Let’s be real. If you were around in 2006, you probably remember the marketing for My Super Ex-Girlfriend. It was everywhere. Uma Thurman in a mask, looking absolutely terrifying while carrying a shark. Honestly, it was a bizarre time for superhero movies. We weren't in the MCU era yet. We were in this weird, experimental middle ground where a director like Ivan Reitman—the guy who gave us Ghostbusters—decided to see what happens when a breakup involves someone who can literally throw a car through your apartment window.
The My Super Ex-Girlfriend cast is actually a lot more impressive than people remember. It’s a snapshot of mid-2000s comedy royalty. You had an Oscar nominee, the "it" girl of the moment, and the guy who was basically the face of every romantic comedy for a five-year stretch. Looking back at it now, it feels like a fever dream.
Who Was Who in the My Super Ex-Girlfriend Cast?
When you look at the names on the poster, it’s clear they were aiming for a blockbuster. Uma Thurman played Jenny Johnson, aka G-Girl. This was coming off the back of Kill Bill, so she already had that "don't mess with me" energy dialed up to an eleven. It’s funny because she plays Jenny as this deeply insecure, somewhat neurotic gallery worker who just happens to be able to fly and stop bank robberies.
Then you have Luke Wilson as Matt Saunders. Luke has always been the king of the "everyman" persona. He’s the guy you root for even when he’s being a bit of a jerk. In this movie, he’s basically just a guy who realizes he’s dating a ticking time bomb.
Anna Faris and the Supporting Players
Anna Faris plays Hannah Lewis. At the time, Faris was the undisputed queen of parody thanks to the Scary Movie franchise. Here, she’s the "normal" alternative to Jenny’s chaos. It’s a classic rom-com trope, but Faris brings a certain groundedness to it that works.
Rainn Wilson shows up too. This was right as The Office was becoming a cultural phenomenon. He plays Vaughn Haige, Matt’s best friend. He’s essentially playing a slightly more lecherous version of a sitcom sidekick, providing the "bad advice" that drives the plot forward.
- Uma Thurman: Jenny Johnson / G-Girl
- Luke Wilson: Matt Saunders
- Anna Faris: Hannah Lewis
- Rainn Wilson: Vaughn Haige
- Eddie Izzard: Professor Bedlam / Barry
- Wanda Sykes: Carla Dunkirk
Eddie Izzard is the antagonist, Professor Bedlam. Izzard is a genius, and seeing her play a disgruntled childhood friend who became a supervillain just because G-Girl wouldn't date him? It’s peak 2000s writing.
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Why the Casting Worked (and Why It Didn't)
The chemistry in the My Super Ex-Girlfriend cast is actually pretty solid. The problem wasn't the talent; it was the tone. Was it a spoof? A romantic comedy? A superhero flick? It tried to be all three.
Uma Thurman is genuinely scary in this movie. There’s a scene where she throws a live shark into Matt’s bedroom. That’s not a joke. It’s terrifying. Thurman’s ability to pivot from sweet and needy to "I will level this city if you don't call me back" is what makes the movie watchable. She leaned into the absurdity.
Luke Wilson plays the straight man perfectly. If he had played it too big, the movie would have collapsed. By staying low-key, he lets the madness of Thurman's character breathe. Rainn Wilson, meanwhile, is doing exactly what you’d expect. He’s the loud, inappropriate friend. It’s a role he could play in his sleep, but his timing is impeccable.
The Critics vs. The Fans
At the time, critics weren't exactly kind. Rotton Tomatoes has it sitting at around 40%. Roger Ebert actually gave it a decent review, though. He pointed out that the movie works because it takes the "super" part of the ex-girlfriend seriously. It doesn't treat the powers like a cheap gag; it treats them as a massive complication in a human relationship.
The fans, however, have given it a bit of a cult following. It’s a staple of cable TV reruns. Why? Because it’s relatable. Everyone has had that one breakup that felt like a natural disaster. This movie just made the disaster literal.
The Impact of Ivan Reitman
You can't talk about this cast without talking about the director. Ivan Reitman knew how to handle ensembles. He did it with Ghostbusters, he did it with Stripes, and he did it with Evolution.
