Let’s be honest, not all impersonation is a form of flattery. In fact much of it is just plain ol’ piss-taking, which is why we love it.
Everyone has got someone they do, some are better than others. The greatest are not even necessarily the ones that achieve perfection in imitation, but capture parody or zeitgeist so well they transcend the reality. The following performances are a mix of both brilliant impersonation and legendary parodies: each one memorable, some downright genius.
10. Dane Cook does Tom Cruise
There are so many worthy impressions that could equally take the number 10 spot, however, it’s hard not to appreciate the sheer and unashamed aplomb with which Dane Cook tackles Tom Cruise’s infamous Oprah appearance. Host Jimmy Kimmel holds on for dear life as Cook runs wild, bites Nelly (who does his best to take the chaos in stride but generally looks bemused) while enthusiastically expressing his love for little Joey Potter.
9. Anna Faris does Cameron Diaz
File this one under ‘unofficial impersonations’. Faris’ airhead Hollywood actress in
Lost In Translation – who pops up to annoy Scarlett Johansson and distract onscreen husband Giovanni Ribisi – was based on a Cameron Diaz, or so the story goes. Given Johansson is basically a stand in for writer-director Sofia Coppola whose ex Spike Jonze worked with Diaz on
Being John Malkovich and you can draw your own conclusion.
Either way, Coppola denied it was the case while Faris later said she felt bad about for having ‘unknowingly’ mocked the actress, so something doesn’t quite stack up. Begs the question, does Faris get credit for the performance or Coppola for the direction?
8. Eddie Griffin does Michael Jackson
A top 10 list of impersonations just wouldn’t be complete without someone taking on the King Of Pop himself, and comedian Eddie Griffin cuts a damn funny line between replicating Jacko’s unmistakable dance moves and sending up his, er, erratic personality and home life. Sure the voice isn’t close but the punchline makes it all worthwhile regardless of fact Griffin is dressed like a smurf.
7. Matt Damon does Matthew McConaughey
It’s nice to know even Matthew McConaughey’s fellow stars thinks he takes his shirt off an awful lot. Whatever your regard for the southern stud’s actual talent, it’s hard not to like the guy who played Wooderson in Dazed And Confused, delivering the film’s single most memorable line: “I get older and they stay the same age.” Of course, it’s Wooderson/McConaughey that Matt Damon is channelling when he declares they’ll “probably get more chicks” if they take their shirts off. Now if Damon could just learn how to play the bongos…
6. Kevin Spacey does Jimmy Stewart and friends
Being interviewed at the Actors Studio Kevin Spacey gets extra credit for performing on demand and moving seamlessly from one legend to another even with a gender switch thrown into the mix. Not only does he has the voices down, he’s got some wicked observational memory of physical ticks and get deliver a cracking personality punchline. Impossible to pick a favourite from Stewart to Hepburn to Pacino, but if you had to, dropping the line “I didn’t learn twiddly twat from the Actors Studio” as Marlon Brando might just be the highlight.
5. Andy Samberg does Mark Wahlberg
First off, does a sketch title get any better than ‘Mark Wahlberg talks to animals’? Clearly the answer is no, and given that we all know Mark Wahlberg talks to plants, it could also be based on reality. Samberg nails the bizarre juxtaposition of Marky Mark swagger and Mark Wahlberg, soft as Kleenex (yet 100 per cent stronger and more absorbent than regular tissues). Bonus points for being the most random of all the top 10 impressions and for the hat tip to Wahlberg’s goatee in
Perfect Storm.
Say hello to you mother for me.
4. Jay Pharoah does Denzel Washington and Will Smith
Pharoah shot to fame thanks to his excellent Barack Obama impression and at 23 is the youngest ever cast member of
Saturday Night Live. While his Obama performances could probably make the list (they really are that good), there’s only room on this list for one politician. Besides, to see him do Denzel Washington is even better than the real thing seen as Denzel only seems to play half-ass caricatures of himself these days.
3. Tina Fey does Sarah Palin
Probably the defining impersonation of the decade, unfortunately Tina Fey’s Emmy award-winning performance as the Sarah Palin loses places due to its dependence on the existence of the former Governor of Alaska. That said, God bless Fey, her uncanny resemblance to Palin and her devastating parody arguably played a significant role ensuring the former beauty queen ended up a realty TV star instead of Vice President.
2. Kevin Spacey does Christopher Walken doing Han Solo
Actors love to impersonate Christopher Walken, there’s reverence for the idiosyncratic style he brings to every single character he plays, doesn’t matter who the character is, when Walken is onscreen that’s who you’re watching. It’s as if he made a conscious decision to leave the method acting to everyone else and just be himself; namely, suave as all hell.
Spacey gets the nod twice simply because his
SNL sketch of Walken auditioning for Han Solo is a thing of genius. You’ll never look at the Mos Eisley Cantina scene the same way again, wondering, perhaps, what it might have been like to have the King of New York conversing with Walter Matthau as Obi Wan Kinobe
1. Dave Chappelle does Rick James
“I’m Rick James, bitch! Enjoy yourself.” So popular was Dave Chappelle impersonation of Rick ‘Super Freak’ James that it literally drove the comedian to abandon Chappelle’s show. Sick of the public shouting catchphrases from his brilliant send-up of the '80s RnB star as the first installment of Charlie Murphy’s
True Hollywood Stories, Chappelle walked out of the production during season three.
No regrets though right? Hugely political incorrect, utterly hilarious and downright “coooold-blooded”. Chappelle’s ridiculously over the top braids, voice and mannerisms opposite Charlie Murphy’s storytelling and brief interludes from the real Rick James has to go down with the all-time greats. His Prince sketch is a work of art too. “Unity!”
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