Deschanel: 'Modern romcoms are flimsy'

Rex Features

Zooey Deschanel has said that too many romantic comedies are flimsy because of the exaggerated performances of their actors.

The actress stars in a romantic comedy of her own alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt in (500) Days of Summer.

She told Parade: "I'm a fan of the screwball comedy genre, which I think is the forefather of romantic comedy.

"Actually, I find so many romantic comedies today so flimsy, like a lot of talking, cardboard cutouts trying to be funny."

She added: "I like actors who don't try too hard to be funny like my favourite comedians Bill Murray and Steve Martin. I think they play the reality of the character and then the comedy comes out of that."

> Click here to watch a trailer for (500) Days of Summer