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Best Performances from Comedians in Drama Films

By: Jason Zoblin

Comedians have tried to break out of their classic comedic roles for a while. An actor likes to step out of their comfort zone and really try to do something out of the ordinary and different from what they are used to. Although, it might not always work, an actor might like to try to something new, but it all depends on if their fans will like the change or not because people might not like the change because it is so different from what they are used to. It is normal for an actor to try new things and branch out to whatever they are used to. It is a normal and natural human urge to change and want to do something different. However, to be a good actor it takes a lot of dedication, and also showing risks. Part of these risks that an actor has to make is to pick roles that will be good for them. It is also clear to see if a comedic actor switches to dramatic roles is good for an actor or if it does not work because of well he/she can portray this new type of role. The great actors are able to play any type of role, comedic, dramatic, action whatever it is.

1.     Jim Carrey in “Eternal Sunshine in Spotless Mind” (2004)

       Jim Carrey is a famous comedic actor. He is known for his comedic roles in “The Mask” and “Ace Ventura.” With his crazy antics, facial expressions, and his ability to create comedic moments with just his funny noises. In 2004 he took of the role of Joel Barish. A troubled man that thinks he found his true love with Clementine, played by Kate Winslet. After a bad breakup, he decides to undergo a surgery that completely erases Clementine from his memory, but during the surgery he realizes it is a mistake. He tries to fight through the surgery, and make Clementine a positive part of his life. It is a very morose, and gloomy look on life but he delivers a powerful performance that will leave you guessing, and sobbing throughout the film. It is a very different role for him because he is melancholy, depressed, and wanting more out of life. Carrey shows that he can step out of his comfort zone and really show that he can play other types of roles. It was almost unsettling to see how different he is in this film. He is so depressed and lost but it clearly makes him shine in this role. It seems like he is not even the guy who becomes the mask, or the pet detective because it is superb to see how well he crushes this role.

2.     Robin Williams in “Good Will Hunting” (1997)

This actor will definitely be missed. He is by far one of the best actors of all time, and he will be remembered. He is known for his roles in “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Aladdin.” After his family comedy classic, “Flubber,” the next role he chose to take is Sean Maguire, a psychiatrist who helps Will Hunting, a young man trying to find direction his life. Williams’s role as Maguire really showed that a comedic actor and a stand-up comedian could do anything. He was extremely powerful, and the intensity that he brought in this film is groundbreaking. And the Oscar that he received is well deserved. After being in “Mrs. Doubtfire, and “Flubber” he decided to take on a dramatic role. This role is one of the key roles that a comedian, like himself, can do much more, and break out of their one type-casted role that is normal for a comedian. He is still one of the funniest men that ever lived. However, this role was stellar and you can tell the intensity and how he came alive in this role, through how passionate and eager he wanted to help Will. Robin Williams is one of the best actors of all time because he was successful in switching genres and taking effective risks that helped his career. His legacy will live on and he will be greatly missed.

3.     John C. Reilly in “Terri” (2011)

John C. Reilly is one of the funniest comedic actors of this generation. His roles with Will Ferrell are extremely popular and Americans flock to their films. A lot of people overlook Reilly as an actor because of his comedic roles. However, he has been in many different dramatic and independent roles that are very well done, and shows how great of an actor he really is. His roles in “Cyrus” “Chicago” and “Terri” prove that he can take risks as an actor. Reilly plays a guidance counselor that helps out a troubled kid named Terri who does not have any friends, and wears robes to school. Reilly delivers on so many levels in this film, whether it is through his constant compassion towards Terri, or how really dedicates everything to help him through whatever he is going through, throughout the film. He is also very funny, which helps the tension and seriousness break, during the dramatic and depressing parts of the film. It is a very depressing film to see Terri and his loneliness, but Reilly helps him, through his compassionate nature in being a guidance counselor. He is an amazing actor that should not only be remembered for his comedic roles with Will Ferrell.

