I don't think he had much to work with. In fact, of all the characters in the movie, I felt his was the least fleshed out. Overall I liked the movie, but one of the criticisms I have is with Hiddleston's character who was just a dull, lifeless cliché who was overshadowed by John C. Reilly in every scene. It was like the filmmakers thought having muscles and knowing everything was sufficient characterization.

I saw him in The Night Manager where he plays some kind of agent... He's too dainty, almost androgynous... He'd make a better David Bowie then James Bond...

I think he has leading man potential, but not in a traditional, masculine sense, but more of a clever type who relies on his wit and charm to get his way...

@Renovatio said:

I saw him in The Night Manager where he plays some kind of agent... He's too dainty, almost androgynous... He'd make a better David Bowie then James Bond...

Ziggy Hiddledust

I think he has leading man potential, but not in a traditional, masculine sense, but more of a clever type who relies on his wit and charm to get his way...

That would be Cary Grant.

He was like a peacock surrounded by elephants

If Hiddleston had been around in the 80s or 90s I would have thought him ideal to play Bond. He looks right and his own background fits the character. But today it would be a regressive step to have an Eton boy play Bond. I don't think that stuff flies anymore and it would look ridiculous following Craig's short tempered visceral Bond.

For similar reasons he is a problematic leading man. He isn't goofy looking like Cumberbatch, but that effete, androgynous thing probably means he will be cast as either villains or sidekicks to real leading men or maybe leads in historical dramas where that sort of fanciness still works.

And sure, Cary Grant made his living playing suave men, but he was stunningly handsome with a lantern jaw and tall and athletic to boot. He was also a brilliant comedic actor too, which is hard to pull off when you look that good. George Clooney, who seems to have built a career trying to imitate Grant, has never pulled it off.

As for this movie; was Hiddleston even supposed to be a leading man? There's only two women in the main story, neither of whom are on the trip for romance. If there was supposed to be some kind of sexual dynamic going on I missed it entirely. The closest we get to a leading man is Marlow, who I think was supposed to be the comedic relief, since he is the only one who actually does anything heroic, as opposed to damn stupid, and the only one who gets a happy ending. Which probably tells you how unfocussed this movie turned out.