At the premiere of One For The Money last night — which looks crazy terrible and farcical and slight, by the way; I had heard good things about the books, so fans will have to let me know if this is a fair representation — Katherine Heigl’s styling was eerile familiar. I present to you Heigl circa 2008, at the Oscars:
And Heigl last night, in New York:
Both are red shifts with all the design emphasis on the shoulder, red lipstick, big hair. Obviously they’re not identical: Heigl in 2008 had Dirtyface — her makeup was so relentlessly slathered on that she almost looked in dire need of a bath — and Heigl in 2012 appears to have forgotten her own dress size. Which is probably exactly the same as it was before, except for whatever vanity led her to subtract two from that already tiny number and decide it was still a perfect fit simply because it zipped. Her chest looks like it wants to burst.
Even in spite of the makeup (which is still heavy in 2012, but in a slightly cleaner Miss America kind of way), I prefer 2008. It’s better-fitted, more graceful, younger. In fact, the comparison of the two illustrates a bit of the turn Heigl’s overall styling has taken since then. She was an ingenue in ’08, of whom we expected big things, and now she always looks old for her age and juuuust a hair off the plot — less your fresh-faced and talented rom-commer next door than a kooky Grande Dame who plays bridge with Sharon Stone, eats gimlets for lunch at Musso & Frank, and occasionally pops up in movies opposite famous-ish dudes with whom she has no chemistry.
But hey, at least she’s having fun. This photo ALMOST makes me want to give 2012 the win — that bridge game WOULD be a kick, especially if she and Sharon can get Courtney Love and Meryl as their partners — but considering that physically you can’t see the intervening four years (wish I could say that), I think 2008 did her more favors. Oh, 2008. Nostalgic already.
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Comments (79):
Dress? 2008
Hair and makeup? 2012
Overall look- I have to give it to 2008, just because wearing your actual size is soo much more flattering to the girls…
^^ agree 100%
Yes, 2008 dress with 2012 makeup. She does look like she’d be a fun girl to play bridge with.
“Dress? 2008
Hair and makeup? 2012″
Agreed, and that makes this a Hobson’s choice, yes? I was unable to vote.
given that our face is/should be the first place we are seen, i had to give it to 2012. but agree 100%.
I like the way the guy in the second 2012 picture is staring at her boobs. Maybe he, too, is thinking that she should have gone up a size…
that wasn’t at all what I imagined him thinking…
Neither. I feel like this look should have ended with Anna Nicole Smith’s death.
i wish she had stayed a brunette. I cannot *stand* that friggin blond bouffant she is so fond of!
2008 because at least it fit. and I think she is faking that fun photo.
I was just thinkinghow much prettier she was with darker hair – even a dark blonde. I remember watching Roswell and thinking she was gorgeous because she was so pretty and natural looking. What happened? I’ve gotta say I give her a million points for retaining a hot curvy bod though.
this all just makes me sad for Stephanie Plumb
Oh Stephanie Plumb. I had such a girl-crush on her!
Yes!! When I saw the commercial for the movie, my first thought was “what a HORRIBLE casting choice”. This woman is so far from kicky, girl next door, fem/tomboy fatale-without-a-clue, that it makes no sense why they chose her for this role. This movie will be a disaster. I feel bad for Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plumb. As to the styling – 2008 is horrid for the makeup, and 2012 could use a size up as stated. Neither – I’m over this girl. It’s a good thing she’s so caught up on herself; she’ll always have SOMEone in her corner.
2008, if only for the fit. I did really love that dress on her.
What I liked about that 2008 makeup job was how beautifully it captured the effect of “I just drained the pasta and raced over here”. 2012 can’t hold a candle to that.
And the Mom Hair continues to freak me out.
Why does she do that to her hair? Sigh.
I voted for 2012 – in all fairness she looks better in 2008, but her face is soooo much less smug in 2012, I like the whole outfit better for it.
