Another day, another Boo-mie award. This one goes to actress Alanna Ubach, with Jay Roach, director of The Fockers, as a close also-ran. Jay’s nomination has nothing to do with casting Barbra Streisand as a middle-aged sex therapist. Barbra does us proud, defying the aging stereotypes and having fun, to boot. But he is accountable for casting a 29-year-old as the middle-aged former housekeeper of the Fockers. There are many levels to the motivation for giving this award, so bear with me.
1. There are so many competent actresses in their 50’s who are dying for age-appropriate parts who were available to be cast, and passed over in favor of Alanna Ubach.
2. This confirms these talented and competent actress’s general agreement that it’s okay to be 50 plus in the business if you’ve received an Oscar and especially if you’re Barbra Streisand.
3. But above all, the Boo-mie goes for Alanna’s stereotyped notions of what it means to be fifty—and the director’s affirmation that she was the one best suited to play the role. Here’s Alanna talking about how she prepared to audition for the part, as quoted in the “LA Times”: After putting boxed black hair color from Rite Aid on her hair, “I dressed in this domestic, very matronly sweater and these huge palazzo pants and had red Lee Press On Nails. I made them all laugh.”
4. Which barely eases out Roach’s additions, for top honors: “So they put padding on my rumpus and gave me some hips and some double-D breasts…”
Hold the applause.