The Evolution of Isla Fisher

Wedding Crashers (2005)

This was the movie that really put Isla Fisher on the map, as she bagged an increased amount of screen-time, held her own against Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn in the comedy stakes, and happily sent herself up.

At a big ceremony, Wilson bags dream girl Rachel McAdams, but Vaughn's not so lucky with her sister (Fisher). When he first sets eyes on her he thinks he's struck gold (understandably), but he soon discovers his charms have worked a bit too well, and he's got an obsessive bunny boiler on his hands.

'Isl' buy that? Hell yeah. Her deft blend of adorable and terrifying is still her Hollywood calling card.

London (2005)

Not actually set in the UK capital, this one; London is in fact the name of Jessica Biel's character in this drug-fuelled relationship drama. Syd (Chris Evans) is a druggy loser whose relationship with London went down the pan.

Now that London's leaving for a new life in California, Rebecca (Fisher) throws a farewell party for her, and Syd crashes, along with drug dealer mate Jason Statham (looking odd in a side-parting wig). Fisher is fiery, but she's shortchanged in a movie that's not as profounds as it thinks it is.

'Isl' buy that? We're not convinced.

Wedding Daze (2006)

Isla bagged a lead opposite Jason Biggs in this predictable, but hard-to-hate, romcom. American Pie star Biggs is in familiar territory here, as the gross-out gags can't hide Daze 's warm centre.

Anderson (Biggs) is reeling from the death of his fiancee when he spontaneously proposes to waitress Katie (Isla Fisher in delightful ditz mode). Turns out she's game, and the pair gradually grow to develop feelings for each other en route to their hasty nuptials.

'Isl' buy that? Yeah. Her irrepressible charm makes up for what the film lacks in originality.

The Lookout (2007)

Scott Frank built his reputation as a writer of convention-defying crime thrillers ( Out of Sight , Minority Report ) before he made his directorial debut with this indie number. Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a former high-school sports star, who's now brain-damaged following a car crash.

Matthew Goode's sleazy crim wants Chris to help rob a bank, and Isla Fisher is the seductive young lady he uses to grab the troubled lad's attention. Playing the superbly monickered Luvlee Lemons, Fisher reveals yet another side: dangerous, but still wholly vulnerable.

'Isl' buy that? For sure. An ace little thriller.

Hot Rod (2007)

This underrated comedy once again demonstrated Isla's ability to hold her own against a testosterone-fuelled comedy cast (Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Danny McBride). SNL regular Samberg stars as Rod, a delusional stunt biker.

He's planning his biggest ever jump so that he can raise the money for his stepdad's (Ian McShane) heart surgery- with the intention of defeating him in combat once he's fully healed. The silliness of the premise, and the excuse for lots of bike-crashing action, keep the laughs coming.

'Isl' buy that? Definitely, especially as she inspired the unbelievable Will Arnett 'Babe wait!' scene.

Definitely, Maybe (2008)

Another overlooked little gem from Fisher's back catalogue. This romantic drama coasts on the easy charm of leading man Ryan Reynolds, but he's equally matched by a strong female support cast.

Will's (Reynolds) soon to divorce, and he tells his daughter (Abigail Breslin) about his life, pre-her. She has to guess which of the three mystery ladies (Fisher, Elizabeth Banks and Rachel Weisz) whom he romanced against the backdrop of the Clinton Administration ended up being her mother. Refreshingly schmaltz-free.

'Isl' buy that? Deffo! Isla is tasked with portraying the most all-round appealing of the ladies: she succeeds!

Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

This CGI-animated 'toon better captures the work of Dr Seuss than previous big screen efforts The Grinch and ( shudder ) The Cat in the Hat .

The Mayor of Who-ville (Steve Carell) comes in for widespread ridicule when he discovers that his world is a tiny speck that's being looked after by elephant Horton (Jim Carrey). Isla Fisher lends her pipes (unrecognisably) to scientist Dr Mary Lou Larue, who helps the Mayor understand the severity of the situation.

'Isl' buy that? Certainly. Unsurprisingly, this quality family flick raked in the dough at the box office.

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)

Isla Fisher was front and centre in this adap of Sophie Kinsella's popular chick-lit series. Though it looked like a dreadful sub- Sex and the CIty rip-off, there's actually fun to be had here.

It is pretty much 'The Isla Show', with the kooky ginger one pratfalling, smiling, squeaking and charming her way through this Jerry Bruckheimer produced (!) effort. She plays Rebecca, a hopeless credit card addict who has to take a job at a financial magazine to pay off her debts.

'Isl' buy that? She can just about sell it to us.

Burke and Hare (2010)

Isla will be putting her comedy chops to good use in Burke and Hare , which opens this week. She stars opposite Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, who play the titular 19th-century grave robbers (well, they're just plain murderers, really skipping the whole 'burial' thing). Expect plenty of grue (and some icky moral issues) to be served with the laughs.

John Landis is directing, and we're eager to find out if it'll be a return to form after a long absence from feature films.

'Isl' buy that? Consider us keen…