Yes. Me too.
yes — I voted for 2012 only because of that second picture — she looks so naturally happy. Also, I don’t think it’s fair to go back to make any actress compete with her younger self!
yes, elisabeth! I feel the same way. Lord knows I can’t compete with my 2008 self.
Good point Elisabeth – I didn’t even think of that!
Oh I can’t wait, Mom Hair?
Would that be anything with some style, curl and body, as opposed to pathetically string straight and lifeless?
Mom Hair: as in, it looks like mine.
45, cranky, addicted to hot rollers, over here.
Love the Stephanie Plum books, but I don’t have high hopes for this movie. Sad….
Nooooooo I wanted the opposite of this!
My enjoyment of the books (and you should read them because they are HILARIOUS) will forever be tainted by he fact that someone read them and thought that Katherine Heigl would be a good choice for Stephanie Plum.
But yeah; dress: 2008; make-up: 2012; hair: neither.
I always pictured Sandra Bullock playing Stephanie Plum, but I read them in 2004 and she might be a tad too old for the part at this point.
agreed re Sandra Bullock – NOT Katherine Heigl
Sandra Bullock would be good! I think with The Heig it runs the risk of being a straight rom-com. And both the rom and the com would be too forced, because, duh, Katherine Heigl.
Me too re Sandra Bullock in former days. These days I’d like to see Angie Harmon. I can’t see Heigle pulling of Bronx Italian. *meh*
Although she’s too old now, Debi Mazar was always who I thought of.
I don’t really understand her as Stephanie Plum, but I love her anyway. I don’t love her make-up in 2008, and I don’t love the hair in either place. I wish her real life hair would be more like her movie hair – simple and wavy without the tortured look it often seems to have at events.
the make up and hair has got to go, no matter what year it is. YUCK.
I am so not a fan of that updo she wears all the time now. 2008 in every way except the makeup.
The ads for the movie make it look terrible, which is a shame because the books are fun. Janet Evanovich is probably leaping into a swimming pool of money right about now, so at least there’s that.
One for the Monday (the book) is hysterical. You really should give it a try. The movie trailers make me cringe in part because she is NOT Stephanie Plum. Bad casting! (I voted for 2008, btw, but only because 2012 looks painfully tight.)
I got really annoyed with the books and stopped reading them because they were just ticking me off, but I have fond memories of the first one so it makes me sad that the movie looks so terrible. As far as I can tell the casting is bad across the board. Heigel is certainly all wrong for Stephanie.
Her 2008 look had major problems, but was nowhere near as awful as 2012. She has just gone totally off the rails the last few years. I have no idea what’s going on with her, but out of general human compassion I hope it’s not as bad as it looks.
I started to read the books, but when I got to #12 and Stephanie was still doing stupid crap like going to track down felons without bothering to charge her cell phone or her taser, I gave up. I can’t stand incompetence, especially when the incompetent person makes no effort to improve.
Also, I voted for 2008, because it actually fit.
Yes, I also felt this way and stopped reading… but in the beginning it was fun! She just milked the cow to long (Evanovic). I saw the trailer some weeks ago and didn’t think it was so bad. (as far as I remember, ahem).
I voted 2012 because even with the boobs she looked fresher. I liked the other dress more but the make-up…. I just couldn’t….
The books are great, although they suffer from “know when to quit” syndrome — I think there’s 17 of them now? She could have stopped after 10, or even 5. And the movie looks TERRIBLE. Just awful. Casting is so, so wrong. Sandy would have been good as Stephanie, but she is, unfortunately, a little old at this point. And so I ask: what is wrong with finding NEW actors and actresses?! I’m sure Second City has SOMEONE better than Heigl, and I would go see that movie, even with an unknown headlining, because correct casting is better than known casting.
Although Jason O’Mara might do pretty well as Morelli. Don’t know much about Daniel Sunjata (Ranger), but he’s damned good looking, so there’s that.
I agree the first 5 (maybe 10) books were enjoyable but they got pretty crappy after that.
I might Netflix this movie. We’ll see.