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In My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Reitman pushes the cast to treat the ridiculous premise with a certain level of sincerity. When Matt is trying to break up with Jenny, he’s legitimately scared for his life. That tension is what drives the comedy. If they had played it for laughs every second, the stakes would have vanished.
Surprising Facts About the Cast
Did you know that the script was written by Don Payne? He was a long-time writer and producer for The Simpsons. That explains a lot of the dry, observational humor tucked between the CGI action sequences.
Wanda Sykes also has a small but memorable role as Matt’s boss. She basically exists to tell him how much of a loser he is, which Sykes does better than almost anyone in Hollywood. Her energy is a sharp contrast to the more melodic, laid-back vibe of Luke Wilson.
The Career Trajectories Post-2006
Looking at where the My Super Ex-Girlfriend cast went after this movie is fascinating.
- Uma Thurman stayed in the spotlight but moved more toward indie projects and prestige TV, like The Slap and Suspicion.
- Luke Wilson continued his streak of reliable supporting roles and eventually landed a lead in the DC series Stargirl—ironically returning to the superhero genre.
- Anna Faris went on to lead the hit sitcom Mom for eight seasons, proving she was more than just a movie parody actress.
- Rainn Wilson became a household name as Dwight Schrute and has since become a significant voice in the "spiritual but not religious" movement with his book SoulPancake.
Is It Still Relevant?
In an age where we have The Boys and Invincible, a movie about a toxic superhero doesn't seem that revolutionary. But in 2006? It was kind of a big deal. It explored the idea that having superpowers doesn't make you a better person. It just makes your flaws more dangerous.
The My Super Ex-Girlfriend cast managed to take a concept that could have been a "one-and-done" Saturday Night Live sketch and turned it into a full-length exploration of relationship power dynamics. Literally.
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The movie deals with gaslighting, obsession, and the difficulty of setting boundaries. G-Girl uses her powers to monitor Matt's every move. While played for laughs, it taps into that very real fear of an ex who won't let go. It’s a "stalker" thriller dressed up in spandex.
The Action Sequences
For a mid-budget comedy, the effects weren't terrible for 2006. Reitman used a mix of practical stunts and early 2000s CGI. The scene where G-Girl carves a "G" into Matt's forehead is iconic in its own weird way.
The stunt team had to work extensively with Thurman to make her flight sequences look "aggressive" rather than graceful. Most superheroes fly like they’re swimming through the air. G-Girl flies like she’s hunting prey. It’s a subtle distinction that the cast and crew nailed.
Actionable Takeaways for Movie Buffs
If you’re revisiting this movie or looking into the history of the My Super Ex-Girlfriend cast, here’s how to get the most out of it:
- Watch for the Chemistry: Pay attention to the scenes between Rainn Wilson and Luke Wilson. Their shorthand feels like actual friends who have known each other for a decade.
- Spot the Tropes: Compare how this movie handles "superpowers in the real world" versus modern hits like The Boys. You’ll see that G-Girl was actually a precursor to the modern "flawed hero" archetype.
- Check the Credits: Look for the small cameos. Stelio Savante and Margaret Anne Florence show up in minor roles that helped launch their careers in character acting.
- Analyze the Tone: Notice how the music changes when Jenny shifts from "girlfriend" to "G-Girl." The score by Teddy Castellucci does a lot of heavy lifting to signal the shift from comedy to thriller.
The film is currently available on various streaming platforms like Hulu or for rent on Amazon. If you haven't seen it in years, it's worth a rewatch just to see how much the superhero genre has changed—and how some things about breakups never change at all.
To dive deeper into the careers of these actors, start by looking at their work immediately following 2006. You'll see a clear shift in how Hollywood cast "funny" women and "everyman" leads during the late 2000s transition. Check out Uma Thurman’s later work in Nymphomaniac to see her range, or revisit the early seasons of The Office to see Rainn Wilson at his peak. For those interested in the evolution of the genre, comparing G-Girl’s character beats to those of Hancock (2008) provides a fascinating look at how mid-2000s cinema struggled to define the "unlikable" superhero.