Who Do You Think is Frat Pack Man of the Year?
Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen
Each year here at the Tribute we bestow possibly the highest honor in all of show business, the Frat Pack Man of the Year. It’s a job the editorial staff takes very seriously, as careers are literally on the line based on our picks.
Normally, this pick is either fairly obvious (Ben Stiller in 2004, Judd Apatow in 2007) or at least a Sophie’s Choice between several strong candidates (Will Ferrell in 2006, Jack Black in 2008). This year? Well, it’s quite different. There isn’t an obvious no-brainer and each potential candidate has a strike or two against him.
Ben Stiller had the year’s highest grosser among the Frat Pack stars, with Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian. Moreoever, Ben again filled the movie with a plethora of comedic talent both old (Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan) and new (Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Hank Azaria, Amy Adams). Trouble is, that’s the only major film Stiller released this year and the film didn’t exactly set critical hearts on fire. Plus, the very awful limited-release The Marc Pease Experience should subtract from Ben’s total.
Jack Black starred in a summer tentpole, Year One, with Michael Cera and some Frat Pack friends like Hank Azaria, Bill Hader, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Cross, and Paul Rudd. Problem was that even for those of us who liked Year One it definitely was in the “amusing and silly” category rather than “comedy classic.” Black also starred in a video game. Ho hum.
Will Ferrell starred in the summer bomb Land of the Lost and had a strange extended cameo in The Good: Live Hard, Sell Hard. Nuff said.
Vince Vaughn starred in the ensemble comedy hit Couples Retreat. As per the usual recent formula, Vince invited friends like Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, and Peter Billingsley to help him with the film. While the fall release didn’t appeal to critics, the film had great legs and became Vince’s fifth film in six years to cross the $100m mark. But that was it for Mr. Vaughn this year. Is this enough to be considered Frat Pack Man of the Year?
Owen Wilson appeared in Night at the Museum and spent the rest of the year filming a movie for James L. Brooks opposite Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon. His voice work in The Fantastic Mr. Fox was limited to one scene. Brother Luke Wilson was the lead in the little-seen animated film Battle for Terra and saw his indie comedy Tenure only hit a few festivals. But, Luke did appear in some commercials for AT&T. Moving on…
Steve Carell had no movies released this year but did film Date Night (with Tina Fey) and Dinner for Schmucks (with Paul Rudd) for release next year.
Seth Rogen had a strong year in many ways. He was a big part of the success of Monsters vs. Aliens in the spring, voicing “Bob”, the main comedic relief . He followed that up in Observe and Report, a very dark comedy that bombed at the box office and had some critics scratching their heads. The film from Jody Hill had a number of advocates who appreciated the unflinching dark tone, however. Rogen also starred in another comedy-drama mix in the summer with Judd Apatow’s Funny People opposite Adam Sandler. Again, critics were mixed and the box office was disappointing but a number of us thought Rogen was great in a film that overall was really good.
Paul Rudd cemented his leading-man status but appearing in virtually every scene in the critical and box office hit I Love You, Man this spring. Rudd really hoisted the movie on his shoulders and while Jason Segel made for an appealing foil this really was Rudd’s movie. He also appeared briefly in Monsters vs. Aliens. Following the success of Role Models, Rudd could arguably be considered a peer of the traditional Frat Pack actors. In fact, Rudd spent the rest of 2009 filming movies opposite Owen Wilson (the James L. Brooks film) and Steve Carell (Dinner for Schmucks). So, you could say that this was Rudd’s year and he’s officially a member of the Pack. Or you could say that in 2009 he only starred in one film.
There are certainly some “wildcard” options out there. Old School director Todd Phillips got his mojo back with the very Frat Pack-like The Hangover. That film was a monster hit and more than a few people noticed the similarities in that film to the seminal Frat Pack classic. If only this was Old School Dos, right? Frat Pack friend Woody Harrelson had a great year including the horror comedy Zombieland.
So, what do you think? Who is the Frat Pack Man of the Year. Chime in below and help influence the decision by our editors.
Seth Rogen all the way
why is jason bateman not mentioned? he was great in extract and funny in couples retreat. it looks he is very important role in what will be an oscar movie in up in the air
Yes, as an wildcard pick Bateman certainly qualifies.
Truth be told I haven’t yet seen Couples Retreat, so not sure who the scene stealer is (e.g. Favs was the scene-stealer in The Break-Up, not Bateman). Working on rectifying this omission…
Seth gave the two best performances of his career this year in films that audiences didn’t connect with. Its a shame because he more than anyone had serious artistic breakthroughs
Paul Rudd
Wow… definitely not the Frat Packs greatest year. I’m going for Seth Rogen as he was the only one pumping out genuinely funny flicks this year, I was thinking Bateman for a wildcard too, but Couple’s Retreat was appalling but then should it shit over the brilliant work he has done on Extract and Up In The Air. Difficult decision, but poor year.