Katherine Heigl always appears to be way older than she is; sometimes I wonder if she is giving out a fake age and she’s actually in her 40s. Dress #2 looks pretty terrible on her.
Around book 7 I think, she started writing them with someone else – IMO THAT is when they went to crap. Ugh.
I agree. I think I would have preferred an unknown to Heigl.
Same as almost everyone who has already posted, 2008 dress, 2012 makeup, neither hair.
But really, I’m just here to talk Evanovich books. I’m ADDICTED. I know they’re kind of in a rut now (PICK ONE GUY, DAMMIT) but they’re amazing, they’re quick reads (I usually do them in one night) and they’re funny. The only good casting in the movie is Sherri Shepherd as Lula. I had told my friends that four years ago when the rumors about a movie started. NEVER the Heig, however. I will be there Friday for the opening showing, because I’m addicted, but I’m not optimistic. Morelli looks old and ugly, not at all what he should have been. SHOULD have been the dude from Dexter, Desmond Harrington. HE is Morelli. Not O’Mara. (sorry for the rambling and my addiction to parentheses as well).
Terrible, awful, no good, very bad hair.
Fist bump! I love Alexander.
Oh HELLS yes.
The books are amazing! It makes me sad every time I see the previews that they picked her for the role – she is no Stephanie Plum!
Also: that boob overflow from the 2012 photo makes my boobs hurt in empathy.
The 2008 dress >>> the 2012 dress. But yikes, the 2008 makeup is bad… and the hair in both is pretty bad. But the 2008 wins just because the dress is gorgeous and fitted and so I’ll give everything else a pass.
2008 For The Win!!!
Also agree that Heigl was a huge disappointment…. she is not Stephanie Plum.
I voted for 2008, minus the dirty face, ewwww.
My sister and I agree she is the WORST pick for that role. Although its a fluff read, Stephanie Plum is a great character, more deserving of a Sandra Bullock circa 2004.
Definitely the 2008 dress, but I can’t get on board with her makeup/hair styling in 2012 either. I watched that terrible farce of a romcom 27 Dresses the other day, and everything else aside, Heigl looked lovely in it. Great, flattering clothes that fit, natural make up, and a pretty reddish-brown bob that didn’t look like it belonged on a Southern oil fortune heiress, a look she’s been sporting far too often these last few years. Seriously, without Googling it, how the hell old is she?
Ditto those who said the book series started off delightfully but should have ended ages ago. Stephanie sucking at her job was cute and hilarious the first few times she accidentally blew up a car, but there’s such a thing as beating a dead horse. Also, reading the blurb for the latest novel I was surprised to see the love triangle thing is still happening. I lost interest around the tenth book, but at that point it seemed pretty obvious she was going to end up with Morelli. Am I wrong? How is Evanovich still managing to stretch out the Ranger/Morelli thing eight books later???
Ditto (thirded? fourthed?) on how much fun the first handful of books were — no better summer beachtime/poolside read, in my estimation. And I always pictured Benjamin Bratt as Ranger, FTR. But Heigl as Stephanie … no, just, no. I hope for the fans’ sakes the movie is better than it looks, because I won’t be seeing it, and it’s mostly because of her.
To stay on topic, 2008 is marginally better, but only a bit. Neither work for her. Neither does that shade of red, really. Neither does that hair color. (She’s so much prettier as a brunette!)
Benjamin Bratt would be PERFECT as Ranger! Good call.
the blush is a TRAGEDY!!!!!!!!
^THAT.
I loved every book up to #12, and never did I picture Heigl as Stephanie. I expect to wait for this to be on Netflix just like I have to wait for Something Borrowed (decent book, crap movie). I’ve heard rumors that Janet E sold the franchise or at least has someone ghostwriting. #13 was craptastic.
I like the 2008 dress and the 2012 makeup is much better. She should have stayed brunette through promo for this b/c then maybe we could be conditioned to see her as Stephanie.
It’s a stretch and he may be too old, but I could have scene Dominic West as Morelli. His accent on The Wire was pretty decent.
