It’s Paul Rudd‘s birthday! To mark the occasion, here are five performances from the acclaimed comedic actor. Check some of these out!
I Love You, Man (2009)
This is the best movie that Paul Rudd starred in following the success of Anchorman (2004). Rudd plays an uptight real estate agent, Peter Klaven, who has just recently proposed to his girlfriend, Zooey (Rashida Jones). Zooey has a lot of friends and Peter seems to have, well, absolutely none. (Unless you count his mother). In an attempt to fill out his wedding party, Peter goes on a hunt to make some friends. While at an open house, he ends up running into a man named Sydney Fife (Jason Segel). Sydney is opposite of Peter, he’s laid back and doesn’t seem to take life too seriously. By the end of the film, they become best friends. It’s an extremely simple plot and that is what works about it. This way the story doesn’t have to be too in-depth and it can focus on the humor and be a simple comedy to be enjoyed. You can tell that there was a lot of improv going on while filming and it’s the comedic chemistry between Rudd and Segel that truly shines here.
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
I don’t particularly care for this movie and I think that has to do with the fact that I saw it way later in life. Had I seen this when it came out, I know that it would be a lot more nostalgic. I’m going to include it because it’s one of his first roles and it’s definitely worth checking out at least once.
Role Models (2008)
This movie reunites Rudd with the director of WHAS. It actually has a good story it was a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I didn’t think he worked too well off of Seann William Scott but it has a great supporting cast his scenes with Christopher Mintz-Plasse were a highlight.
Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
This movie isn’t exactly “haha” funny and I attribute that more towards Steve Carrell. I don’t think there was a lot of improv going on while filming and if there was, there wasn’t a lot of it. Regardless, upon various rewatches, I have come to accept this movie and enjoy it for what it is.
This is 40 (2012)
This features the same couple from Knocked Up (2007). This is one movie that I didn’t initially love when I first saw it but I just rewatched it and it’s a lot better than I remember it being. Maybe it’s because I am a little bit older I can now appreciate it. However, you can tell that Paul Rudd is simply standing in for Judd Apatow considering the movie stars both his real life wife (Leslie Mann) and daughters (Maude and Iris Apatow), and how he is dealing with his marriage and maturing kids.
What are some of your favorite films to feature birthday boy Paul Rudd?