My good friend and blog co-author came up with an interesting theory regarding the popularity of Paul Rudd. Apparently Mr. Rudd is some kind of Superman villain waiting to use our admiration for evil. No human could be this likeable. If we discount this theory, then why is it that we all like Paul Rudd so much? Why is he so likeable. You know, I don't think I've met anyone who, after being told who he is, promptly tells me that he's terrible. It's not as if he hasn't been in bad movies. Some really bad movies. But while most of the other Apatow troupe have come in for some backlash (Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Steve Carell, Will Ferrell). What's the deal? Well, for starters, unlike some of the Apatow crowd, Rudd's been working since 1995. Unlike, say, Jonah Hill, he wasn't suddenly presented to us as somebody who's hilarious.
Rudd first came to audiences' attention playing Alicia Silverstone's love interest in Clueless, and "Dave Paris" in Baz Luhrmann's caffeine-addled Romeo and Juliet, not to mention grown-up Tommy Doyle in Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers. He continued paying his dues in rom-coms (The Object of My Affection), misguided indies (200 Cigarettes), and popped up in a small role as Charlize Theron's fiance in The Cider House Rules. He even appeared with bleached hair as the American guy in the "Hong-Kong-action-cyborg-gone-awry" movie Gen-X Cops 2: Metal Mayhem
Then people seemed to realise he was funny. He starred in the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer as Andy, the asshole boyfriend to end all asshole boyfriends. He throws kids out of moving vans, calls his girlfriend a dyke, and dumps the girl he's cheating on his girlfriend with by telling her that "You taste like a burger. I don't like you anymore." Oh and he has the finest double take ever. He also popped up in a small guest appearance on Amy Sedaris' wonderfully scabrous TV show Strangers with Candy, a sure sign of growing appreciation among fellow comics. In 2002 he went mainstream by starring as Phoebe's boyfriend and eventually husband Mike in Friends. We're willing to forgive him for this, because we know that some people really like Friends.
In 2003 he starred in Neil LaBute's underrated drama The Shape of Things as the haplessly manipulated Adam, who's convinced by his new art-student girlfriend (a never-better Rachel Weisz) to give up his friends, change his personality, and even get a nose-job. The twist is crushing. Rudd is excellent as the well-meaning but weak-willed Adam. His next role could not have been more different. 2004 saw the release of Anchorman, the first of the Apatow/Ferrell/McKay movies. Its runaway success meant that Will Ferrell could pretty much do anything he wanted, but Rudd is also hilarious as mustachioed, Sex Panther-wearing Brian Fantana. He gets his fair share of the best lines, including "60% of the time, it works every time" , and the memorable notion of naming one's testicles. He also had a small role as Laura Linney's ex-addict brother in Dylan Kidd's P.S. (also underrated).2005 saw the release of Judd Apatow's directorial début, as well as Steve Carell's first starring role, The 40 Year Old Virgin. Here again was Rudd, in a supporting but hysterically funny role, showing that he could not only stand out in an ensemble (the "you know how I know you're gay" scene is still hysterical), but work to make the ensemble group funnier (which is impressive, given it's made up of the not-unfunny Romany Malco, Seth Rogen, and Jane Lynch). But unlike fellow cast-mate Rogen, there was no sudden jump to major box-office leading man. He popped up in funny cameo roles in Night of the Museum (big success) and Fast Track (big failure). He made The Ten with the Wet Hot American Summer gang that didn't recreate the previous film's cult popularity (despite a better-known cast). He guest starred on Veronica Mars and Reno: 911, and starred opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in quickly forgotten rom-com I Could Never Be Your Woman.
He got better reviews in Judd Apatow's second movie, Knocked Up. In some hands Rudd's character could have been a thankless role. He plays Pete, Katherine Heigl's brother-in-law, who's grown unhappy in his marriage and sneaks off in the middle of the night to play fantasy baseball. Rudd manages to create a character who's likeable, not in spite of his pettiness, but almost because of it. In what is essentially a very optimistic film, Pete and Debbie (the excellent Leslie Mann) show what is sometimes inevitable in life. Things don't always work out. "The biggest problem in our marriage is that she wants me around". Oh and he's funny in it too.
After Knocked Up Rudd became a lot more visible, and his appeal more obvious. The reason why his John Lennon is so funny in Walk Hard is because it's so brazenly awful. He's a welcome comic relief in the overlong Forgetting Sarah Marshall. And, to be honest, we can just about forgive Over Her Dead Body because hey, it's not like anybody actually saw it.
It's with his last two lead roles that Paul Rudd's finally found the acclaim he deserves. Role Models sounded like a pretty lazy Hollywood pitch: two slackers have to do community service with kids. But the script (co-written by Rudd) is clever, and most importantly, funny enough to make the film consistently watchable. The film is hilarious, with Rudd's misanthropic Danny playing off Seann William Scott's upbeat Wheeler to great comic effect. What also makes the film work is that, unlike many comedy characters whose cold exterior melts to reveal a warm fuzzy character, Danny actually comes across as believable. We've all been pissed off and frustrated at the things and events that cause himto vent spleen. We just don't react to them as wittily. "Really? It's called a venti? Who calls it that, Fellini?" Role Models deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, because it's just as funny without the lengthy sentimentalizing. Of course, there is some, courtesy of Danny's relationship with Elizabeth Banks, but it's done with a sense of humour and it doesn't add an extra 40 minutes onto the film.
I Love You, Man billed itself as a bromantic comedy, and it really is the best way to describe it. This is mainly because it has the exact same structure as a romantic comedy. John Hamburg's comedy does assume that it's novelty means that it can get away with following formula, but it's certainly worth a watch. The film is especially funny during the first act, as Rudd's Peter Klaven realises that he has no friends. A series of excrutiating man-dates ensue, as Rudd attempts to bond, be cool, and avoid getting French-kissed by a man. The embarrassment is so effective because Klaven is such a likeable character. And there's that word again: likeable!
What we can see by looking at Rudd's career is that he's paid his dues in some less than loveable movies, done excellent dramatic work, been a part of excellent ensemble casts, and proven that he can carry the burden of a lead. And the answer to our question? Well....I think he might be a Superman villain.
I saw 'I Could Never Be Your Woman'. I won't be quickly forgetting the pain inflicted on my eyes.
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