by Trish Bendix

It's all "Happening" for Zooey Deschanel

I can always appreciate an actress who chooses roles for a reason other than their ability to perform at the box office. Zooey Deschanel is that kind of girl (as in, my kind of girl.) Her bit part in Almost Famous led to several other projects that were both bigger and smaller, from indie projects to major motion pictures. It's almost like she cares about the craft or something!

Seriously though, my own love for her aside, Zooey is a talented actress who went from playing a small town Gothic sales clerk in The Good Girl to a narcissistic singing Santa's helper in Elf. From there she was a depressed actress (Winter Passing), a creative teacher (Bridge to Terabithia), and, oddly enough, Sarah Jessica Parker's roommate in Failure to Launch (which I couldn't bring myself to see, but I'm sure she was as good as you could be in such a train wreck of a film.)

This summer, Zooey stars alongside Mark Wahlberg in M. Night Shyamalan's thriller, The Happening. She plays Alma, Marky Mark's wife who is somewhat aloof and charming in an otherwise quite upsetting film about apocalyptic violent suicide.

I must admit, she was one of the main reasons I went to see the film. She has a great track record so far (I forgive her misstep in Failure to Launch) so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. As to not ruin it for those who have yet to see the film, I will say that at least Zooey's big eyes are wide and intense a lot and she doesn't have any intimate scenes with Mark or any other males (because suicide isn't sexy ~~and neither are dudes~~.)

Other than the film, she has a lot of other stuff going on this summer. She's currently on the cover of Blackbook magazine, and she's also going on tour with her pop duo, She & Him (she's the she, and songwriter M. Ward is the "him.") Their music is happy indie music for fans of Jenny Lewis or Carole King.

And lastly, if you aren't on Team Zooey yet, just consider this: talent and good looks are in her genes. See: older sister, Emily.

It's clearly the summer of Zooey and I, for one, am not complaining.

Trish Bendix's blog

Submitted by

Trish Bendix

on June 23, 2008 - 11:00am.

TAGS ::

and don't forget!

Submitted by

kiwimarie (24 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 11:15am.

Two of my favorite movies of all time she was in, the remake of Hitchhiker's Guide and Surf's Up!

I can't wait to see The Happening. Her role in failure to launch was amazing, trying to kill that bird!

I want to see this movie,

Submitted by

Jen (45 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 11:34am.

I want to see this movie, mainly for Zooey Deschanel. I'll admit that I did see Failure to Launch. Her character was actually pretty entertaining. Eulogy is my favorite movie she’s been in. ~~Two~~ five words: Famke Janssen plays a lesbian.

IMO, the most beautiful and

Submitted by

SH (154 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 11:48am.

IMO, the most beautiful and talented AND intelligent pair of sisters in the industry right now. They are definitely no Paris and Nicky,that's for sure!

Damn those 2 pairs of intense eyes..I'm in love with..Can't decide! Heh

(And I heard The Happening is not that good? But I'll watch it for Zooey)

totally agree!

Submitted by

sydkid2 (29 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 11:48pm.

damn, those eyes can really suck you in.

"it's a space thing"

Dont do it

Submitted by

Afterdark69 (39 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 7:54am.

I was excited going to watch the happening...really.....then almost got up my seat and left. They even managed to make Zooey look bad! I mean the whole thing was just terrible...not close to being a thriller....just an odd type of comedy?? Even so, I wouldnt have watched it if I knew what I was gonna have to sit through....idiotic!

For me both sisters are deliciously fresh and gorgeous, I'm thinking Bones right now :) but I have a soft spot for Zooey because she has one of the sexiest deepest singing voices I've ever heard....If she never acted again and just made albums I'd be sad but not that sad...:D

Love Zooey...

Submitted by

wordsNtricks (47 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 11:53am.

Failure to Launch was a bad movie, but her role was actually the best part. She was hilarious as usual in it and almost worth sitting through just to see her.

I agree with drownedindesire - one of my favourites is Eulogy. But I also loved her character in Weeds, I'm still holding out hope that they'll bring her back!

I forgot she was in Weeds!

Submitted by

Jen (45 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 12:01pm.

And I just watched season 2 on DVD not too long ago! haha, wow. I liked her in that too. It was a nice surprise when she popped up on the screen.

Eulogy & Weeds

Submitted by

RuggedAscent (104 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 1:52am.

I`m with you - Eulogy and Weeds are definitely my favourites.

Check out the hottest new up-and-coming artist, Mess F - www.messf.com

The New Guy

Submitted by

HaveFaith (151 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 11:56am.