Also Mikey Cera had a pretty interesting year.
actually I forgot Bateman was in The Invention of Lying and he was brilliant, it’s Batemans year, give it to him… and if you don’t…
Paul Rudd all the way. Now we know what he’s made of…pus role models came out so late in 2008 it should count in 2009 anyway
this is really a tough call, i’m going to have to take some time to think this over.
FWIW, Paul Rudd or Woody Harrelson are my picks.
Paul Rudd is proving he has a place in the Frat Pack b/c of his upcoming movies with both Owen and Steve. He would be a great addition to the Frat Pack and this would be a nice way to make it official.
But I also think Woody has shown to have a great comeback with Zombieland and The Messenger, which is getting some serious praise and Oscar buzz for Woody.
~Bonnie
Jason Schwartzman did it all this year:
He was for me the funniest one in Funny People, and he wrote the score for it - major props - and his “Yo, Teach” spoof was the funniest fake material of Funny People
He starred in an HBO series with Zach Galifianikis
He had the funniest lead role in the hands-down best animated movie this year or any year, Fantastic Mr. Fox
AND he was in an all-but-straight-to-DVD flick with Ben Stiller. Not a lot of people can say that.
bored to death was pretty good
Ben Stiller or Seth Rogen
Paul Rudd
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Danny McBride yet. Eastbound and Down was easily the most quotable TV show/movie of 2009 involving Frat Pack members and included cameos from Will Ferrell and Craig Robinson. He also had a great cameo in Observe and Report with Seth Rogen and co-starred with Ferrell in Land of the Lost. Plus he recorded his voice for Steve Carell’s Despicable Me and filmed Your Highness with James Franco which is directed by David Gordon Green of Pineapple Express fame. 2008 proved The Frat Pack loves McBride giving him roles in Drillbit Taylor, Pineapple Express, and Tropic Thunder, but 2009 proved that McBride lived up to the hype.
Problem with McBride is four words: Land of the Lost.
Seth Rogen Seth Rogen Seth Rogen
Paul Rudd, no doubt. He was really excellent in ILY,M!
Definitely Paul Rudd, he is the funniest of them all, and I love you man ruled over the other crap like funny peoply and land of the lost…
funny people was not a crap comedy it was the best apatow rogen movie yet. first movie ive ever watched the commentary for. apatow should be nominated for best original screen play!
Paul Rudd
@christian
I loved Superbad and Knocked Up and i’m a huge Adam Sandler fan, but why is Funny People the best apatow/rogen yet? Nothing was funny in the funny people and the story was mediocre. Not everything Apatow makes is a masterpiece, we saw that last year with The Pineapple Express, another disaster. I think they can do better than that. Apatow is becoming too lazy nowadays.
But Paul Rudd is another story, that guy keeps performing since his Friends days. Every movie he makes is funny, heartwarming and watchable more than once. Ok Role Models sucked big time, but hey even he can’t make a good movie everytime.
Will Ferrell hasn’t made anything good since Blade of Glory..
Ben Stiller’s last funny movie was Night at the Museum (2006)
Seth Rogen’s last funny movie was Superbad
Jason Schwartzman only makes movie because they allow him so, nothing special abaout that guy. He proved that with The Marc Pease Experience ( the horror, the horror )
Vince Vaughn, Jack Black and The Wilsons, great actors in supporting roles, but this year nothing special…
Once again let us hear for PAUL RUDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@harlem
how can you say pineapple express was a disaster!?! its funnier than most movies. yes funny people is the best rogen apatow because its hilarious and deals with serious matters. clearly not everything apatow make is a masterpiece look at year one. how can you say hes getting lazy when he has movies coming out every six months and is constantly agreeing to do new movies? funny people is a great film and im not the only person who agrees with that. almost every stand up comedian around has commented on how great it is.
now im a huge paul rudd fan but to say everyone of his movies is great look at over my dead body.
Jason schwartzman was sandlers favorite part of funny people how can you say hes talentless he wrote a great movie in the darjeeling limited and he wrote one of the years best new shows. you are so wrong about everything you shouldnt be allowed to comment here anymore!
Come now, Haarlem.
>Will Ferrell hasn’t made anything good since Blade of Glory..
Step Brothers.
>Ben Stiller’s last funny movie was Night at the Museum (2006)
Um… Tropic Thunder.
>Seth Rogen’s last funny movie was Superbad
Zack and Miri
>Jason Schwartzman only makes movie because they allow him so, nothing special abaout that guy.
He’s actually superb in Bewitched. And not bad in Darjeeling and Funny People. However, the less said about that other Schwartzman movie this year the better.
I actually think the last funny thing Ben Stiller did was Dodgeball (cameos not counting), I really didn’t care for the Night at the Museum series or Tropic Thunder. I loved Funny People, I myself am a comedian and watching the trials Rogen goes through just to try and make it in the business are so realistic and so relatable, I’d have no hesitations in saying that Funny People is easily the best frat pack film of the year. I haven’t actually seen a bag Rogen film yet (as long as we don’t count his appearance in You, Me & Dupree), he keeps appearing in films that make me laugh consecutively, and yeah Ferrels last funny film was Step Brothers. To me Apatow has only had one failure so far and that was Year One, otherwise, the man is a comedy genius.
