In Hollywood, it’s typical for actors to become confined to a genre or two. But not Isla Fisher, the Australian actress who seems to go from comedy to thrillers with incredible ease. Her extensive acting range has allowed her to take on a diverse number of projects in both television and film, although she remains an underrated actress.
Fisher got her big break in the soap opera Home And Away, which launched her career across a range of movies and TV shows. She starred in the hit sitcom Arrested Development where she played Ron Howard’s fictional daughter, and found big screen fame in Wedding Crashers and Confessions of a Shopaholic. But which films are her very best?
Bachelorette, 56%
In this 2012 film, Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, and Kirsten Dunst play bridesmaids who are desperate to find the perfect wedding dress after they ruin their friend’s (Rebel Wilson) wedding gown. While working on the film, Fisher shared that writer and director Leslye Headland allowed her to give her character some personal touches. “It was really collaborative, and she [Headland] wrote the greatest character, Katie,” Fisher told The Film Stage. “She allowed me to bring as many of my stupid, probably lower-brow jokes to the mix...”
Life Of A Crime, 68%
Fisher may not be the central character in this hilarious crime film, but she makes her presence known, nonetheless. In the movie, Jennifer Aniston plays the wife of a corrupt real estate developer named Frank (Tim Robbins), but when she is kidnapped, she discovers that her husband is unwilling to pay any ransom money since he’s already served her with their divorce papers. The Friends actress also serves as an executive producer in the film. Meanwhile, Fisher plays Melanie, the husband’s mistress. In the movie, she and Frank are holidaying in the Bahamas when Frank gets the call from Melanie’s kidnappers.
Godmothered, 70%
In this Disney comedy, Fishers plays Mackenzie, a single mom who encounters a fairy-godmother-in-training named Eleanor (Jillian Bell). As it turns out, Mackenzie had sent a letter to fairy godmothers when she was still a child, but it was left ignored. Now, Eleanor vows to make things up to Mackenzie and more importantly, make her happy. For Fisher, the film plays an important role in changing assumptions about fairytales.
“The message at the end about us having our own version of happily ever after is refreshing,” Fisher told Slash Film. “They’ll get to see a new version of fairy tales.”
Definitely, Maybe, 70%
The film centers on Ryan Reynolds’ character, a father who is divorcing his wife. As the proceedings go on, his daughter (Abigail Breslin) asks him about his past relationships and how he came to meet her mother. And so, he decides to recount his romantic life, which involves three women, including Fisher who plays Reynolds’ co-worker, April. Of the role, Fisher told Cinema.com, “She is also, despite being confident, someone who is afraid of love and the depth of her own heart.” Critics have praised Reynolds for his performance in this movie, along with his chemistry with Fisher.
Nocturnal Animals, 74%
This 2016 film features a story within a story which starts when a remarried art gallery owner (Amy Adams) receives a manuscript from her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal). The manuscript tells the story of a man named Tony (also played by Gyllenhaal) who goes on a road trip with his wife (Fisher) and daughter (Ellie Bamber). Things go very horribly, resulting in violent deaths for both Fisher and Bamber’s characters. Though Fisher’s appearance in the film is relatively brief, the actress remarks that the role was “so emotionally draining.” She also told Today, “You have to really commit to it.”
Rise Of The Guardians, 75%
In this animated DreamWorks movie, the world comes under attack from an evil spirit named Pitch. To protect the innocence and imaginations of children all over the world, the Guardians must band together to put a stop to Pitch’s evil plans once and for all. Rise of the Guardians features an incredible all-star ensemble behind the scenes. Aside from Fisher, the cast also includes Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Hugh Jackman, and Chris Pine. Despite this, however, the movie was considered a box office fail. That said, the movie was a critical hit. Fans also praised the film’s concept art.
Wedding Crashers, 76%
This movie is, undoubtedly, one of Fisher’s most popular films to date. It is also one of the highest-grossing comedies released in the 2000s. As the title suggests, the movie centers on two friends (Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn) who enjoy crashing weddings. After crashing a high-profile wedding, however, the men get seriously interested in two sisters, one of which is played by Fisher.
In order to land the role, the actress auditioned multiple times. “I went in, auditioned, did three scenes,” she told Film Monthly. “Then went back again and did the same three scenes.”
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who!, 80%
In this 2008 animated movie, Horton the elephant is struggling to protect an entire microscopic community that he has come to recognize as his friends. To make matters worse, none of his neighbors even believe that such as community exists. Here, Fisher voices for Dr. Mary Lou Larue who makes it clear that the entire city of Who-ville would be destroyed if Horton isn’t able to find a new location for their home. Meanwhile, veteran comedian Jim Carrey voices the titular character, Horton. They are also joined by Steve Carell, Carol Burnett, Jonah Hill, Amy Poehler, and Seth Rogen.
The Lookout, 87%
This 2007 crime thriller centers on a man named Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who gets involved after a car accident leaves him with brain damage. After he starts working as a cleaner for a bank, he gets recruited by his former schoolmate Gary (Matthew Goode) to participate in a bank robbery. The men also ask a young woman named Luvlee (Fisher) to seduce him.
Rango, 88%
It may be hard to believe but this animated film is turning 10 this year. The film boasts of vocal performances from actors such as Fisher, Johnny Depp, and Timothy Olyphant behind the scenes. Despite all the star power though, Rango has always been underrated, although it’s managed to win critical praise and achieve some following. Rango centers on the titular character (voiced by Depp), a chameleon who accidentally ends up in Dirt, a town in the Wild West that is in need of a new sheriff. In the movie, Fisher voices Beans, a lizard who agrees to help out Rango.