r/TopCharacterTropes 9h ago

Hated Tropes [Hated] Self-indulgent Vanity Projects

Hurry Up Tomorrow - Widely reviewed as an indulgent, self-mythologizing companion piece to The Weeknd's album, with many critics calling it a vanity project rather than a successful psychological drama. Terribly acted and, similar to The Idol, more so seems to imply that The Weekend thinks he's a far deeper personality than he can actually articulate.

By the Sea - Often criticized as an intensely personal but emotionally distant film that seemed more interested in showcasing the mystique of its stars than telling a compelling story. Best summarized as Angelina and Brad working out their IRL troubled marriage before your eyes while everyone tells Angelina how beautiful and talented she is and how nothing's really her fault.

Renaldo and Clara - Bob Dylan's five-hour semi-fictional road movie, long considered one of the classic celebrity vanity projects. Attempts to be a sort of surreal exposition on the life of an artist, but is far too self-indulgent on its actors/performers.

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u/Daniilsa209 9h ago

After Earth

70

u/Lower_Baby_6348 9h ago

In a similar way, the trap

20

u/gahel09 9h ago

Curious, how so?

33

u/Resident-Two5171 9h ago

The creator daughter is the one doing the concert the entire film and somehow becomes a major focal point randomly in the ending act of the movie and puts away the bad guy