That girl has got the weirdest sense of style. It’s like she’s living in a whole other era or age bracket or something. Is she going to finally try out the 20-30 year old hair and accessories when she’s 80? *shudder*
um, NEITHER should have been a choice
^ THAT, yes.
Was absolutely astonished at how much I loved the books… casting Heigl guaranteed I’ll never see the movie(s).
First, I’m not a Heigl fan. She has never had any chemistry with anyone. In movies, she looks okay, but on every red carpet, she’s a disaster. She looks like a wax figure of herself. Done by a drag queen apprentice. Aren’t her 15 minutes over yet??
God knows she’s beautiful and talented, but ever since she gave up Grey’s… and started encapsulating herself within the pretty-girl-who-for-no-reason-hooks-up-with-pathetic-guy-and ends-up-mending-his-looser-ways character she lost the sultryness that could have helped her pull out these looks. She comes as sort of geriatric to me, no matter what she’s wearing. She’s naturally fleshy and curvy, and loosing weight didn’t make her any good, specially to her face. No winner to me.
I am so upset Heigl is playing Stephanie Plum. Sure, the books are fluff, but I like them, and she is pretty much the opposite of how I picture Plum. Sad.
Dresssize, smeschsize, I just can’t get over that face! I had to vote 2012, but really, as others have said before me – 08 dress, 12 face.
If only
The 2008 dress! She looked great!
I just want to share this pic I found when googling Heigl with darker hair. It’s safe for work but HILARIOUS.
http://wegetofftothis.tumblr.com/post/115571936/bohemea-katherine-heigl-2000-i-miss-roswell
my God! is that actually her WAIST?! She’s like Scarlett O’Hara over there…
2008 just based on fit, although the pancake blush is too much.
The first, oh, five or six Stephanie Plum books are great. They’re sheer camp and fun, perhaps even more so if you’re familiar with the New York/New Jersey Italian crowd, because she nails their quirks so well, and if the movie gets *that* right, I’ll enjoy it. But at a certain point, they get TOO silly – I think I completely lost interest by 10 or 11, and rolled my eyes through Plum Spooky.
I dislike her so, in my book she can do no right.
( Disclaimer – my dislike is purely subjective and superficially based on her acting, pics and general public appearance. So there.)
Heigl as Stephanie Plum has got to be one of the worst casting decisions ever. My ideal choice would be a young Marisa Tomei – I loved her in My Cousin Vinny, and think she would get the whole Jersey-girl thing down perfectly.
Still doing the Marilyn thing, huh? Is that tanner overspray, or refection from the neon dress?
At least, this year, the make-up is decent.
the funny/sad/puzzling thing about heigel is that for a hot minute america wanted to love her, because they remember izzy, and she was pretty good as izzy…but post izzy, she fizzled somehow and she keeps trying to get “it” back. she’s a whole check list of things that typically go into your standard rom-com, but the whole thing never seems to come together like it should. oh well.
Actually, I kind of like her look. I always thought she looked like one of the classic movie starts from the 40s.
You know what? I don’t… HATE her as Stephanie Plum. I would NEVER have cast her off the top of my head (an unknown would’ve been grand) but in the end, the trailer looks pretty bang on to me! It looks like the movie’ll have the same silly/sexy vibe that the books do
I also would never have picked Jason O’Mara (who I do actually like. I even like Terra Nova. For shame!) as Morelli – I always, ALWAYS pictured Antonio Sabato Jr while reading the books – but he looks like he’s having fun so maybe we will too!
As for the dresses, I’m not wild about either, but I do REALLY appreciate that she’s never given in and lost the curves. Lady has a gnarly body
I read in the paper that Janet Evanovich literally cried with joy when they screened the movie for her, because she thought it was so perfect. Just saying.
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She can’t seem to wear dresses that fit in the chestal area lately – this one was RUINED by the spillover effect (and the bad hair and moonstone jewelry)
http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2012/02/in-or-out-katherine-heigl-in-maria-lucia-hohan.html