"chin ups are near impossible and lunges suck"

An utterance you might expect when a relatively unathletic actress is slated to play a superheroine, arguably the most common Hollywood casting blunder. This comes from Scarlett Johansson, who is trying to transform herself so she can play Black Widow in Iron Man II, and finding it not an easy thing.

I have tremendous respect for Johansson; she is, in my view, among the finest actors of her generation. But I also know there are women far better suited to play Black Widow. Her getting the role, then, is another unfortunate instance of athletic actresses being passed over for bad reasons.

In this case, however, I do side somewhat with Johansson. Her recent piece on Huffington Post does a good job making clear the inanity of tabloid journalism's obsession with body weight. Furthermore, her new, deeper appreciation for the importance of fitness rings true: "I've realized through this process that no matter how busy my life may be, I feel better when I take a little time to focus on staying active. We can all pledge to have healthy bodies no matter how diverse our lifestyles may be."

And what brought forth her wrath is, indeed, nothing but pure drivel (even worse, their response). It's easy to see why she is upset.

Much as I wish someone else were playing Black Widow, I find myself rooting for Johansson in her battle against tabloid imbecilities.