gif via MNPPWere I to type "Paul Rudd is back in movie theaters!" one might reasonably respond, "Was he ever out of movie theaters?"
The prolific star never stops working for better or worse. This has led to a super cluttered career with blink and you'll miss it highs, "he was in that?" mixed results, and "this'll only disappoint you for a month" lows. All until the next project surfaces. Admission, co-starring Tina Fey (who we just discussed), is not winning over critics but it also doesn't seem likely to enrage some fans the way This is 40's metaphorical navel-gazing and literal butthole-gazing did.
1995-1996 (ODD BEGINNINGS)
1997-2012 after the jump
We set the stage with his first two years in the movies which basically defined the next 17 years of "I loved him in that!" (Clueless) and "huh... what?" (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers), and "That's right... I forgot he was in that" (Romeo+Juliet)"
I thought he was an ideal subject for Posterized until I realized the sheer amount of movies he'd made over the years so we're missing about 5-10 titles (I think) here, mostly of the so obscure I couldn't find a poster or cameo variety.
1997-2007 (THE WANDERINGS)
Am I the only person alive that saw P.S. with Laura Linney and Marcia Gay Harden? Rudd was better in the stage version of The Shape of Things but then... it was just better on stage where FACE-SMACKING THEMES & METAPHORS are easier to pull off. The obviously highlight here is his sloppy kissing poonhound in Wet Hot American Summer, yes?
2007-2009 (ENSEMBLE YUKS)
2010-2012 (LEADING MAN AGAIN?)
Looking over all these movies you realize how many female stars he's double or triple-teamed with (Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Leslie Mann, Elizabeth Banks) and that his frequent co-stars are very frequent. He likes to work with his friends.
How Many Have You Seen? It's hard to keep up with him.
Do you think he needs new management or do you think his "I'll do anything" -- leads, cameos, dramas, tv, stage -- approach? If you'd like him to focus more which wing of his career do you think needs the TLC at this point?