Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Top 10 Atypical Performances From Frat Pack Members


Generally speaking, the comedic styles of the members of the Frat Pack simply do not work for me. More often than not, I find that the actors of this self appointed group act more or less the same in every movie. But occasionally (i.e. usually before their comedy careers took off), they deliver against type performances that leave me wholly impressed. To help define which actors belong to the Frat Pack, feel free to use this link as a resource.

Head to Movie Mezzanine for the full list

25 comments:

  1. I've only see a few of these. I'm going to have to find Permanent Midnight and The Minus Man . Great list (and idea for a list)!

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    1. Thanks! Permanent Midnight is a slightly better film that The Minus Man, but I really recommend them both. Great flicks.

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  2. Interesting list. Surprised there aren't any Wes Anderson films on it. Bottle Rocket (Wilsons), Royal Tenenbaums (Ben Stiller.

    I can't out the membership criteria, but Sandler was huge in the 90s for comedy, I wish he was on here so we could talk about Punch-Drunk Love, dude was perfect in that.

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    1. See, I don't think those performances in Anderson's flicks are against type at all. I think they more or less define the similar types of characters those actors always play. Albiet to a MUCH better degree, but I can see those familiar characters there.

      I was tempted to do a similar list for the Happy Madison Gang, but I honestly don't think enough of those actors have done against type performances.

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    2. That's fair, I see your point.

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  3. Nice list. Love that Jack Black made it twice, and for two very deserving performances. Paul Rudd is an awesome choice too. Though, I actually forgot he was in that film.

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    1. Thanks man. I really do love that film P.S. I don't know how I first came across it, but I've been in love with it for years. Rudd's work is brief, but he really nails it.

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  4. Great list! I really liked Steve Carrell's role in Little Miss Sunshine ("those are prime suffering years") and Jack Black in Bernie.

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  5. Also, I'm adding PS to my list.

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    1. I think you'll really enjoy it. Good little movie.

      Also, thanks so much for stopping by, haven't heard much from you recently. Suspected you're really busy!

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  6. Love their films. All this actors are horibble. No talent. Their films are funny as hell, but they are just awful. You need to be a really talented guy to make them act well. Will Ferrell is the worst of all. Ben Stiller is the most guilty pleasuure of all, I like his films. Paul Rudd is the most talented.

    Paul Rudd - The Cider House Rules
    Ben Stiller - Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (like a villian he is good)
    Jack Black - Bernie
    Luke Wilson – Vacancy
    Vince Vaughn - Return to Paradise
    Owen Wilson - Midnight in Paris
    Steve Carell - Foxcatcher
    Honorable Mention:Jim Carrey - The Cable Guy
    I want to make a dramatic film with all of them. I mean serious shit. Dying people, fired people, lots of tears, lots of blood.

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    1. Steve Carell in Foxcatcher would HAVE to top this list now, wouldn't it?

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    2. But What do you think about my idea withe the dramatic film?

      Top 10 Atypical Performances From "the new" Frat Pack?
      For my money, they are way better than the Old Frat Pack: Seth Rogen - none, James Franco - 127 Hours and Spring Breakers, Jonah Hill - Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street, Jay Baruchel - Million Dollar Baby, Danny McBride - Eastbound & Down, Craig Robinson - fuck but, Hot Tub Time Machine (he is bad), Jason Segel - Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Michael Cera - Juno was great, but Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

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    3. I think that'd be a damn intense movie. I'd be very curious to see if all of those funnymen could pull off heavy dramatic work in the same film. Very interesting idea there.

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  7. Maybe in future Will Ferrell for Get Hard.

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    1. He's still kind of doing that Ferrell comedy thing though, right?

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    2. Oh is he supposed to be in Hail, Caesar? Isn't listed on IMDb. But if so, that's very interesting.

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  8. What Frat Pack films do you like?

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    1. If we go by this list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frat_Pack, minus Wes Anderson movies, and the dramas, then I like:
      The Cable Guy, Meet the Parents, Zoolander (it's okay), Old School, Starsky & Hutch, Wedding Crashers, and Tropic Thunder. Though Ben Stiller is hilarious in Dodgeball as well.

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    2. Okey, But Anchorman? It was the only comedy where I actually liked Will Ferrell in the role.

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    3. It does feel tailored made for him. And he embraces the role rather well.

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  9. So I said "why not to see another comedy trailer with Owen Wilson, aren't all the comedies with him great". So I see the trailer for No Escape and it was pretty good. It's a blessing to see comedic actors ACTING. Then I search to see what director it is. John Erick Dowdle directed previously "art films" like Quarantine (piece of shit), Devil (not THAT bad but still piece of shit) and As Above, So Below (that I never saw but I heard it's a piece of shit). Now all this "films" are horror so maybe this could be actually good if it's not horror. We'll see.

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    1. Yeah, I dunno about that one. Though I did think Quarantine was a fairly decent remake. Not nearly as good as REC, but pretty enjoyable.

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