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Steve Carell puts heart into comedy. Whether he is playing the iconic Michael Scott or delivering poignant performances in films likeThe 40-Year-Old Virgin,the man’s ability to balance humor with genuine emotion sets him apart from the rest, wonderfully so. Over a decade ago, Steve Carell starred alongside Paull Rudd inDinner for Schmucks.
He played the role of Barry Speck, an eccentric, bizarre character who likes to collect dead mice and dress them up for his dioramas. Even while playing a character that others were to make fun of, Steve Carell believes his portrayal of Barry wasn’t directed towards making fun of a person who’s different but rather towards celebrating him. Steve Carell is living proof that comedy doesn’t have to be unconscientious.
Steve Carell Plays a Unique Character inDinner for Schmucks
InDinner for Schmucks,Tim Conrad (Paul Rudd) is invited to dinner by his boss after the latter reveals that the former is a candidate for promotion. However, the catch is that guests have to bring an eccentric person possessing a special and out-of-the-box talent with them only to be made the center of humiliation at the hands of other employees.
While Tim has no problem adhering to the rules, his girlfriend demands that he withdraw from the dinner. However, by luck, Tim runs into Barry (Steve Carell) and he seems to be the perfect plus one for dinner thanks to his “mousterpieces.”
“He didn’t think he was funny”: Steve Carell Refused to Believe His True Talent in The Office Despite Being a True Menace to His Co-Stars
Barry has a passion for creating elaborate dioramas featuring taxidermized mice and is an endearing yet oblivious man with an innocent outlook on life. Needless to say, the cruel world wasn’t going to be kind to someone like him.
Playing a character like Barry comes with unique challenges. The actor has to make sure that their portrayal doesn’t come across as mocking people who are different and unique. Luckily, Carell was the best person to bring Barry to life.
With an impressive blend of comedy and emotional depth, Carell’s portrayal was nothing short of a masterclass in conscientious humor, something he holds in high esteem.
Steve Carell’s Commendable Take on Comedy
In an interview withThe Guardian, Carell stated that mean humor has no place in his life. While he understands thatDinner for Schmucksmay seem like a mean idea at first considering his character was especially made to be the butt of the joke, he made sure to play Barry with compassion.
Steve Carell: “I believe he saw himself as a hero” on His Most Terrifying Role That Proved He Was More Than Michael Scott
Being the gentleman he is, Carell stated that there is a lot of negativity in the world and as far as he’s concerned, comedy should be more human in nature.
In his words,
On the surface it seemed to be a mean idea, but to my mind the movie celebrates rather than mocks people who are different and unique. I would always look to work in that direction. I don’t care for mean humour. It doesn’t sit well with me. There’s already so much bitterness and cynicism out there. What I find funny is human.
This sets him apart from other actors who have dabbled in comedy and would prefer a grittier take on the genre. Case in point –Bob Odenkirk. Odenkirk wasconsidered for the roleof Michael Scott inThe Officebut, obviously, Carell beat him to it. However, theBetter Call Saulactor understands exactly why Carell was chosen and why he was the better choice after all.
OnOffice Ladies,Odenkirk stated that he’s“oddly earnest”when it comes to comedy, and Carell being“genuinely fun”made him a better choice. He then went on to say that it’s difficult to see himself play a“purely light character”which Michael clearly was. He added, “You just are looking for the darkness [in me], and that’s actually great in drama. That’s a plus, you know? But in comedy, it’s not a plus.”
This is why, Carell was perfect for the role of Michael Scott even if Odenkirk comes a close second as seen in S09E16,Moving On.We love both the actors but we possibly cannot imagine anyone other than Carell as Dunder Mifflin’s lovable regional manager.
Dinner for Schmucksis available to watch on Max.
Mishkaat Khan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2257
A connoisseur of all things horror, fantasy, and the occasional chick flick, Mishkaat has been penning pieces for FandomWire since 2022. She started off as an intern and has worked her way up to a Senior Writer with over 2000 articles to her name.Outside of entertainment, she has also written well-researched medical content as a freelance writer and has experience in social media management.When not writing, you can find her relaxing with a romance novel and a tall glass of iced coffee in her hand or watching re-runs of ‘Supernatural’ and ‘The Office.’
