Just this year, we were able to witness Rudd demonstrate a range of acting that does not come easily for most performers known primarily as comedic actors. Granted, this year relied heavily on his capability at playing an everyman-type character. Nevertheless, that he can switch virtually seamlessly between Brian Fantana in Anchorman and guys like Rene in All is Bright and Alvin in Prince Avalanche is rather impressive.
The previous few years provide a better picture of the different roles Rudd is capable of playing. The aforementioned Our Idiot Brother offers a hippie-dippie organic farming contrast to the straight man from Dinner for Schmucks or the actual role model (not to be confused with his character in Role Models) in The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
It’s not exactly the degree of variance between the roles he plays—they’re not all that different. What’s impressive about Rudd’s talent is his capability of bringing an earnestness and good faith to each character he plays, whether it requires absurdist bravado in Anchorman or the quiet determination and occasional exasperation in All is Bright. So it may not even be his versatility per se, but rather his reliability in versatile roles, that makes him an indispensable actor today.
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