What Actors Deserve a Comeback?

Cuba Gooding Jr.

This Tuesday marks the premiere of the latest miniseries The People vs. O.J. Simpson, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson: a man whose murder trial became a public frenzy in the early 90's in unprecedented ways. Considering the impact of true crime over the past few years, specifically with The Jinx and Making a Murderer, it makes sense for FX to hop on the bandwagon with one of the most notorious faces in pop culture. However, most people are likely expecting a train wreck, and with good cause. Gooding Jr. hasn't necessarily produced the greatest work in the past 10 years. However, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe things could pan out.

For younger audiences, the Gooding Jr. who won an Oscar for Jerry Maguire is likely not even registering. What you're likely getting is the Snow Dogs, Daddy Day Camp Gooding Jr. whose career was consistently going in the wrong direction. To say the least, it's tough to remember him actually being great, even if he has popped up from time to time with a surprising role (American Gangster). Yet I think that he has a chance to not necessarily reinvent  himself, but to give us a reminder of why we loved him initially with this FX series. I know it sounds crazy, especially when you're suggesting a series created by the aloof savant Ryan Murphy, but this may actually work out in its own crazy way.

In all honesty, I am probably one who gives into the gimmick that actors are worthy of a comeback. One cannot underestimate the value of Robert Downey Jr.'s resurgence in the early 00's after a notorious drug problem in the 90's. After starring in a series of compelling indie films, he came back with a vengeance with Iron Man. To a lesser extent, Matthew McConaughey did a reverse version of the same thing, starring in dirty dramas after a career as Hollywood's pretty boy. Still, the idea of a comeback is fascinating and welcomed. On the flip side, you have Vince Vaughn, who attempted to be taken seriously with True Detective season 2, failing gloriously - though that may have more been writer and creator Nic Pizzolatto's fault. 

So the odds can go either way for Gooding Jr. at this point. Considering that Murphy's content is far from the perfect prestigious fare, there's a better chance of this blowing up in his face. Considering that this features a similar working title to Murphy's premiere horror anthology American Horror Story, one can already see where the damage can be done. Things can go campy and tonally wrong very quickly, especially with a murder trial that was blown out of proportion. Still, the limitations to not just veer off into craziness thanks to O.J. Simpson's trial in fact being real provides a certain grounded nature, the likes of which could work in the overall favor.

But why do I think that this can work for Gooding Jr.? Because I think of him as someone who wants his career to be taken seriously. After a decade in drudging works, he probably wants that moment to be taken seriously. He sees the success of McConaughey in recent years and wants to do that. Sure, this show also has John Travolta likely hamming it up, but we have Gooding Jr. playing a restrained character, and one who could challenge him in ways that The Boat Trip didn't. It is a stretch, but I do believe that along with cameo roles in Empire and other shows, he is trying to start his own path towards winning back our respect, and that may be the most admirable thing of all.

Which makes me wonder, what other actors are worthy of a comeback story? After a few years of mediocre roles and not living up to the initial hype, what actors can possibly surprise us and win over our hearts again? It is a tough say, especially since these stories usually come at random. Eddie Murphy had his shot with Dreamgirls before fading back into bad comedy obscurity, even taking many years off. What was more annoying about his comeback was that it was immediately met with arguably his worst film with Norbit - ironically, also starring Gooding Jr. in a small roles. Same could be said for Adam Sandler, though that has been gradual dives into drama, and not always successful ones at that. Like Murphy, he always returns to lowbrow comedy.

I am talking mostly in the realm of actors who have faded and could use a surprising role, not necessarily those up and coming who have had problematic careers. I am curious to see where Gooding  Jr. goes with this particular challenge and hope that if anything, it reminds us why he was great initially and can help to wipe away a decade of bad calls. Of course, the series could follow the Murphy trope and just be really bad. Who knows. Whatever the reasoning behind it, I do have hope that Gooding Jr. is closer to McConaughey than Vaughn when it comes to comebacks, because I do think he has it in him. He just needs the right script.