James Marsden is one of those actors who, when you see him pop up in something, you’re immediately charmed. Whether he’s playing the handsome love interest, or the goofy sidekick, Marsden is always a delight to see on screen.
Some of his most famous and memorable roles include Hairspray, Enchanted, The Notebook, and 27 Dresses, just to name a few. But his career has spanned multiple decades now, first beginning in the ’90s, and he’s got plenty of underrated gems that have flown under the radar but deserve a watch. We’ve compiled a few of them here, so you can prep for your next James Marsden movie night.
10
‘Straw Dogs’ (2011)
Directed by Rod Lurie
Straw Dogs is a remake of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 film of the same name, and is based on the book The Siege of Trencher’s Farm by Gordon Williams. The film follows a couple, David (Marsden) and Amy Sumner (Kate Bosworth), who relocate to her hometown after Amy’s father passes away. But what is intended to be a peaceful stay, as David works on his screenplay and they fix up the house for selling, turns violent as tensions from the locals rise against the Sumners.
Marsden plays the lead role of David in the film, who we initially see to be quiet and peaceful. But as things grow more dangerous in town, specifically towards his wife, David must confront the issue head on. Marsden portrays this gradual transition well, showing the complexities of David’s struggle with not wanting to resort to violence but needing to protect his loved ones.
9
‘Disenchanted’ (2022)
Directed by Adam Shankman
Enchanted is arguably one of Marsden’s most popular films, but the sequel, Disenchanted, which was released in 2022, didn’t have the same amount of fanfare. It sees Giselle (Amy Adams) and Robert (Patrick Dempsey) living in the suburbs with their family, but Giselle accidentally turns their quaint town into a fairytale land with dire consequences.
Marsden returns as Edward, though in this sequel, he is notably deemed King Edward, and he and Nancy (Idina Menzel) rule Andalasia together. His role is noticeably smaller than that of Enchanted, but he’s just as funny and charming as ever, and he finally gets a full solo song as he deserves! Disenchanted honestly deserves praise just for the amount of solo songs it gave to characters that didn’t have one in the original film, Marsden included.
8
‘Disturbing Behavior’ (1998)
Directed by David Nutter
Disturbing Behavior follows a new student (Marsden) at a high school who is recruited to join a group called “The Blue Ribbons”, which is seemingly made up of preppy overachievers. Upon further examination, Steve learns that there’s more than meets the eye, and that the perfect behavior exhibited by The Ribbons may be the result of a sinister experiment.
Disturbing Behavior stands out as an underrated film in Marsden’s filmography for a couple of reasons. For starters, it’s one of his early film roles, so it’s fun to see his evolution as an actor. Plus, it stars Katie Holmes alongside him, who was just starting her journey on Dawson’s Creek at the time, and she and Marsden are a fun duo to see.
7
‘Death at a Funeral’ (2010)
Directed by Neil LaBute
A remake of the 2007 movie of the same name, Death at a Funeral is all about a funeral gone terribly wrong. It’s an event that should be sad and quiet, but in this movie it’s pure chaos from start to finish, and a lot of that has to do with Marsden’s character.
Not all the chaos can be blamed on Marsden’s character, Oscar. After all, the family in the film has their own issues, but he does provide many of the comedic elements due to the fact that he is given a powerful hallucinogen early on and spends the rest of the movie feeling the side effects. It’s a quirky and fun role among a cast of greats such as Peter Dinklage, Chris Rock, and Zoe Saldaña.
6
‘Gossip’ (2000)
Directed by Davis Guggenheim
Gossip follows a group of college students who start a rumor for a class assignment so they can track its circulation. But the rumor quickly gets twisted, and unleashes a web of consequences and dark secrets.
Gossip is a very dark and heavy movie due to the central rumor that is spread, but it also brilliantly showcases just how easily rumors can spin out of control and how quickly they can go sideways. Marsden gets to step into a darker role with this film, and is amongst some fellow up-and-coming actors at the time, such as Lena Headey, Norman Reedus, Joshua Jackson, and Kate Hudson, making it a fascinating watch all around.
5
‘The D Train’ (2015)
Directed by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel
The D Train follows a man named Dan Landsman (Jack Black) who is organizing his high school reunion and is desperate to impress his classmates. In an effort to do so, he calls upon his fellow former student Oliver Lawless (Marsden), who is now a Hollywood actor.
Marsden effortlessly portrays cool guy Oliver Lawless, but as the film goes on, we learn that Oliver’s life isn’t as perfect and enviable as we think, allowing Marsden to be vulnerable in the role and really show off his acting chops. Plus, he and Jack Black are hilarious together, which should come as no surprise. The D Train is the best of both worlds if you’re looking for a comedic role with a bit more depth.
- Release Date
-
May 8, 2015
- Director
-
Jarrad Paul, Andrew Mogel
- Writers
-
Jarrad Paul, Andrew Mogel
4
‘Into the Grizzly Maze’ (2015)
Directed by David Hackl
Into the Grizzly Maze is a brutal action thriller about two estranged brothers who venture into the Alaskan wilderness and find themselves hunted by a relentless grizzly bear, whom they encountered years prior. In the midst of being hunted, the brothers must face their pasts and find a way to move forward.
Into the Grizzly Maze is gruesome and action-packed. In almost every scene you’re waiting for the grizzly bear to come out of hiding and wreak more havoc. But on top of non-stop action, the film also has a pretty stellar cast, with Marsden in the lead role, and actors such as Billy Bob Thornton and Piper Perabo joining in on the journey.
3
‘The Box’ (2009)
Directed by Richard Kelly
The Box has a fascinating concept, which alone should be reason enough to want to watch it. Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (Marsden) are a couple who receive a mysterious box on their doorstep one morning. Inside the box is a button, and they are told that if they push it they will receive a million dollars, but that someone they don’t know will die. It poses an ethical dilemma for the characters, especially as more consequences come to light.
Marsden’s character spends much of the film trying to understand the science of the box, the reason for it, and the organization behind it, all the while balancing whether to push the button. The film as a whole is thought-provoking and has a sense of dread hanging over it – a far cry from Marsden’s usual upbeat roles – but that’s what makes it such a fascinating watch.
2
‘The Best of Me’ (2014)
Directed by Michael Hoffman
For those who love The Notebook, which also features Marsden, he takes the lead role in The Best of Me, the 2014 adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel. The film follows two high school sweethearts who reunite after the death of a friend, and takes place in two timelines, showing their love story as it began and as it begins again.
Marsden portrays the adult version of Dawson Cole, who falls for Amanda Collier (Michelle Monaghan). Though Dawson has a kind heart, he has a troubled past that makes him insecure and hard to open up. The Best of Me is an underrated installment in Marsden’s filmography, especially since it’s his second Nicholas Sparks adaptation, but it deserves attention because Marsden turns in a touching and beautiful performance as the leading man.
1
‘Interstate 60’ (2002)
Directed by Bob Gale
In Interstate 60, Marsden plays a man named Neal Oliver who meets someone who offers to grant him exactly one wish. He wishes for answers, and thus has to take a journey down Interstate 60, which doesn’t exist on any map. By the time he reaches his destination, which also isn’t on a map, he hopes to find his dream girl, and the answers he’s been craving.
The journey Neal goes on becomes a metaphor for freedom and self-discovery, and Marsden portrays Neal’s growth as he learns these lessons for himself with great authenticity. It’s a very strange little film, a little disorienting, but that’s what makes it so great, it’s thought-provoking and beautifully so. It’s severely underrated in Marsden’s filmography and as a film in general. It’s a must-see.