4.     Adam Sandler in “Punch Drunk Love” (2002)

Adam Sandler is one of the most famous comedic actors of this generation. He is very popular because of his loudmouth, and crude humor. He has been on the top of comedic films since the 1980’s. Whether it was his role in “Happy Gilmore” “Big Daddy” “Billy Madison” the list goes on. It was a big deal for him to switch roles into a dramatic and depressing role in “Punch Drunk Love,” especially right after his role in “Little Nicky” which was a decent success for him and a classic for his fans. His role as Barry Egan in this film showed that he can be in almost any type of film and he was not bad at switching genres. This role was famous for him because he has worked with comedy for decades and it was a joy to see him shine in a different type of role. It is amazing to see him in a different type of role. We are so used to seeing him yelling, cursing, and fighting. However, in this role he shines, and it is great to see him in such a different role because he was so type casted at that time. He did go back to comedic roles after this film, but this particular situation was good for Adam Sandler because it showed that he can play many different types of roles and he is not only the funny guy.

5.     Steve Carrell in “Foxcatcher” (2014)

Steve Carrell is extremely funny. His roles in “The Office” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Anchorman” will be remembered for decades. This year he took a chance and took the role as John Du Pont in “Foxcatcher” the result was a great success. He played a wrestling coach that helped the Schultz brothers in the Olympics but things went astray when he gained more power over them. This is easily one of the best roles he has ever had. Carrell completely transformed his face, his accent and his body to fully create such a dense character. It is so unbelievable to watch him in this role. After making us laugh for years on “The Office” we did not expect him to deliver such a groundbreaking, monumental role for his career. His voice, his look was so different from what he actually looks like, and it was so exciting to watch. It is hard to figure out how well he became John Du Pont. It was also terrifying to see how well he became John Du Pont in this film; it was like nothing we have seen before from Steve Carrell. He nailed his role, and he completely deserved his Oscar nomination for this role.

6.     Will Ferrell in “Everything Must Go” (2010)

Will Ferrell is one of the most popular comedic actors. He is known for his roles in “Anchorman” “Step Brothers” “Old School” “Elf” and the list goes on. His roles consist of much different slapstick, crude humor. However, in this film he plays an alcoholic selling all of his professions at a yard sale to try to get rid his items that relate to his past marriage and the things he wants to forget. It was different to see Ferrell in this type of role because of his past funny, and hilarious roles we all love. He was depressed, gloomy, which could be funny to some people depending on how you see him. However, he showed many different emotions that was interesting to watch and kept us on the edge of our seats in this film. This role was completely different to how we perceive Will Ferrell. It is nice to see an actor to try something different and want to break out of their iconic roles. Remember this film, was made shortly after his giant success with “Step Brothers.” Yet, it was another great success for him, and showed that he is better than his one role he usually plays. This film is overlooked a lot but it is a very good role that Will Ferrell nails and delivers.

7.     Josh Peck in “The Wackness” (2008)

Josh Peck skyrocketed his career as Josh on the hit Nickelodeon show, “Drake and Josh.” He was an overweight funny brother of Drake Bell that was loveable. In this film he plays a drug dealer trying to help his parents out paying the rent. He is also going to therapy. After becoming friends with his psychiatrist, he starts spending time with his daughter, played by Olivia Thirlby. It is a coming of age tale that really shows how great Josh Peck is acting. This actor started out on Nickelodeon and then completely does a 180 and play a drug dealer, cursing, having sex, and smoking is a big change for an actor, but it worked. This role was very risky for Peck. He was used to being in the kids show spotlight, for most of his career but this was obviously different for him. It was great to see how much he has grown as an actor in this film. He really showed many different emotions, and we really thought that he was a drug dealer dealing with all of these mental problems, and giant issues about growing up. He delivers on so many levels and it is fascinating to watch his transformation throughout the film. It is amazing to see him on a kid show, and see how much he changed for this role.

8.     Seth Rogen in “50/50” (2011)

Seth Rogen is known for his comedic roles with James Franco and Paul Rudd. However, he changed his comedic ways to play a loveable, caring best friend in this film. It is heartwarming to see how great the friendship between Rogen’s and Joseph Gordon Levitt’s character is shown in this film. Yes Rogen is funny in this film but he is very compassionating, caring, and helpful towards his best friend when he is diagnosed with cancer. He really cares for him and it is nice to see him do something different. Seth Rogen is used to being the loudmouth, comedic relief in most of his roles. It is was a pleasure to see him caring and wanting to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character in this film. He has made a name for himself in Hollywood but in this film he shines. An audience member can clearly see him being the friend that everyone wants, regardless if he is a little obnoxious. Rogen brought this character to life. He is relatable in this role because we have always tried to help our friends in a time of need, and we feel like we want him to be as good of a friend as he is in this film.

