Teen tearjerker The Fault in Our Stars picked up the best movie of the year award at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, capping off a big night for star Shailene Woodley.
CREDIT: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
The irreverent show doled out golden popcorn statuettes to fan-voted winners in cheeky categories like best kiss and best shirtless performance, but it also served as an unofficial promotional platform for the upcoming blockbuster season. Winners included Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lopez, Channing Tatum, and “Neighbors” co-stars Dave Franco and Zac Efron.
Woodley, who picked up one of the first awards of the night for best female performance in “The Fault in Our Stars” in addition to the Trailblazer Award and best kiss (with Ansel Elgort), gave an emotional speech dedicated to the book’s author, John Green.
He gave this world a beautiful masterpiece, she said directly to Green, who was seated in the audience. Woodley said that the book changed her life when she read it and that his words will transcend the test of time.
Lopez won for best scared-as-s–t performance in the campy thriller The Boy Next Door.
Tatum, who danced on stage with his co-stars from the upcoming Magic Mike XXL while presenting the award to Lopez, went on to win a prize of his own for best comedic performance in 22 Jump Street.
It’s unfair for me to get an award for just hanging out with my buddy Jonah (Hill), he said.
Cooper, who won best male performance for portraying the late Chris Kyle in American Sniper, thanked the audience for making the film such a big success and bringing attention to the plight of the soldiers.
Chris Kyle would have turned 41 four days ago. Chris, this is for you, said Cooper.
In addition to the kiss and shirtless categories, other wacky awards at Sunday’s ceremony included best villain, and best WTF moment. Vin Diesel, Sofia Vergara and Mark Wahlberg were among the presenters.
Host Amy Schumer kicked off the show with an opening bit parodying some of the night’s top contenders, from trying to sing with the Barden Bellas of Pitch Perfect to getting hosting advice, Whiplash style, from J.K. Simmons.
The comedian and Inside Amy Schumer star joked at the outset that half of you don’t know who I am and half of you think I’m Meghan Trainor (referring to the All About that Bass singer), before poking fun at MTV, Hillary Clinton and even Harrison Ford. This is going to be the party of the year. I just hope Harrison Ford doesn’t crash it, she said, referring to the actor’s recent plane crash.
This is going to be the party of the year. I just hope Harrison Ford doesn’t crash it, Schumer said, referring to the actor’s recent plane crash. She added that winners wouldn’t have to worry about keeping their speeches short because MTV is the one network that refuses to play music.
Robert Downey Jr. was honored with the Generation Award by his Avengers co-stars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth. Downey called the prize the recognition I so desire, before talking about his memories of the first MTV Movie Awards and clawing his way to the top.
I’ve grown up, struggled, failed, succeeded, partied way too much, repented, begged for second chances and literally clawed my way to the top, the 50-year-old actor said. With my fellow Avengers, I advise you to dream big, work hard, keep your noses clean, be of service, and because you can, define your generation.
Kevin Hart, receiving the award for comedic genius, brought his kids up on stage, saying that he does it all for them. I’m trying to leave a legacy behind, he said.
But the real focus of the evening was on what’s coming up at the multiplex this summer. There was even an agenda behind Downey Jr.’s accolade, of course: the promotion of Ultron. The Iron Man star introduced a new clip from the summer blockbuster, which bows May 1.
Stars from other summer films were also expected to appear on the show in support of their projects, including Rebel Wilson and her Pitch Perfect 2 co-stars.
The team behind Paper Towns (which, like The Fault in Our Stars, is based on a book written by Green) debuted a new clip from the summer film during the pre-show featuring the main characters (played by Cara Delevingne and Nat Wolff) on a night of pranking.
Even Schumer had a film to promote: Trainwreck, a relationship comedy from director Judd Apatow that Schumer wrote and stars in.
Go see my movie ‘Trainwreck,’ I think that’s the biggest lesson we’ve all learned here tonight, the host said as the show’s closing line.