In praise of Paul Rudd

3 comments November 6th, 2008

 

I haven’t seen the new movie ROLE MODELS yet (well, obviously — it hasn’t opened yet), but I’m already predisposed to like it, and a big reason for that is the prescence — both in front of and behind the cameras — of Paul Rudd.

Rudd (who co-wrote ROLE MODELS) is the sort of likeable, good-looking actor who could’ve amassed a small fortune by now playing it safe and starring in an endless series of bland, forgettable romantic comedies. Thankfully, he’s avoided that career path (well, for the most part) and instead decided to play likeable, good-looking oddballs in a series of comedies that do include romance, but always look at it from a decidedly skewed angle.

He was great as David, the lovelorn loser who got dumped (by Kelly from THE OFFICE of all people) and descended deeper and deeper into post-relationship madness. A lesser actor would’ve balked at videotaping his own butt in an electronics store and having it displayed on multiple screens, but clearly Mr. Rudd has no shame. In a comedic actor, that’s a very good thing indeed. He was also very funny — a bit more down to Earth — as Pete, the married dad who just wanted to sneak away for a little fantasy baseball with his buddies. Married life is a tricky thing to play onscreen, but Rudd (and co-star Leslie Mann) manage to make it funny and real. And really funny.

More? How about FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, where Rudd plays a blissfully stoned surfing teacher. Or WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY, where he kills as John Lennon, endlessly repeated his name and the names of his bandmates. Or ANCHORMAN, where he played the Sex Panther-doused field reporter Brian Fantana. Or numerous appearances on the underrated show RENO 911?

In short, he’s great in everything. Keep on keepin’ on, Paul.