A Madea Christmas opens this Friday, and Jared Leto is earning critical raves for his supporting, cross-dressing role in Dallas Buyers Club. Here’s a quick rundown of men wearing dresses on screen—ranked from high-brow to low-brow:
Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis in Some Like it Hot
Stone-cold classic writing from Billy Wilder that Lemon and Curtis deliver to perfection in this 1959 comedy. Plus, there’s a certain blonde in this movie that looks kind of all right on camera.
Who wore it best? Lemon, Curtis and Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot.
Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club (pictured above)
Leto, shed of any body fat, caked with foundation and stacked on high heels, is a scene-stealer as Matthew McConaughey’s right hand (wo)man in an illegal enterprise to bring Mexican meds to HIV patients in 1980s Texas in what is sure to be an Oscar-nominated film this year.
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
Sure, the late actor only dons a white, skirted nurse’s uniform for a few scenes in the movie, but they just might be the most memorable. That he’s slapped a “Harvey Dent” campaign sticker over his chest as he taunts the District Attorney—whom he just burned—is icing on his chaotic cake.
Hello, nurse! Ledger in The Dark Knight.
Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie
Despite a whacked out premise—Hoffman’s blacklisted prima donna actor poses as a woman to earn a role on a soap opera—and a slightly cheesy female empowerment strain, there’s a lot about Sydney Pollack’s farcical comedy from 1982 that works, and whether in or out of a dress, Hoffman is surprisingly convincing.
Larry Johnson in those old “Grandmama” commercials for Converse
These were pretty great actually, showing one of the toughest big men in the NBA can play with his image by rocking a white wig and house dress and rocking the rim at the same time. Also, a reminder that Charlotte used to have our basketball team.
John Travolta in Hairspray
Too predictable to be considered all that bad. At least the Grease star can carry a tune, not just a handbag.
Martin Lawrence in Big Momma’s House
For fans of the Martin show that wanted to see its star act like Paula Deen gasping on her way to the ER—for whole 90 minutes. I guess. The only comedy more embarrassing than this one is its own 2006 sequel.
Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire
Williams really jumped the shark with this role that was so beneath him it was rejected by Tim Allen. Yes, the Tim Allen.
Williams falls far….what a drag.
Tyler Perry in Madea anything…
This week’s A Madea Christmas should be called Madea Got Run Over by a Reindeer. Look, Tyler Perry, I get you. You’re a truly amazing success story, and a talented filmmaker and entrepreneur. Madea though. After 9 feature film appearances, its time to hang up the wig and focus on other projects. Like, any other projects. Maybe a movie where you play a guy in a suit. Let’s start there.
