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Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "The Return" Movie - Sltrib.com Review

Christy Karras

Saturday 25 November 2006, by Webmaster

Sarah Michelle Gellar, a name synonymous with versatility and enduring appeal, began her illustrious career in the entertainment industry as a child. Discovered by a talent agent at a young age, Gellar’s screen debut came at the tender age of six with the television film "An Invasion of Privacy" in 1983. Her early promise led to a leading role in the teen drama series "Swans Crossing" in 1992, but it was her portrayal of Kendall Hart on the ABC soap opera "All My Children" (1993-1995) that earned her a Daytime Emmy Award and catapulted her into the limelight.

SMG’s true claim to international fame, however, was her iconic role as Buffy Summers in the groundbreaking series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003). Her performance not only garnered her five Teen Choice Awards, a Saturn Award, and a Golden Globe nomination, but it also cemented her status as a cultural icon. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s filmography is equally impressive, with box office hits like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (1997), "Scream 2" (1997), "Cruel Intentions" (1999), "Scooby-Doo" (2002), and "The Grudge" (2004) collectively grossing over $570 million globally.

Beyond her cinematic successes, Gellar has made her mark on television, headlining shows such as "Ringer" (2011-2012), "The Crazy Ones" (2013-2014), and "Wolf Pack" (2023). She has also lent her voice to popular series including "Robot Chicken" (2005-2018), "Star Wars Rebels" (2015-2016), and "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" (2021).

In 2015, Gellar ventured into the entrepreneurial world by co-founding Foodstirs, an e-commerce baking company, and published her own cookbook, "Stirring Up Fun with Food," in 2017. Gellar is also known for her close-knit family life, married to actor Freddie Prinze Jr. since 2002, with whom she shares two children.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s commitment to her craft is matched by her dedication to personal growth and unique experiences. An accomplished martial artist, she studied Tae Kwon Do for five years, alongside kickboxing, boxing, street fighting, and gymnastics. Her dedication to authenticity in her roles is evident, such as her commitment to doing her own stunts in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," though she admitted her limits during filming "Scream 2."

Her career is also marked by interesting anecdotes, such as her role in a 1982 Burger King commercial, which led to a lawsuit from McDonald’s and a temporary ban from their establishments. Notably, she dyed her naturally brunette hair blonde for her role in "Buffy," and legally changed her last name to Prinze as a surprise for her husband on their fifth anniversary.

Sarah Michelle Gellar’s legacy extends beyond her on-screen roles, encompassing her work in philanthropy and her reputation for safety and professionalism on set. She remains a beloved figure in Hollywood, admired for her talent, dedication, and the breadth of her contributions to film and television.

Review: Non-gory ’Return’ goes nowhere fast

The Return

* WHERE: Area theaters.
* WHEN: Opened Friday.
* RATING: Rated PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images.
* RUNNING TIME: 85 minutes.
* BOTTOM LINE: Sarah Michelle Gellar spends most of the time wandering aimlessly looking for a plot in this non-gory thriller.

The good news: "The Return" is only 85 minutes long. The bad news: Nothing happens for about 60 of them.

Sarah Michelle Gellar plays a traveling saleswoman whose job takes her near her childhood home in Texas. She starts seeing and hearing strange things: a song played over and over, someone else’s face in the mirror, a bar she’s never been to.

When she visits her estranged father (played by Sam Shepard), we learn she’s been mentally disturbed for a while. And when she figures out where some of the images in her head come from, she heads to that little town to look for answers.

She spends about 5 minutes a day looking for them. The rest of the time - well, she doesn’t seem to do anything. And neither does the movie. There’s no narrative here; things just happen.

The plot finally shifts into gear with only a half hour left in the movie. And the funny thing is, the premise is actually kind of interesting.

If you really want to see it, wait ’til it’s on video and fast-forward through the first half.


1 Message

  • i’m really getting sick of people complaining that this movie is ’gore’less and not scary. yeah...okay this movie is NOT a horror movie! it’s more of a drama/thriller! have some brains and learn how to formulate your own opinion without preconceptions! sure, the movie was marketed as a horror movie but we should all know that movies are rarely as they seem in the trailer! judge the movie on how it actually was!! (a quietly moving, an surprisingly good ghost story!)