Does anyone remember where they were when the 2009 comedy All About Steve came out? For those who the answer is a resounding “no,” you’re probably not alone. The film, starring Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, Ken Jeong, and Thomas Haden Church is mostly forgettable, having debuted at #3 (behind The Final Destination and Inglourious Basterds) during its September opening weekend — and it currently boasts an impressively abysmal six percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
All About Steve went on to be the winner of two Golden Raspberry Awards and a “Worst Actress” Razzie for Bullock — coincidentally making her the first actor to win an Academy Award (for The Blind Side) and a Razzie Award in the same year. DJ Qualls also appeared in a supporting capacity, so clearly the film had all of the makings of a classic.
In other words, it’s a project that Cooper (now obviously a bona fide A-List movie star) would probably just as soon forget about, which sucks for him because the movie is now trending on Twitter thanks to Late Show With Stephen Colbert writer Daniel Kibblesmith.
“What is this movie about — Your best actual guesses only,” tweeted Kibblesmith on Thursday, along with the wacky-looking theatrical poster for the movie.
https://twitter.com/kibblesmith/status/1151879418698248193
Others were only too happy to oblige Kibblesmith, and the ensuing guesses ranged from silly to serious.
https://twitter.com/TheMattDWilson/status/1151882368338341889
Sandra Bullock is Stevabeth (aka. Steve), she is a deadhead who believes that a highschool basketball team's coach (Ken Jeong) is Jerry Garcia reincarnated. THC is a car salesman who sells her a used buick. Cooper is a scientist, who must extract Garcia's soul from Jeong.
— nolan b. 🇨🇦 (@DocBrackenreed) July 18, 2019
Sandra Bullock found an umbrella labeled “Steve” in her shop. She checks the day’s credit card receipts to track down 3 guys named Steve who may have left the umbrella in her shop. Hilarity ensues.
— Ian and Out Burger (@IanGonzales) July 18, 2019
A lonely woman is told by a fortune teller that she will fall in love with a man she meets *that day* named “Steve” — but she meets three men named Steve, and has to figure out which is her Mr. Right. https://t.co/cRQtfeJVlJ
— Matt Singer / mattsinger.bsky.social (@mattsinger) July 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/jonrosenberg/status/1151884007975661568
Three men decide to remake a classic film with incredible female characters but change “Eve” to “Steve” so they can be the leads and it makes Sandra Bullock lose her fucking mind
— Shalyah Evans (@ShalyahEvans) July 18, 2019
Sandra Bullock plays Steve, a shallow ladies' man who is suddenly transformed into a woman by the power of a magic umbrella. Her bros can't decide how much to hit on her now that she's hot
— Ray Radlein (@Radlein) July 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/thedaliallama/status/1151883892745560064
Sandra Bullock is a wealthy wacky heiress who absconds from the family empire to build the Sea-Terra-Eco-Vacation-Escape, a resort designed for birthing sea turtles, much to the consternation of her three brothers.
— Jessica Ellis (@baddestmamajama) July 18, 2019
Some people even guessed that the umbrella itself was the “Steve” in question.
Ignoring her suitors, Sandra Bullock finds love again when her dead high school sweetheart, Steve, is resurrected as an umbrella. https://t.co/nh9SYMkac4
— Tom Taylor (@TomTaylorMade) July 18, 2019
This Fall. Steve is just your average umbrella…
— roberto baggio (@RobMeGaff) July 18, 2019
Qualls even weighed in to joke that he doesn’t know and he was in the damn thing:
I was in it and I don’t even know what it’s about.
— DJ Qualls (@TheOnlyDJQualls) July 18, 2019
For what it’s worth, the actual plot, according to Rotten Tomatoes, is as follows:
Despite the fact that she has only gone on one short date with the man, a love-struck puzzle creator becomes enamored with a successful cameraman and follows him to a series of media events in hopes that the feeling is mutual. While she is saddened to discover that it is not, she soon becomes involved with a group of misfits who selflessly accept her at face value.
Of everyone who guessed, Seth Rogen came probably the closest although it goes without saying that he probably watched the thing stoned out of his mind — which to be fair, sounds like the best way to watch All About Steve.
A professional crossword puzzle writer falls in love with a cameraman after sleeping with him and stalks him across the country in weird red boots.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) July 18, 2019