The contrarian comedian

Janeane Garofalo is best known for her romantic comedies, but doesn't like them. What's up with that?

A feminist and serious actor, Janeane Garofalo doesn't want to be recognized for her romantic comedies  -- even though putting a witty, beautiful woman in a romantic comedy is a logical choice.

Were Jane Austen's comedies of manners considered to be romantic piffle in their day? Whether Janeane Garofalo's comedies of manners, which include her ensemble comedies, will be as durable remains to be seen. "The Truth about Cats and Dogs" holds up to repeated viewings, even today. "Reality Bites," on the other hand, seems dated.

Janeane Garofalo in "The MatchMaker" 

The truth about "The Truth about Cats and Dogs"

"The Truth about Cats and Dogs" is the romantic comedy that was a breakout role for Janeane Garofalo. It's the movie she's best known for, even though she has played a wide variety of roles, including dramas, since then.

Janeane's criticism of the movie is one part feminist, one part artistic. Many people just don't care. They like the movie, romantic trifle or not. The movie resonates with many women who are insecure about their looks even though they have no reason to be -- just as Janeane is arguably better looking than Uma Thurman in the movie. For men, it's the movie that made them fall in love with Janeane Garofalo, or at least the character she plays.

The movie is also associated with painful memories for Garofalo. She would have been fired from the film without the intervention of Uma Thurman. Never particularly comfortable with her own sexuality, she had to get drunk to film the phone sex scene. Also, her mother was dying of cancer at the time.

Janeane Garofalo in "The MatchMaker"

However, her follow-up romantic comedy, "The MatchMaker," fizzled at the box office. Depending on your point of view, this either saved her from typecasting or prevented her from becoming a major star. In any case, she went on to make other romantic comedies, but none have had the impact of "The Truth about Cats and Dogs."