Jennifer Aniston
The Role: Almost always "unlucky in love," Aniston routinely plays a somewhat dry-witted, fickle, but good-hearted Average Jane who ultimately finds Mr. Right. Oh, and her hair is always perfect.
Seen In: "Rumor Has It," "The Break-Up," "He's Just Not That Into You," "Picture Perfect," "Along Came Polly," "The Object of My Affection," "Management," "Love Happens," "The Bounty Hunter," "The Switch."
Exception: "The Good Girl," in which Aniston plays a woman who is sad. The film was so well-written and subtle that her talents were able to shine.
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Matthew McConaughey
The Role: A charming-and occasionally sleazy-ladies' man who, in the case of all his rom-coms, just needs to meet the right woman in order to settle down.
Seen In: "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," "Fool's Gold," "Failure to Launch," "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "The Wedding Planner."
Exceptions: His characters in "We Are Marshall" and "Dazed and Confused" were sleazy/charming, but as these weren't rom-coms, we didn't get to see McConaughey fall in love against the odds. "A Time To Kill," his breakout role, is probably his most diverse.
Kate Hudson
The Role: Perky and bubbly, but always with a strong backbone, Hudson always plays a girly-girl who won't take any s**t.
Seen In: "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "Fool's Gold," "You, Me & Dupree," "My Best Friend's Girl," "Bride Wars."
Exception: Her breakout role in "Always Famous" scored her a well-deserved Oscar nomination, but she's been on a downward spiral into rom-com purgatory ever since.
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Michael Cera
The Role: Anxious, nerdy, and boyish, Cera always plays a completely non-threatening wuss who still manages to win the girl with the size of his heart and the sweetness of his stutter.
Seen In: "Juno," "Superbad," "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," "Paper Heart," "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World," "Youth In Revolt."
Exception: Some might argue that "Youth in Revolt" showed off Cera's acting chops because he played two roles in the movie-one of which was not a stuttering wuss-but in the end, that stuttering wuss was trying to win the heart of a girl and all of the cigarette smoking and faint mustache-growing won't change that.
Vince Vaughn
The Role: Ultimately, whether they're married or coupled up or single, all of Vaughn's characters are eternal womanizing bachelors with a 17-year-old's emotional maturity.
Seen In: "Wedding Crashers," "Old School," "The Break-Up," "Couples Retreat," "Swingers," "Four Christmases."
Exception: Um, "Psycho," the remake of the classic Alfred Hitchcock film, maybe?
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Katherine Heigl
The Role: Heigl is definitely following in Jennifer Aniston's footsteps as the "unlucky in love" type, only her version gives much better b---- face (see above).
Seen In: "27 Dresses," "Knocked Up," "The Ugly Truth," "Killers."
Exception: I have no idea. Every other movie she's been in hasn't even been worth renting.
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Sandra Bullock
The Role: A strong-willed-and maybe a little wacky-Alpha Female whose tough exterior eventually reveals a softer side.
Seen In: "The Proposal," "Two Weeks Notice," "Hope Floats," "While You Were Sleeping," "The Lake House," "28 Days."
Exception: "The Blind Side," obvs, but I would like to go on record as saying that the film-and her performance-was completely overrated.
Ryan Reynolds
The Role: The somewhat fratty guy that every girl would love to date if she could just see him as more than a friend.
Seen In: "Just Friends," "Definitely, Maybe," "The Proposal," "Van Wilder."
Exception: Hopefully, the upcoming "Green Lantern."
Owen Wilson
The Role: A dopey stoner with a heart of gold.
Seen In: "You, Me & Dupree," "Shanghai Nights," "Drillbit Taylor," "Wedding Crashers."
Exceptions: Whenever Owen Wilson teams up with Wes Anderson, good things happen. See: "The Royal Tennenbaums," "Bottle Rocket," and "The Darjeeling Limited." Also, I can't hate on his performance in "Zoolander." I just can't.
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Jennifer Garner
The Role: So sweet God gave her dimples, Garner always plays a smiley angel-on-earth type whose only flaw is that she's extremely dull.
Seen In: "Catch and Release," "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," "Valentine's Day," "The Invention of Lying."
Exception: "13 Going On 30" had Garner playing a teen trapped in the body of an adult. It's the kind of material that gets James Lipton hard.
Posted by: Amelia McDonell-Parry at The Frisky
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