Now, what did I learn from this not-so-little project? Well, either Kathryn’s talents do NOT extend to picking out parts or, more likely, Hollywood just can’t recognize one of the undoubtedly future greats. While she’s been working pretty much non-stop since 1999 (the year of my birth, coincidence or kismet?), Hahn only has a handful of lead movie roles on this list, rounded out by a lot of supporting roles I so desperately wish we had got more of her in, and typically hilarious cameos in everything ranging from big blockbusters to little indie films where you’d least expect her to pop up. TLDR: This lady can ACT. She rocks a prosthetic pregnancy belly like no other, nails every wacky sex scene (of which there are a LOT) she’s tasked with, and speaking of her face — she can wordlessly convey SO many emotions in everything from heart-wrenching dramas to gut-busting comedies. PLEASE, can we keep casting her so I can update this list with more leading roles and eventually cover her in my future Oscar predictions pieces? Okay, thanks. For this list, I focused solely on Kathryn’s film appearances (excluding voice-over work and short films) and am ranking based on her performance within the confines of the movie — which perhaps explains some of my more controversial takes here. Anchorman (of course) follows Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and co. (Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell, David Koechner), a popular newscaster who knows nothing of journalism and will, as Hahn’s Helen reveals to Veronica in the film, read anything, AN-Y-THIN-G on that teleprompter. While she gives a fun performance here, Hahn’s role in Anchorman is just too small to compete with the likes of what’s to come on this list. TLDR: Kathryn plays an inappropriately horny car salesperson in a rampantly un-funny boys’ club. Starring Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, James Brolin, David Koechner, Ed Helms, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Rob Riggle, Alan Thicke, and Craig Robinson, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard is essentially Anchorman (see #25) but with smarmy men working at warring car dealerships as opposed to newsrooms. Hahn plays Babs Merrick, a character who introduces herself with the line “Yes, the rug matches the drapes.” With what she had to work with, I’d say Hahn delivers a solid performance. But would I recommend you hurry to revisit this forgotten 2009 comedy (streaming for free, might I add)? Definitely not. Hahn plays Annie Altman, the once-girlfriend of Bateman’s Judd and present wife and wannabe mother to Judd’s eldest brother, Paul. Her presence provokes several noteworthy family altercations and one impossible-to-forget mid-shiva sex scene, and despite getting the least amount of screen time (I mean really, y’all let Dax Shepard speak more than Kathryn???), Hahn’s performance undeniably improves this excellent movie. Please, I’m begging the powers that be to just let Hahn and Bateman be in love for their next movie! I can share him! Once again bringing up the fact that I was homeschooled here to maybe explain why Wanderlust has such a special place in my heart, but this raunchy comedy features a cast of quirky supporting characters that would all be worthy of spinoffs in my mind — most of all Karen. A former porn star and present menace in specifically George’s life, Karen is unabashedly herself. Unafraid of calling someone out for murdering a fly in cold blood or telling a white lie and always ready to tap in for some free love, Hahn’s hilarious performance in Wanderlust manages to stand out even in this star-studded crowd (which includes Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, and Jordan Peele to name a few). Hahn is a big part of why my DVD copy of Wanderlust has moved across the country with me twice — although Justin Theroux’s whole hippie look definitely doesn’t hurt. If you somehow missed out on this 2012 gem, I suggest you book yourself a quick trip to Elysium ASAP. I won’t be getting too into the details here because I’d rather not ruin the joy of solving this whodunit alongside a matching set-sporting Benoit Blanc, but I will say this: I love a lady who can really rock a visor and pull off grey… the moral grey, that is! After watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days multiple times “for” this list, I’m very here for the Andie Anderson X Michelle reunion, and Hahn plays the opening of this Knives Out sequel so perfectly, setting the tone for the rest of the movie with the ease of a true leader — go soon-to-be-senator Debella! Please watch Glass Onion — it’s basically Knives Out but make it Mamma Mia! — so we can discuss the more spoiler-centric details of Kathryn’s stellar performance (and also her outfits). This wacky, wistful film stars (finally, thank god) Katherine Hahn as Rachel, a dissatisfied housewife who drags her husband Jeff (Josh Radnor) to a strip club to spice things up and winds up becoming a little obsessed with one of the dancers (Juno Temple). This movie is all at once off-putting and inviting. Hahn captures the trapped, guilty mother almost too well, and when she and Juno Temple come together, it feels impossible to look away from the bottled lightning of their combined talents. Afternoon Delight is quietly uncomfortable, covertly funny, and features some meaningful, not-always-hysterical sex scenes from Hahn, which is honestly refreshing after the likes of Step Brothers, The Do-Over, Bad Words, etc. The film comes to a close with a silent moment between Kathryn and Juno that I’ll forever hold as an example of true acting. How I missed this one when it first came out, I do not know…but it’s definitely worth revisiting. In all seriousness, Giamatti is, of course, excellent. But I did spend a healthy portion of Private Life wondering why the hell Hahn’s character was with him at all, let alone tolerating his self-centered approach to their fertility struggles. Ultimately, Kathryn’s performance didn’t need to carry this movie, but it totally could’ve. She’s absolutely sensational as Rachel, a talented writer who always thought she’d have more time to have kids and will laugh and cry in the same breath about just how false that perception turned out to be. She brought me to tears on several occasions with just a wordless expression, made the bleakest of truths about womanhood somehow still feel funny, and gave an end-credits encore to rival that of Mia Goth in Pearl. If you feel like intentionally putting yourself Through It™, consider checking out this quietly powerful film.
