A Bit of Support for the Supporters

There are few things in this world I love more than character actors. (Seriously. It's a sad, sad existence). And we couldn't have character actors without the genre specific archetypal roles they play. You may be thinking I sounded really smart just then... and you're right, I did.

So, in honor of having just sat through the horrendous When In Rome (don't judge me), and the fact that Valentine's Day has just passed, I thought I would take a moment to discuss the Romantic Comedy character, "The Best Friend." In doing so I hope to shine a bit of light on some of the most unforgettable forgettable actresses who are known for playing the part. These are the women that for whatever reason seem destined to dwell in the gradual spill-off of the spotlight; talented ladies that make a career out of batting second. They are always there for you with helpful advice, even when you don't ask for it, and well...that's about all they are good for. Sometimes they get their own B plot love story, but it usually only manifests itself in a few flirty looks - there's just not really enough time for much more, and frankly we don't really care enough to see more. Take a look at any Rom Com and you'll find these ladies lurking in the background, dropping one liners, making awkward situations worse, tripping over things, crying comically, and generally just making the movie's star shine all the brighter. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

5. Kate Micucci: The Awkward Co-worker

It's hard to say why I can't imagine Miss Micucci in roles very different from the one she played in When in Rome. Maybe it's because she talks like a bored female version of Mos Def with two peanuts up his nose. Maybe it's because she looks like a frightened Stuart Little who's just dropped acid. We just don't know. Either way, she perfectly portrayed the typical awkward work friend, offering incredibly unfunny one liners and the kind of advice needed to bring the two main characters' romance to fruition. Let us not forget her memorable turn as "the Registrar" in an episode of How I Met Your Mother, the part of "Bubble" in the TV movie Husband for Hire, and a role in a TV show called Campus Ladies in which she played the pivotal role of "Less Attractive Girl."

4. Lisa Ann Walter: The Lovable Housekeeper

Oh man, remember her? Well, I don't care, because I do. She's probably best known to us girls of the 90's as Chessy from The Parent Trap. She played the hired help of one twin's family who fell immediately in love with the butler of the other twin's family. She said things like, "Don't look at me. I don't know a thing," a line that may be almost as overused in cinema as things like, "We've got company!" "Let's get outta here!" and "I don't know what you want from me!" (Which, to be sure, means they know exactly what is wanted from them.) Some of her other roles include a stint in the Ashton Kutcher/Katherine Heigl film Killers, and bits in Shall We Dance, and Bruce Almighty. She's also credited in a short film called Farm Sluts which intrigues me, but I'm going to assume she plays the housemaid that doesn't quite get in on the action.

3. Kathryn Hahn: The Lovesick

According to Imdb and Wikipedia she is best known for her role in Crossing Jordan, but that sounds lame, so lets talk about How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days! Let's. As Kate Hudson's buddy, Michelle, in HTLAGTD (see what I did there? It's much better, I promise,) Hahn embodies everything that is so awesomely bad about the character of "the friend." It is her desperate attempts at finding love, and massive failures that inspire Hudson's character to write an article on women's worst dating faux pas, thus creating the catalyst for the real love story. Her Michelle is so freaking typical, redundant, and annoying I can only imagine it must have been written by some alien creature whose only knowledge of the human race was compiled from watching reruns of Lifetime™ original movies. Hahn embodied this role so well, she reprized it again in The Holiday, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, A Lot Like Love, and How Do You Know, most of which are films I've not actually seen, but I'd be willing to put money on the content of her character in them.

2. Heather Burns: The Sweetheart

Now we are in the big leagues, my friends. The lovely Burns has so embraced her own fate of type casting, almost her entire career consists of romantic comedies. Although her credits include such successes as You've Got Mail, Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, and Two Weeks Notice, most of us wouldn't recognize her on the street and have probably already forgotten her first name. But where would these films be without her? I ask. Well, they probably would have done just fine, but there's something about that vacant hopeful smile of hers, and sweet whispery voice that makes me feel like it's a shame she's doomed to forever wander the realm of the best friend.

1. Judy Greer: The Funny Friend

The hilarious Judy Greer was fortunate enough to actually showcase some of her talent as Kitty on Arrested Development. Unfortunately when it came to the big screen, this wasn't enough to land her a significant leading role. I can only assume that this is because she doesn't really have the kind of face Cover Girl is climbing over itself to hire and plaster all over the front of Cosmo. It's a sad fact, but that's the movie industry. Nonetheless, I think she's hilarious and every shitty movie she's in is made just that much better by her presence. See references: The Wedding Planner, 13 Going on 30, 27 Dresses, Love Happens, and Love and Other Drugs.