Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" Dominates the 44th Razzie Awards with Megan Fox

By M Muzamil Shami

In the meantime, Fran Drescher, the current President of SAG-AFTRA and previous Razzie nominee, was honored with a special redemption award.

Once again, in a mix of tradition and shady entertainment, the Razzies dish out their awards just before the Oscars. This year, the dubious honor goes to "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey," scoring five Golden Raspberries at the annual event highlighting Hollywood's lows.

The budget-friendly, subpar film seized the opportunity presented by the copyright expiration of A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard's cherished character in 2022. It delved into horror, setting its story in the Hundred Acre Wood. Despite widespread criticism, "Blood and Honey" managed to exceed expectations in Hollywood, raking in $5 million worldwide on a mere $100,000 budget. Its unexpected success naturally led to a sequel.

       'Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey' - Photo by ITN Studios/Jagged Edge Productions

Blood and Honey swept up a notable five Razzies, snagging awards for Worst Picture, Worst Screen Couple (for Pooh and Piglet), and Worst Remake, Rip-Off, or Sequel. Rhys Frake-Waterfield also took home the titles for Worst Director and Worst Screenplay.

Sylvester Stallone, the record-holder for Razzie awards and a three-time Oscar nominee, secured his 12th Golden Raspberry for Worst Supporting Actor in the film "Expend4bles." Familiar with the ignominious Razzie accolades, Stallone had previously been named Worst Actor of the Decade in 1990 and Worst Actor of the Century in 2000.

"Yet, despite his acclaimed performance in Creed, earning him his inaugural acting Oscar nomination, Stallone received the Razzie Redeemer Award in 2016. Despite this, Stallone has garnered five Razzie nominations post-redemption. However, nominating Stallone for a Razzie is akin to nominating Meryl Streep for an Oscar—it becomes a recurring occurrence."

       Megan Fox stars in 'Johnny & Clyde' and 'Expend4bles'. 📸: Screen Media Films/Everett; Lionsgate/Everett

Megan Fox, Stallone's co-star in "Expend4bles," achieved a remarkable feat by winning both the Worst Supporting Actress award for "Expend4bles" and the Worst Actress award for the criticized horror-heist film "Johnny & Clyde." Despite having been nominated eight times before, her first nomination was arguably unjust, given it was for the cult classic "Jennifer's Body" in 2010.

In the awards wrap-up, Jon Voight, an Oscar-winner, clinched the Worst Actor Razzie for his role in the seldom-seen action film "Mercy." Meanwhile, Fran Drescher, the President of SAG-AFTRA and well-known from "The Nanny," received the Razzie Redeemer Award for effectively guiding the actors’ guild through a protracted 2023 strike to a successful resolution.

        Fran Drescher starring in 'The Beautician and the Beast'. Photo courtesy of Paramount/Everett

"Drescher received a prior nomination in 1998 for her role in The Beautician and the Beast. In this romantic comedy, she portrays a beautician who is mistakenly identified as a nanny, then a science teacher tasked with tutoring the four children of a fictional Eastern European dictator, played by Timothy Dalton."

While the Golden Raspberries are typically seen as lighthearted, recent criticism has surfaced regarding its decisions, such as nominating an 11-year-old last year, only to retract the nomination. The Razzies organization also revoked an award for Bruce Willis posthumously, following the announcement of his aphasia diagnosis by his family, and rescinded Shelley Duvall's nomination for her role in The Shining due to mistreatment by director Stanley Kubrick during filming.