The fourth instalment in the Focker franchise, Focker In-Law, is set to release in November of this year, and there’s one thing about the film that people can’t quite get on board with.
Actress-turned-singer-turned-actress again, Ariana Grande is set to star in the newest instalment of the Focker franchise.
Despite being best known as one of the most influential pop singers of this generation, Grande has resumed her acting career.
She’s set to play Olivia Jones, an FBI hostage negotiator and triathlete, who is the girlfriend of Henry Focker, played by Skyler Gisondo, writes Film News Blitz’s Jude Chisman.
Previous acting endeavours
Grande’s portrayal of Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s Victorious and Sam & Cat was her introduction to the world, so naturally fans were excited when she announced she wanted to get back into acting.
She starred in Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up; her first prominent acting appearance since her days on Nickelodeon.
Grande’s best-known acting gig is her role as Glinda in both film adaptations of Wicked.
Her performance was met with rave reviews, a large amount of that credited to her incredible singing ability and her connection and love for the source material.
This praise wasn’t just from fans; she gained an Academy Award nomination in the category of best supporting actress.
‘Focker-in-Law’ criticisms
Some people have made allegations of ‘stunt casting’, especially since the film is coming off the back of Wicked, and Grande’s eighth studio album, Petal.
People didn’t expect a rom-com to be her next big venture post-Oscar nomination, but Wicked was her first real blockbuster movie.
Her role in Don’t Look Up was more of a cameo where she played a pop star, and her Nickelodeon days were over a decade ago, so maybe comedic films are just the direction we can see her acting career heading.
Grande has previously hosted SNL and clearly has a fondness for comedy, so it really seems like her Fockers casting shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise for her avid followers as it has.
People have also criticised the fact that she looks ‘too much like herself’ and people are stating she seems to ‘just be playing herself’.
Moreover, some fans have speculated that Grande did her own makeup on the set of the film, given her character’s look resembles her own.
It’s hard to truly comment on an actor’s performance before the film has even been released, but it’s clear that Grande has some work to put in to prove some cynical corners of the internet wrong.
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