Paltrow, Diaz Suffer Casting Slouch

Where have all the Hepburns gone? Today's thirtysomething leading ladies are being cast in "handbag" roles, writes Rachel Abramowitz in the Los Angeles Times. Juicy parts are scarce this year for actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz as popular tastes move toward bromantic comedies that appeal to men. Instead, the stars play girlfriends, shrews, or bland sidekicks.

Paltrow comes off too polished for popular appeal, and Diaz should tackle more mature roles, say industry insiders. But "so far, my search for intelligent chicks in the summer movies is proving to be a bust," Abramowitz writes. "At least the Sex and the City women are coming later this month to put a little X chromosome back into the equation." (More Gwyneth Paltrow stories.)