George Clooney's Response to His Lowest-Rated Film Comes as No Surprise

While promoting his latest film, George Clooney reflected on one of the earliest and most notorious roles of his career. The Academy Award-winning actor spoke candidly about Grizzly II: Revenge, a project from his youth that he now regards as a complete disaster and among his lowest-rated films.

Clooney Recalls Grizzly II: Revenge

In an interview with ScreenRant, Clooney shared his memories of the film, stating, I was 22, and I thought, This is going to be amazing! He continued, It was my first job, so I was thrilled to be working. Then we got stuck in Budapest, ran out of money, and were just abandoned.

Directed by Andr Szts, the movie began production in 1983 but ran into financial difficulties that halted filming. The project remained unfinished for decades until 2021, when producers completed it, using Clooneys later fame to promote the release. To fill in missing scenes, stock footage was inserted, prompting Clooney to remark, They patched it together with random bear footage and other clips. It was just a disaster.

Critical Reception and Cast

Grizzly II: Revenge currently holds an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, marking it as one of Clooneys least acclaimed films. Despite its reception, the film featured a notable ensemble, including Laura Dern, Charlie Sheen, Louise Fletcher, John Rhys-Davies, and an uncredited Timothy Spall.

Clooney reminisced about the experience with Dern, saying, Laura and I were laughing the other day, thinking, Were still getting bad reviews for something we did 40 years ago. He added, Laura was about 15 at the time, we die in the opening scene, yet the credits read Starring Laura and George!

Reunion in Jay Kelly

Both Clooney and Dern reunited for the 2023 film Jay Kelly, which also stars Adam Sandler, Greta Gerwig, Riley Keough, Isla Fisher, Eve Hewson, Patrick Wilson, and Stacy Keach. The movie has earned a 79% score on Rotten Tomatoes and began a limited theatrical run on November 14, with a Netflix premiere scheduled for December 5.

Originally reported by Vritti Johar on ComingSoon.

Analysis of George Clooney's Reflection on Grizzly II: Revenge

George Clooney's recent comments about Grizzly II: Revenge offer a candid reflection on one of the most notorious projects of his early career. Despite his considerable success today, Clooney recalls the film with a sense of regret, calling it "a complete disaster." This is a rare insight into the struggles many actors face when starting out, especially when their early projects face major financial and production setbacks. Clooney's remarks highlight the chaos of the film's production and its troubled history, which involved running out of funds and being abandoned in Budapest, ultimately leading to an unfinished product.

The film’s belated release in 2021, after decades of delays, speaks to the difficult and unpredictable nature of the movie industry. The use of stock footage and patchwork editing further underscores the film's troubled origins, and it’s clear that Clooney, like many involved, views it as a cautionary tale of what happens when ambition meets financial disaster.

In terms of critical reception, Grizzly II: Revenge holds a dismal 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, cementing its place as one of Clooney’s least successful projects. This is particularly ironic considering the star-studded ensemble cast, including Laura Dern, Charlie Sheen, and others, which failed to compensate for the film’s shortcomings. Clooney’s comment about the lasting impact of the film’s poor reception, nearly 40 years later, resonates with anyone who has worked on a project that didn't achieve its intended success.

Despite the film’s history, Clooney’s experience with Grizzly II: Revenge has become an endearing story, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the film industry and the perseverance of those involved. Today, Clooney can look back with humor, even as he continues to grow his career with more successful projects like Jay Kelly, which stands in stark contrast to the early fiasco.

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• George Clooney’s Reaction to His Worst-Reviewed Movie Isn’t Surprising