I think you have to give it to Rudd. He’s the winner on paper anyway.
However, because there is no clear winner in the main frat pack, could’t you name a group award for the friends of the frat pack. (call them the men of the year)
Woody and Seth both had a good year
Richter returned to late night
Mike White was on the Amazing Race, and did a good job in Zombieland
Batemen and McBride continue to be excelent in all their work
Segel is on a hit show
Martin Starr had a big year (for him) with Adventure land and Party down
The hangover crew speaks for itself
Schwartzman got alot of work
Not to mention Jane Lynch is getting all kinds of press for Glee.
Just a thought.
@christian
Pineapple Express was and is a disaster. Why is that movie so funny? Because of the marihuana usage? I live in The Netherlands, and we grew up with coffeeshops ( they sell everything there except coffee ), we laugh at movies like Pineapple Express here in Holland, and not because its so damn funny, but how they show the marihuana culture, it’s not like that, not even close. Here in Holland, pot is a relaxation product people use after work, of whenever they want to. We don’t have stoners here. Hollywood should stop glorifying marihuana usage like that, but make more movies that are truthful. Because of dumbass stoner movies like Pineapple Express, people in the USA get the wrong idea about marihuana.
Year One was produced by Apatow, clearly he just payed the money, and hoped for the best. Year One’s mistake was the director. Althoug Harold Ramis is a very good director, he made a mess with Year One. That movie could have been funnier, it certainly had potential.
With lazy i meant, lazy in writing not in working. He works hard, and i respect that, but he doesn’y write classics like he used to anymore. I didn’t say Jason Schwartzman is talentless, his movies are not my kind of movies. He is just not a frat pack material.
Why can’t i comment here anymore, because we differ in opinions? I didn’t know the dictatorial regime here at the frat pack website…
@Kevin Crossman
Step Brothers? Really? Ok it had his moments but it was definitely not his strongest performance. I’m a huge fan of Will Ferrell, since his Mustapha days in Austin Powers till the special he made with Bear Grylls, and everything in between. Frankly i enjoyed Elf more than the Step Brothers.
Zach and Mirri funnier than Superbad? The problem with Zach and Mirri is that it had PORNO in its title. Peoples expectations were high. For a movie with unique script and talentful actors, it sure was a average movie.
Tropic Thunder was a great movie, but not because of Ben Stiller, imo Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise’s performances made Tropic Thunder a fun movie to watch. Kudos for Ben Stiller for making and directing Tropic Thunder, but his role was nothing special.
Jason Schwartzman, the man can act and write, but is he really the Frat Pack Man of the Year? I pass..
@Jack
Dogdeball ruled, i give you that, and its funnier than Night at the Museum. But if i have to choose 1 movie as its latest good movie than it is Night at the museum (2006) Not one of his great works, but still a bit above average.
Guys, i’m a huge fan of the frat pack like you guys. And this website is awesome. Respect for the guys who update it. One last thing, i’m from The Netherlands, and therefore forgive my bad english. Feel free to comment me and critize me, i would love that.
Differing opinions are more than welcome here. It’s what made the message board great in its heyday. You’re more than welcome to offer your opinions. People just get caught up in the emotion of debate, that’s all (I remember when Kevin & I practically got assassinated for saying Talladega Nights sucked.)
No harm done, Haarlem; we appreciate a good debate and you brought up some good points (I never would’ve known there’s a cultural difference on stoner movies, for example.) As long as this place doesn’t get vicious like the AICN talkboard, we’re good.
@ harlem
pineapple express is funny because of the dialogue and situations they get into. your so cool with your culture. jason schwartzan only wrote one movie darjeeling limited so good job there.
I didn’t say that Zack and Miri was funnier than Superbad, but I AM saying that Zack and Miri was funny enough to contradict the “last funny movie was Superbad” statement.
I prefer Zack and Miri to Superbad, oddly enough Superbad is my least favourite Seth Rogen movie, I still love it though.
Seth Rogen is the way
Rick gave me an idea with his Top Ten of the Decade list. Since this has been an off-year anyway, how about giving it to the Frat Pack Man of the Decade? That’s a more interesting debate.
Ben Stiller sounds like a no-brainer, but like Will Ferrell, he hates the name and idea of the Frat Pack. Vince Vaughn is perhaps the most consistent at the box office, and he seems fine with the whole Frat Pack thing. Owen can dig it, too. Luke and Jack are its staunchest supporters, of course, and Steve its most cautious.
Could be fun. Just the original five plus Jack and Steve, though. Enough of this thirty-eight-man race.
Yes, Stiller would be a no-brainer.
Ah, Kevin, I thought you would engage in a debate at least on the basis that Stiller hates the name.
Well, then, anoint him Frat Pack Man of the Decade and be done with it. You could bribe him into making an acceptance speech on Stillerstrong.org if all who vote for the Earmuffs can opt in to buy a Stillerstrong headband through The Frat Pack Tribute. You could cross-promote each other. IMAGINE the drive!