When the trailer for Dear Evan Hansen (Universal, 9.24) popped on 5.18.21, the worldwide reaction was instantaneous. One, this was clearly a gentle, sensitive high-school musical that was determined to snowflake its audience to death, and two, Ben Platt, who plays the titular character, is too old to play an 18 year-old. Platt was 27 when the film was shot, and he looks at least 33 or 34.
What other performances are generally regarded as off-the-mark because the actor was obviously too old for the part?
If you’re a 20something actor playing a teenager, its better if you’re 21, 22, 23 or 24….no older.
Olivia Newton John was radiant and attractive as Sandy Olsson, a high-school senior, in Grease (shot in ’77, released in ’78). But being 29, she certainly didn’t look 17 or 18.
Richard Beymer was 22 when he played “Tony” in West Side Story, a character who was roughly the same age. Beymer nonetheless seemed at least five years older than his calendar age.
In Joshua Logan‘s Picnic, William Holden played a former college football star and failed actor named Hal Carter, who was supposed to be 25 or thereabouts. Holden was 37 when he made the film. Holden was good looking and physically fit back then, but he was a social drinker and didn’t look a day under 39.
Steve McQueen was 27 or 28 when he played a high-school student in The Blob. He was about as convincing as a teenager back then as Ben Platt is now.
There have to be more, many more…