Zooey and Eliza Dushku in 1 movie! Too bad they´re not playing lesbians...

"ehm...yeah..."

maybe not in the film...

Submitted by

Batman (418 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 4:42pm.

...but in my mind they were.

______________________________________

Cloverfield? 1-18-08-underground.com...

She's ADORABLE!

Submitted by

Scout (27 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 12:00pm.

I love Zooey and I agree with wordsNtricks that she should be brought back in to Weeds! We can but hold on to that hope. She's great when she plays quirky. They should put her and Anna Friel in something together.

The Happening sucks so bad I nearly walked out and that is very rare for me. It ended and I was so glad. I'm sorry but even Zooey can't save that movie although just having her on screen stopped me from scream out loud at how bad it was. ;o)

Anna Friel and Zooey...

Submitted by

wordsNtricks (47 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 12:44pm.

... wow, you've really my mind going places it shouldn't while I'm at work. Thank you for brightening up my afternoon.

I actually kind of liked the

Submitted by

Ahhh_Cool (45 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 12:21pm.

I actually kind of liked the movie, despite the sort of crappy ending. Zooey definitely helped.

narcissistic?

Submitted by

Emily (29 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 12:27pm.

I'm so glad to see a post about Zooey! I'm such a big fan and seeing her mentioned on After Ellen (after being overlooked in the top 100) is great. The fact that Zooey was in "Failure to Launch" was enough for me to sit through the movie (and she was great in it!), but it's probably not enough to make me see "The Happening." It's too bad the movie is so rotten.

I have one bone to pick with the post, however. How is it that her character in Elf could be characterized as narcissistic? She played a young woman who was unsure of herself and hesitant to create a relationship with a guy that seemed like a wacko. She opened herself up to him and he was able to get her to sing in public, after she had been so reluctant to do so (by the way - her singing is my favorite part of that movie!). I'm just not sure how you get narcissistic out of that...

Hot 100

Submitted by

wordsNtricks (47 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 12:47pm.

Zooey was in my list for the Top 100, was sad to see she didn't make it. Great actress, Great Singer/Songwriter, Gorgeous, picks incredibly-smart roles inlcuding the lesbian friendly Eulogy.. .I don't get it!

I haven't seen Elf, so I can't comment on that whole thing.

I agree

Submitted by

Jaguar (82 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 10:40am.

I was confused by that too, it was the first time a saw Zooey in a film and I thought she was charming and sweet(read hot), dont know where you got narcissistic? The singing sceen is lovely and she has a beautiful voice, bit off base there deary.

Thank you

Submitted by

Nyssa (7739 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 12:53pm.

For telling me about her works and esp her music output. I will have to take a listen.

I would agree with Emily, that while she was the highlight of The Happening, it really did not help. She was enchanting, but I think she was not used to her potental.

oh well, this will make her other works shine brigther.

If you'd like the latest Lake Wobegon monologue collection entitled Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Lutherans, press one.

Don't waste your time

Submitted by

tnhand1022 (12 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 1:12pm.

seeing The Happening. Zooey was great, considering what she had to work with, but I walked out of the theater confused about the ending and angry to have wasted my money.

I agree. It was the

Submitted by

a_beautiful_lie (93 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 1:27pm.

I agree.

It was the stupidest film i've seen in my life.

I actually walked out of it listing all the things that made it so pointless and how it could have been marginaly better than it was.

I think it took itself too seriously.

+ what the hell was with the bees at the beginning and not even bringing that back and doing something with it.

I was actually frustrated with it.

I think the point of the

Submitted by

Ahhh_Cool (45 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 10:48am.

I think the point of the bees story was to emphasize the idea that sometimes things just happen and don't necessarily have a reason. A bit of foreshadowing for the events that follow.

hmm i suppose, i kind of

Submitted by

a_beautiful_lie (93 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 12:44pm.

hmm i suppose, i kind of felt as though there was something missing.

I think i'll have to see it again and see whether its better a second time.

Spoilers * * * * * * * *

Submitted by

Nyssa (7739 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 2:32pm.

Spoilers

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maybe I just have a weird take on it, maybe they would never know why. Maybe.

May I was side track by the hot dog guy who talked about Plants. How they responded to humans, and they could rapidly evolve. I was also thinking that Green was love on a mood ring, and that it was love that stopped the plants from killing Alma. ( and her husband and new daughter )

but when I looked up mood rings it said

Green: Normal or average

So that being said, I was talking it over with my date, and we thought it was the collective nature of the plants deciding to make everyone more green, and normal. Start with a few ultimate eco terrorism attacks on a few areas and hope that Humans wise up and be friendly to all.

but then maybe I was just trying to fill in some of the plot holes.

