Call In Winston Wolfe: Let’s Save Reese Witherspoon’s Career

We've already covered all the reasons it was pretty goofy that Reese Witherspoon received a Generation Award at Sunday night's MTV Movie Awards. But it did make us start thinking about Witherspoon's career. She's 34, starred in four films that have made over $100 million (two others made more than $90 million), and she's won an Oscar. That's a pretty great résumé. Still, we confess to being baffled by her career: Amidst all her highlights, she's been in some real doozies, and her last two films ("Water for Elephants" and "How Do You Know") weren't exactly big hits. She's definitely not in free-fall, but she's at a crossroads. That's where The Wolf comes in.

He's Winston Wolfe. He solves problems. He's here to help.

Here's how to fix your career, Reese.

1. Don't let "How Do You Know" get you down. Reese, we liked James L. Brooks' latest. OK, it's no "Broadcast News," but you were great in it, playing a tomboy softball player who is torn between two very different guys. That movie was horribly marketed, starting with the title, and the mediocre reviews ensured that it never had a chance during a crowded holiday movie season. We don't want that discouraging you from doing more smart romantic comedies because, frankly, you haven't done one in a while. Sure, "Four Christmases" and "Sweet Home Alabama" were big hits for you, but they're not good movies. (Neither was "Just Like Heaven," and that one didn't even do well.) Your inner light is a natural fit for romantic comedies, but doing more good ones would be welcome. Heaven knows we need a few.

2. Find a drama queen (or king). You won an Oscar for "Walk the Line." It's about the only time you've been in a drama that people liked: "Vanity Fair" and "Rendition" were Oscar-hungry movies that sank without a trace. "Water for Elephants" is actually performing pretty decently for an older-skewing film like that, but the reviews have been far from stellar. "Walk the Line" really feels like an aberration where you found good dramatic material that you could sink your teeth into. So, we'd like to suggest you focus your attention on a real heavyweight director who can guide you toward another great performance. You've got the chops: Now, you just need the right director. That shouldn't be so hard for an Oscar-winner, right?

3. Cross your fingers about "This Means War." You haven't been in a project that's excited us as much as next year's "This Means War" in quite a while. It sounds a little like "Mr. & Mrs. Smith: The Bromance Version," but it's got potential: Two spies (Tom Hardy and Chris Pine) both fall in love with the same woman. An action-comedy is a new look for you, and as long as we try to forget that McG is directing it, we'll remain upbeat. Plus, it's coming out around Valentine's Day: It already looks a ton better than other options we've got around that time. You've been in commercial hits, but other than being a voice actress in "Monsters Vs. Aliens," you haven't been in a really fun one in forever. Let's hope this one changes that trend.

4. Be the grownup ... but not the wet blanket. For someone so young, you're pretty mature. Your oldest child is going to be 12 in September, which definitely helps keep you grounded in a way your peers aren't. And we liked your comments at the MTV Movie Awards about young actresses who try so hard to be bad girls. You're a role model for a lot of aspiring actresses, no doubt, but please don't lose your sense of humor along the way. This isn't to say you're not supposed to speak your mind, but as you start to creep into your late 30s and early 40s, you won't be able to play the perky young ladies anymore. We don't want you contracting "Julia Roberts disease," which is where a glowing actress decides she has to start frowning a lot in her movies so that people know how committed she is to her craft. Don't do that, Reese. Keep smiling.

5. Make another movie with Alexander Payne. OK, this one is entirely selfish, we realize, but we're suggesting it anyway. You've never been better than you were in "Election" as Tracy Flick, the scheming high school student who will stop at nothing to become class president. You were, what, 22 at the time, and you delivered an incredibly nuanced and funny performance. We haven't seen you doing anything quite like it since. (In the "Legally Blonde" movies, you were sort of like Tracy Flick if she was just as pretty but dumb and slutty.) Payne always gets great performances out of his cast, he's one of our best filmmakers, and you could add a little star power to whatever project he wants to do. Think about it, OK?

There you go, Ms. Witherspoon. That should do it.