Sunday Similar Standards: Emily Blunt

Welcome to a new semi-regular weekly feature here at Movies with Abe. On those weeks where reviews are sparse, I’ll be taking a look at an actor or actress whose body of work boasts many roles that may not be as diverse as those taken on by other actors or actresses. This is hardly a judgment on their abilities; rather an analysis of the kind of parts they play so well.

Emily Blunt

This lovely British actress has become known for playing extremely sarcastic, often lonely and unsatisfied women. Sometimes she’s in a great relationship, be it romantic or platonic, but usually she’s just working hard to make ends meet and find happiness in the midst of a chaotic and busy world.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006): Blunt’s American breakthrough as a bitchy assistant training Anne Hathaway earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She threw her whole life into her work, creating many comic moments.

Dan in Real Life (2007): In a small role, Blunt got to be on top as a formerly unattractive woman set up on a date with Steve Carell’s Dan, having overcome a life of loneliness to reach a high point.

Sunshine Cleaning (2008): Blunt teamed with Amy Adams, previously written about in this feature, to play the sardonic deadbeat sister living with her father who joined forces to create a hazardous material cleaning crew.

The Young Victoria (2009): Blunt ditched the sarcasm to play the young Queen of England, ruling over the people as a lonely regal figure, but fortunate enough to find a lasting love and the admiration of her people.

Wild Target (2010): Blunt played a con woman in this eccentric and charming comedy with a distaste for telling the truth and a surprising attraction to the assassin who saved her life.

The Wolfman (2010): Blunt donned period garb again to play a woman whose fiancé was killed by a werewolf in the 1890s fearing for her life as his brother arrives to try to save her and the town from the beast.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011): Blunt was seductive and unforgettable as a dancer who caught the eye of a New York politician and caused his world to unravel, desperate to be united with this alluring mystery woman.

The Five-Year Engagement (2012): Blunt was at her most charming working her way through a relationship while balancing graduate school and her own uncertainties about how to best get through life.

Your Sister’s Sister (2012): Blunt gets caught between in her best friend and her lesbian sister at a remote cabin in this forthcoming dramedy in which she struggles to let her best friend know how she really feels about him.

Anything different?

Not to this point.

What’s next?

Roles in two science fiction thrillers, “Looper” and “All You Need is Kill,” and in the comedy “Arthur Newman, Golf Pro,” opposite Colin Firth.

The verdict?

Blunt is great in just about everything, and allowing her to use sarcasm to deflect the loneliness of her characters always works like a charm. “The Five-Year Engagement” and “Your Sister’s Sister” indicate that she’s very funny, so maybe straight comedy is something that she could do in the future, though she’s doing just fine as is.