9.     Jonah Hill in “Moneyball” (2011)

Jonah Hill is known for being the overweight funny guy. His roles in “Superbad” “Knocked Up” and “Get Him to the Greek” are great comedic roles with him. Over the past few years his weight has fluctuated and so have his roles. One of the best roles he has had was his portrayal of Peter Brand in “Moneyball.” He was very serious and wanted everything right not only for his team but his mentor, Billy Beane played by Brad Pitt. This role has skyrocketed his career even more, and with his Oscar nomination for this role, and his Oscar nominated role in “The Wolf of Wall Street” will probably skyrocket his career even more. This role was brought up and made fun of in the comedic gem, “This is the End” but this role was crucial for his career. He played Peter Brand so well. He essentially became Peter Brand. Also, he worked so well with the amazing Brad Pitt. They were a perfect pair together for this film, and they fed off each other so well in this film. It was almost not even a surprise when they both got nominated for their roles. Nevertheless, Hill was a home run in this film, and helped his career so much.

10.   J.K. Simmons in “Whiplash” (2014)

J.K. Simmons has always been a supporting role kind of actor. However, he is still an amazing actor. This year his role in “Whiplash” has proved that he is not a force to be reckoned with because he is spectacular. This film is terrifying because of his incredibly gripping role. He plays a music teacher that leads a big band at one of the music schools in the country. He brings in a young drummer who has a lot of potential played by Miles Teller. Simmons’ character has a cutthroat, intense program that is extremely intense to watch. Simmons has been great being a supporting character for years. It is a shame that he is not in many different lead roles. He is an incredible actor that is taken for granted it seems like. However, this role is by far his best. He transformed himself into this menacing, and frightening teacher that is so intimidating. He also gained muscle for this role to add to the effect of being so big and scary. He also showed his sensitive side throughout the film and portrayed such a dense and complicated character. His nomination for this role is well deserved because he delivers so much in this role. It is both exciting and horrifying to watch but for some reason it is hard to stop watching to see what happens.

       11. Bill Murray in “Lost in Translation” (2003)

Bill Murray has always been a popular actor among the comedy world. Whether it was “Ghostbusters” “Stripes” “Caddyshack” or “Groundhog Day” he has been making us laugh with his dry, sarcastic humor for years. In “Lost in Translation” he plays a popular actor staying in Japan after having problems with his wife. It is a depressing tale that shows how powerful Bill Murray can be. He his so passionate, and subtle at the same time in this film, and he really delivers in this film, and is considered one of his best roles. It is depressing and exciting to see how he ends up in this film. He also works so well with Scarlet Johannson. They are both broken souls in this film and they both are like puppy dogs, because of how innocent they are and portray. Murray especially because even though he is older than Scarlet’s character he is still so broken and we can see this through his indifferent and gloomy look on life. He is such a broken character you feel for him throughout the film but it is also beautiful to watch. It is great to see him so how talented he is. He is extremely funny in his iconic roles but it was great to see him so powerful in this role. It is a very influential film that is incredible and it well deserved Oscar nomination for Bill Murray.

12.   Jack Black in “King Kong” (2005)

Jack Black has always been the hilarious actor that everyone loves whether if it’s been for a stoner film like “Tenacious D: in the Pick of Destiny” or a family comedy like “School of Rock.” In  2005 right after his success of “School of Rock” he decides to take on the role as Carl Denham in the remake of “King Kong.” This was a very different role for him, and with this success it lead to other great dramatic roles for him. He is a decent actor that really shines if he really prepares for his roles. He has been in many different roles that flopped but he made a decent career for herself. These roles gave him a chance to breakout of his comedic glory and finally step out of his comfort zone, that was kind of at a standstill for awhile. This role helped his career so much because he was in many different roles after this film. He has done a number of other dramatic roles after this film, including, “Bernie” “Margot at the Wedding” and many others. He is not only hilarious in his comedic roles; he really does a great job in these dramatic roles. It is not like anything he we are used to see him. We are used to the happy-go-lucky, loudmouth, energetic, Jack black like in “School of Rock” or “Saving Silverman.” Or getting so energized, excited and so hyper like in “Tenacious D” or “Nacho Libre.” Although, he can really control his character’s tone throughout his roles and really tries and prepares for every role he is given.