Artisan Entertainment

Meiert Avis' new romantic comedy-drama Undiscovered has been turning up on more than a few worst lists for 2005, and while that may be an unfair assessment, as just about every film out this year could have made it onto the same list, it's still no picnic. Some of the numbers are hip enough, and the two lead actors deliver likeable, though poorly written performances. However, Ashlee Simpson's performance drives it all down into the mud and solidifies her standing as not just the least talented Simpson daughter, but also one of the most obnoxious wretches, who dares call herself a celebrity.

While anyone who's ever created anything can certainly relate to the noble Luke Falcon in his efforts to make it big on his own terms, no viewer can get past the egotistical pseudo-charms of Simpson, whose very performance seeks selfish standing as Undiscovered's novelty act. I didn't want to turn this into an Ashlee bash-fest, but she makes it too darn easy, and clouds the quality of what otherwise may have been a decent romantic comedy-drama. She spends all of her too-freely-given screen time shooting frequent looks to the camera and smiling a big stupid grin as if she's flirting with us. While Jessica may be somewhat charming and physically attractive (jury's still out), Ashlee falls far short of what could be construed as her sister's qualities, and seems like she's doing her best stupid impersonation. And while she certainly makes a convincing idiot, it's her sister's act, and she needs to find one of her own. Of course, when the only reason she's even succeeded depends on the existence of her sister, originality may be a hard attribute to come by.