Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott in Dude, Where's My Car?.

Ashton Kutcher has never been noted as a great actor. He has often made more press for his dating choices than his film roles. But, this past weekend did prove that Ashton Kutcher can open a movie. Open Season opened at number one and The Guardian came in at number two.

Kutcher first gained attention playing the mentally deficient Kelso on That 70's Show, (1998-2006). His first starring film role was playing a moron opposite Sean William Scott in Dude, Where’s My Car. Although he specialized in playing idiots, Kutcher in real life was a Biochemical Engineering Student at the University of Iowa before he started to model which lead to his acting role on That 70's Show. I am not sure what grades he got in college but he was at least smart enough to know that standing in front of a camera is a hell of a lot easier than studying for a chemistry test.

By 2003, Kutcher’s career was on the rise. That 70's Show was a hit for Fox and he was getting starring roles in films like Just Married and The Butterfly Effect. Both film roles earned him a Razzie nominatin for worst actor. That year he also co-created the Candid Camera inspired television show Punk’d, in which he played practical jokes on celebrity friends.

Although his professional career was hot on the small and big screen, he was making more headlines with his private life. Although he had been attached to actresses like Brittany Murphy and Tara Reid, Kutcher really began making headlines when he started getting photographed with Demi Moore. The reason? She is 16 years older than him. Although men dating younger women in Hollywood is old hat and Cher revived her career dating younger men, the media still felt it was relevant to constantly report on their May/December romance.

Moore had been married for 13 years to Bruce Willis. They have three children together. Since 1997's G.I. Jane, Moore has, for the most part, avoided Hollywood in favor of being a stay at home mom. She made a comeback, looking real good in that black bikini, in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. (2003) Her relationship with Kutcher pushed her back into the spotlight, but she is only slowly working her way back into film work. She and Kutcher are both featured in the Emilio Estevez directed film Bobby (2006). Kutcher and Moore married in 2005.

So far, Kutcher has specialized in romantic comedies. 2005's A Lot Like Love and Guess Who, proved he is suited to those parts. Now he appears to be expanding his roles. Besides his part in the drama Bobby, Kutcher co-stars in the action adventure film The Guardian, with Kevin Costner. It is about two Coast Guard members from two different generations. In the animated Open Season, he lends his voice to a deer trying to coach a bear, voiced by Martin Lawrence, in how to survive in the wild.

Although Ashton Kutcher may not be noted for his acting, and he may get hounded by the press, he definitely knows how to survive, and thrive, in Hollywood.