Lost in the Wild Roses

Tin Man

Submitted by

forestfloor (15 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 1:14pm.

'Love Zooeys acting. She was perfect as DG in the 2007 mini-series based on The Wizard of OZ. 'Tin Man' is only three episodes long, but they're long episodes and it makes for great three-nights-in-a-row movie night entertainment.

"The moment inside when you forgive what's happened is the moment you are enlightening yourself."

She is so adorable! I

Submitted by

exegesis (8 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 2:45pm.

She is so adorable! I really enjoyed her as Trillian in the otherwise pretty lacklustre Hitchhiker's Guide to he Galaxy (thinking back, the acting in that was generally good, but the result somehow dind't take off!)

And of course there is that 'Dechanel factor'. Although Bones is only a decent show - I mostly like the references to DC neighborhoods - Emily is intense and it doesn't hurt that her character occasionally shows off her martial arts skills!

Love her

Submitted by

deathbyblonde (313 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 2:53pm.

I love that girl. Her album is great, and anyone who hasn't heard it yet should go out and buy it. This is my favorite song:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NTAjLwWNITg

I really enjoy her acting as well, especially in Weeds and Eulogy. I'm considering seeing The Happening, which is supposed to be awful, because she's in it.

Oh, and I really musn't look at that last picture because it makes very, very, very wrong thoughts enter my head.

failure to launch succeeds solely on Zooey's character

Submitted by

Fantast (3 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 7:13pm.

It is a terrible movie but if you love Zooey you should see it. I watched her bird hunting scene at least three times. Hilarious.

sidenote: Tin Man was amazing.

"My heart is on a budget. It keeps me on the brink." (Anne Sexton)

Deschanel x2

Submitted by

imthey (599 posts)

on June 23, 2008 - 8:46pm.

I was happy enough with Zooey Deschanel and then her sister came on the scene and made an impact on me from the moment I started watching her on Bones... now I'm all about the Deschanel sisters as Hollywood coolest siblings!

I bought the She & Him CD after hearing Zooey's lovely voice in Elf and watching her on YouTube with Samantha Shelton as If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies Cabaret! From those two performances alone I thought I'd give the She & Him CD a shot, and I am thrilled that I did. Zooey and M. Ward together make up one heck of a dynamic duo with great vocal stylings that mesh wonderfully!

Thanks for the posting on Zooey... it's high time more people get to know her (and her sister)!

(Self Appointed) "#1 Bridget McManus Fan"

I M THEY ("Think Sideways")

I love the reference to

Submitted by

elizabeth (27 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 2:16am.

I love the reference to Almost Famous in the subject line, whether it was intentional or not :)

Go Zooey! Definitely one of the best young actresses right now.

...i love this woman!

Submitted by

Thane McAllister (158 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 8:02am.

okay, so the happening sucked the fattest part of my ass, but i suffered through it for the sake of Miss Deschanel. This woman (and her sister) are hella gorgeous, if you haven't seen their pics by Chris Anthony in his victims and avengers exhibition; you should check them out ASAP!

Lucky

Submitted by

Nyssa (7739 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 9:00am.

I just saw that she is on the cover of Lucky, in case you can pick it up in your neck of the woods

http://www.luckymag.com/

Lost in the Wild Roses

sigh i just love LOVE

Submitted by

Elina (103 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 9:48am.

*sigh* i just love LOVE zooey deschanel (who couldnt love her after The Good Girl?) but all i've been hearing is thatThe Hapenning is probably the worst film of the year etc etc. So now i'm thinking, is it worth sitting through a piece of **** for zooey? :P
i think it'll depend on my level of boredom!

[ I carry your heart.. I carry it in my heart.. ]

hooray for Zooey Deschanel!

Submitted by

ghostyouknow (18 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 12:05pm.

i heart her. um we mustnot forget her hilarious character of Kat in second season of Weeds (heart hug!)... she is indeed a great actress and an awesome musician!

i am uber excited to see her perform this July here in T.O. She and Him are amazing!

that is all

you forgot

Submitted by

Lauren (194 posts)

on June 24, 2008 - 6:44pm.

Her role in Manic.

I think this is the movie that made me like her as an actress.

Although, I'm hearing The Happening isn't that good. I'm still going to download it, but not pay for it, ha.

Welcome to AfterEllen.com!

by Trish Bendix

It's all "Happening" for Zooey Deschanel