Robert Pattinson Cardboard Stand Up | Robert Pattinson's 'Stand Up!' Is It Really That Great?

When Robert Pattinson decided to take a break from touring and showshopping and take on some acting, he didn’t expect the backlash. Or rather, the avalanche of memes and jokes and Internet outrage that greeted him for choosing this new path. Because while he may not be a household name yet, what he is is a cultural icon; the Twi-hard brother of one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. And so choosing to be an actor and putting his celebrity on full display was always going to be provocative.

But does his new film, Stand Up! really deserve all the hate? Let’s take a closer look.

The Controversial Opinion-Monger

Long before Robert Pattinson became the butt of jokes for picking up some acting, he was known for his controversial opinions. Most notably, he doesn’t believe in age-appropriateness when it comes to clothing, beauty, and grooming products for men. This, of course, led to a rise in popularity for the “Sober Bob” generation, with Bob being the man in the middle. Or, as he’s often called, the “Op-Ed Man.”

Having created this character, it’s clear that Robert Pattinson has fully embraced it. In the past, he has been candid about the fact that he feels like he doesn’t really understand what it’s like to be a woman. So when he’s called out for his sexist opinions, he has no issue with defending them. Most notably, in 2015 he said:

“Every woman should vote. They should have the right to choose. It’s not the man’s role to tell the woman what to do. If a woman doesn’t like something, she should have the option to change it.”
“The main problem with dating in the modern world is that women complain about men not listening, not caring, or not doing anything while they are talking. If a guy likes what he’s hearing, he’ll say ‘thank you’ and maybe even ‘I love you’ before the girl even says what she wants. If she’s looking for a good listener, she should go on a date with an author, not a doctor or a lawyer.”
“If you are a woman, how can you sit back and let a man make all the decisions about your life? And if you are a man, how can you let a woman push you around? It’s not natural.”
“I think a woman’s place is in the home, taking care of children and making meals and cleaning house. I think men should go out there and earn respect.”

A New Challenge

When Robert Pattinson decided to take a break from touring and showshopping and pick up some acting, he didn’t expect the backlash. Or rather, the avalanche of memes and jokes and Internet outrage that greeted him for choosing this new path. Because while he may not be a household name yet, what he is is a cultural icon; the brother of one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. And so choosing to be an actor and putting his celebrity on full display was always going to be provocative.

But does his new film, Stand Up! really deserve all the hate? Let’s take a closer look.

A Flawed Film

From its very first scene, Stand Up! seems off-putting. In it, Robert Pattinson plays Ian, an arrogant writer who has been dumped by his lover. After a failed attempt to make his former cohabitant jealous, Ian meets a young singer, Amy (played by Sophia Turner), and things quickly escalate from there. With Amy, he begins a passionate, if somewhat unstable, love affair. As they spend more time together, Ian’s conceited attitude slowly dissipates, and he begins to see Amy as more than just a piece of ass. But it’s too little, too late. For Ian, cheating on his girlfriend with a teenaged singer who he meets online is a quick road to disaster. What’s more, Amy has a habit of showing up unannounced at Ian’s house, making matters even worse.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the film’s most shocking scene. After getting into a nasty fight with his girlfriend, Ian meets Amy in person for the first time. While he’s initially furious that she’s come to his house without giving him any warning, he eventually comes to accept her unexpectedly visit. However, this meeting doesn’t go as planned; the two start wrestling, and soon enough they’re rolling around on the floor, taunting and tormenting each other. While this may be a shocking scene to some, it’s not particularly surprising; a similar scene played out between Michael Hutchence and Jon Bon Jovi in Heaven Lives Only On Paper, another film directed by Peter Bogdanovich.

One scene follows another in this fashion. While many may not have a problem with the violence, there’s a great deal of uncomfortable tension throughout. The most notable example comes when Amy and Ian meet for the first time, just after she’s broken up with her boyfriend. In the scene, the two have sex, but the camera doesn’t linger. It cuts away from the table immediately afterward, leaving the viewer wondering what happened.

The Bottom Line

While there are some amazing performances hidden within the wreckage of Stand Up!, it’s hard to escape the feeling that the entire thing was executed with a half-finished script. The dialogue is often stilted, and the performances, while often funny and raunchy, lack commitment. This is most apparent in a couple of scenes where the actors literally read off a script. What’s more, the final act of the film, in which Ian tries to win back Amy’s trust, feels forced and unrealistic. It’s as if the filmmakers were under the impression that audiences would forget about the previous 143 minutes and happily accept whatever message the latter portion of the film was trying to peddle.

This is especially sad considering that, when it comes to social issues, Robert Pattinson can be a real champion. Over the years, he has used his considerable celebrity to shine a light on topics that many would prefer to keep hidden. In 2013, he founded the anti-bullying organization SPARK, and a year later he lent his support to the “Times Up” campaign, which encourages women to enter the workforce. It’s hard to believe that, at such a young age, he would be so quick to throw his energy into supporting such worthy causes, but here we are.

Ultimately, Stand Up! may not be the worst film of the year. But it’s certainly one of the least impressive. While many may not have a problem with the violence, there’s a great deal of uncomfortable tension throughout. The most notable example comes when Amy and Ian meet for the first time, just after she’s broken up with her boyfriend. In the scene, the two have sex, but the camera doesn’t linger. It cuts away from the table immediately afterward, leaving the viewer wondering what happened.

The Wrap Up

Ultimately, it’s hard to separate this article from the ongoing controversy surrounding Robert Pattinson. Even now, as I’m writing this, people are probably comparing him to Angelina Jolie or Gwyneth Paltrow, wondering if he’s crossed the line from nice-guy-next-door to full-blown asshole. Or, as the Internet has so delightfully put it: “GQ’s Boy Toy.”