The curious stagnation of Gerard Butler’s career

Lately, despite his best efforts, we seem to be seeing a decline in Gerard Butler’s Hollywood career. In comparison to the movie projects he’s been partaking in lately, it’s a curious departure from the epic performance he gave as Leonidas in 300 that propelled him to international fame. 

In his most recent performance, as Will Spann, in Last Seen Alive, he came off as mediocre and frankly tired in his performance as if the only reason to get up that day for him was the paycheck. The storyline itself lacked depth and sophistication, which made watching it a really boring way of spending a weekend afternoon. Playing the character of a desperate man whose wife was abducted and then goes on a panicked chase to recover her, it seems the thriller genre doesn’t quite match Gerard’s old testament macho screen presence that his career is built. 

While his portrayal of a bent cop in Cop Shop was more appropriate, his performance somehow lacked the sophistication he gave in his other film projects. Playing the bad cop seems somehow out of character for him. Although this is juxtaposed with his performance in Law Abiding Citizen, in which he played a jaded salaryman who felt aggrieved enough to set bombs across the city to make his point known (and felt). 

What Gerard lacks in his latest string of film projects is a brilliant storyline, excellent supporting actors, and his own interest in the film project. But things are looking up with his next upcoming movie appearing to be a thrilling, action-packed ride where he returns to being a hero that saves the day! Looks like 2023 will be a better one for our much-loved Scotsman!