I agree with the idea that Jake and Jack Twist have become inseparable in peoples' minds here, and that BBM is the lodestar for all films Jake and Heath. If one can get past that thinking, it makes it easier to be objective about Jake in his various roles and films. I think he has the potential to become one of the really good actors, but not the greatest 'of his generation.' When he was maturing as a teen and young actor, his roles in Good Girl, Donnie Darko, Moonlight Mile, and October Sky gave him range and depth that he was able to bring to his later roles. Of course, these tended to be 'coming of age' type films with much angst thrown in, and which came to be roles he was associated with. By the time he made BBM, he was on his way, but this was a role that was 'made for him' and brought out the sensitivity and vulnerability that are his hallmarks. I never felt 'Rendition' and 'Zodiac' gave him that kind of scope again. Maybe it was the directors or the script, but I never felt they were up to expectations no matter what some might say about his minimalist acting. I haven't seen POP yet, it's on my queue in Netflix, but I did read somewhere that the critic thought he was badly miscast -- oh well. I loved him in 'Jarhead,' but then I like war stories and this was very different from most war stories. Thought he was good in 'Proof,' he did a good job with a small role and made it come alive, but there was no chemistry with Gyneth Paltrow IMO.
I think he could be really good in a smart rom-com, and I hope LAOD is the one. I think the pairing with Hathaway sounds smart and they have the needed chemistry to make it work. I still fear the Namath film, and hope it is jettisoned. Jake said once that his parents always said to consider the script first, and I wonder if he hasn't strayed from that advice.