy. Some of the movies he's made are decent - I actually liked Men of Honor. But he has done his fair share of crap too. No denying that. Here's hoping he can rebound soon. He needs it.

(Reply to this)

Vortex&Vertigo writes:
on Sep 05 2008 04:51 PM

Thre is no turning back. I think that the only way to make a comeback is to star on a hit TV show and then slowly bounce back. And stop doing it for the money.

(Reply to this)

samjacksonisdaman421 writes:
on Sep 05 2008 04:57 PM

Cuba needs some good roles because he can act and even in ****ty movies he normally is the best part of it.

(Reply to this)

CaptainSiberia writes:
on Sep 05 2008 05:03 PM

It's Boys N the Hood.

(Reply to this)

CaptainSiberia writes:
on Sep 05 2008 05:18 PM

How are you going to a "What the Hell Happened To" about a guy who just starred in American Gangster?

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Sep 05 2008 05:24 PM

In reply to this comment (#2019043)
He had a small role, but a good one that should have boosted his career. He is a good actor, and I bet he will have a turn around some time soon.

(Reply to this)

thereign writes:
on Sep 05 2008 05:35 PM

I think the problem is that as soon as he won the Oscar, too many people started showing him the money, and that's more than likely the exact reason he took certain roles. Or, he could have just been trying to branch out into more diverse roles(you can't get more diverse than going from "Jerry Maguire" to "Snow Dogs"), but his plan backfired so badly it put his career in critical condition, with doctors occasionally predicting it had six weeks to live.

Like Jokerboy said, I'm hoping he'll have a turnaround soon.

(Reply to this)

AntonChigurh writes:
on Sep 05 2008 05:38 PM

I want Val Kilmer damnit! I feel cuba has fallen of the map forever. His acting is sub-par, has no bankable roles taliored for him and barely anybody even remembers him.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Sep 05 2008 05:58 PM

Captain, thanks for the catch. halose7en, the splats were corrected and should be updated soon.

What intrigued me most about CGJr. was that his career hit such extremes, a total rollercoaster - just look at that career Tomatometer chart. He himself in interviews has discussed his troubles with agents over the years (6 agencies and a year without representation??) so to some extent it's not surprising that he had a tough time choosing the right roles. He's also no hack; even in his rotten movies he gave deeply committed and commendable performances. Talent-wise, there's no reason he should have to settle for inane studio comedies (like Eddie Murphy) or direct-to-DVD movies (like Wesley Snipes).

So yeah, I wanted to know what happened to him - check out his upcoming 2008-2009 schedule. Mostly "independently financed" action thrillers (and not "indie" in a good way, like festival films) that will likely go straight to video.

Vortex&Vertigo has a great idea - redemption via TV. It's worked for so many people.

(Reply to this)

indiefilmfan2 writes:
on Sep 05 2008 06:12 PM

Cuba is one of the most interesting case studies around. I always liked What May Dreams Come. The unique and (at the time) groundbreaking visuals more than make up for its plot pitfalls.

More Oscar winners need to take the Phillip Seymour Hoffman route.

May I suggest a child actor who has fallen off for a future installment. Molly Ringwald, Macaully Culkin, and Corey Feldman are a few that come to mind.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Sep 05 2008 06:54 PM

If you mention peeps like Molly Ringwald, it wouldn't be fair unless you also included their Broadway acting.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Sep 05 2008 07:08 PM

Who knew tomwaitsjr knew Broadway! Good point.

(Reply to this)

Elfslay writes:
on Sep 05 2008 07:22 PM

What are you talking about? "Radio" was a great performance by Cuba Gooding Jr. I thought it was a very deep movie, however I very much agree with the other movies you mentioned.

(Reply to this)

smartmoviekid writes:
on Sep 05 2008 07:44 PM

Next on this great article in my opinion should be...Ray liotta, and then Val Kilmer. Great read.

(Reply to this)

v-alexander-the-great writes:
on Sep 05 2008 08:15 PM

You know you're in trouble when...you're voicing a character named "Loofah" in the TWELFTH direct-to-video sequel to Land Before Time.

(Reply to this)

thereign writes:
on Sep 05 2008 08:36 PM

Smartmoviekid has the right idea: Ray Liotta next! I mean, starring in an Uwe Boll film?("In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale")

Come on, man!!!

Death before starring in a Boll film!

(Reply to this)

Schumacherh8ter writes:
on Sep 05 2008 08:43 PM

In reply to this comment (#2019237)
Loofah? Cuba, you've truely fallen. I didn't know they were still milking "The Land Before Time".

(Reply to this)

Mono2k6 writes:
on Sep 05 2008 10:50 PM

All you have to say about him is Boat Trip and you'll know exactly what the hell happened to him. I think he picks his scripts based on the color of the covers or something.

(Reply to this)

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