Film Junk Poll: What is Jack Black’s Best Movie to Date?
With impending release of Year One this weekend, I suspect we’re going to be hearing both Jack Black and Michael Cera accused of being one-trick ponies (again). While I don’t necessarily disagree, I do think that if you take a look at Jack Black’s filmography, he’s done an interesting assortment of movies over the years. They’re mostly comedies, of course, but they’re not all the same. So allow me to pose the question: what is Jack Black’s best movie to date? There are some notable titles that I left off this poll, but it still covers most of the highlights. Go ahead and cast your vote, then discuss just how overrated you think Jack Black is in the comments below!
Comments (27)
If you’re asking which Jack Black film is he the best in, then I’d say “School of Rock”, but if it’s the best film overall that happened to star Jack Black I’d say “Tropic Thunder.”
No “Saving Silverman”?
Posted by Alex C. on June 18th, 2009Oh I loved Saving Silverman! Course that was a few years ago…
I like this poll! Though I haven’t seen a bunch of his movies actually. I really liked him in The Holiday (cringe).
Posted by Less Lee Moore on June 18th, 2009I don’t think the movie will be any good, but before you guys say the ‘one trick pony’ or ’sick of antics of X’ line on the podcast hope you’ll keep in mind how we all are frustrated when its said about Ferrell and other comedians people get sick of quickly.
Posted by Goon on June 18th, 2009I think its really easy to enjoy leading-man-comedians-with-a-schtick less when they’re paired up with someone equally charismatic. Something about two powerful personalities sharing equal screen time causes them to cancel each other out.
This seems to be an even bigger issue when they’re starring in a high concept movie. Two big comedy stars + big idea movie tends to = massive bomb.
There’s a million examples, though, and I’m sure somewhere there’s evidence to the contrary.
Posted by mrbenning on June 18th, 2009that’s a pretty strong list, many actors would take that in a heartbeat.
Posted by rus in chicago on June 18th, 2009Don’t think he’s overrated just probaly cast in too many movies, probaly go down the Jim Carrey route.
He was pretty good in the Cable Guy too.
Posted by Nemesis on June 18th, 2009Hmmm… the two best movies on there are King Kong and Tropic Thunder, but I don’t think Black is the real draw to either. I think I’ll go with High Fidelity, he was pretty perfect for that role and added a lot of funny to that flick.
Posted by MJS on June 18th, 2009“the two best movies on there are King Kong and Tropic Thunder”
Are you high? Right, now are you high? We’re you high when you saw these movies? Those are the two worst films on the list. Was this a typo? I’m sorry if you made a typo and I’m jumping on you for it.
The best MOVIE in which Jack Black appears is a three way tie between High Fidelity – School of Rock – Kung Fu Panda (Fidelity is probably the best movie on the list but also the least screentime for black – I’m counting Panta screen time as screen time). The best PERFOMRANCE as an actor on the list is School of Rock.
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on June 18th, 2009panta = panda
See? Typo.
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on June 18th, 2009“Are you high? Right, now are you high? We’re you high when you saw these movies? Those are the two worst films on the list. Was this a typo? I’m sorry if you made a typo and I’m jumping on you for it. ”
I was stone sober when I formed those opinions, and I’m standing by them.
Posted by MJS on June 18th, 2009“Something about two powerful personalities sharing equal screen time causes them to cancel each other out.”
I agree with you to a point though I’m sure there are exceptions, especially in the 80s, where you had Aykroyd or Candy or Murphy teamed up with funny people, if not each other. Pryor/Wilder, there you go – proven wrong
– and I like how Ferrell and McBride have worked together.
But I do love it when theres a goofy big name comic who is teamed up with someone people dont usually think of that way. Like Carrey with Jeff Daniels. Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Steve Martin and Michael Caine.
Posted by Goon on June 18th, 2009I really liked The Holiday. I think Jack Black was great in that too. I was sober when I watched it.
Posted by Brandon on June 18th, 2009Nacho Libre is the one that I can watch with my girlfriend over and over. Because it’s just so dang harmless and quotable. The critics gave it a terrible rap, though. Too bad.
Posted by Matt on June 18th, 2009That’s why I picked it as Jack Black’s best.
And I am usually not high while enjoying this movie.
@Goon:
I’d thought of a few, but kept coming up with straight man + crazy man examples, and I’m not sure if that was necessarily appropriate for a discussion on the Black/Cera combination in Year One.
Many of the comedy films of today seem to eschew the necessity of the straight man in a lead role, which I now realize might directly correlate to the quality of the film.
Posted by mrbenning on June 18th, 2009School of Rock is to Jack Black what Animal House is to John Belushi and Beverly Hills Cop is to Eddie Murphy.
chuck
Posted by entertainmenttodayandbeyond on June 18th, 2009Here’s another vote for Saving Silverman. The more you watch it, the funnier it gets.
Posted by Jeff on June 18th, 2009I vote for Mars Attacks
Posted by Duke Togo on June 18th, 2009Jesus’ Son — hands down.
Posted by The Dude on June 18th, 2009Another vote for Saving Silverman here. Love that movie and Jack Black is awesome in it.
Posted by Chris on June 19th, 2009It appears there are just as many film and music dorks on this site as I thought.
Posted by Jackson on June 19th, 2009I would say that AIRBORNE is the best film that Jack Black has happened to have acted in…
Posted by Soop27 on June 19th, 2009I liked him in “Mr. Show”… but that’s neither here nor there.
Posted by Falsk on June 19th, 2009As I was getting ready for bed early this morning at 3:30 am, I turned on the television and I noticed the actors Steve Zahn, Jason Biggs, and Amanda Detmer in a scene. It looked awfully familiar, but I couldn’t place it. And then Jack Black showed up on screen! I still couldn’t place the movie. And then a character mentioned Silverman, and having read Alex C, Less Lee Moore (ah, Lesley Moore), Jeff and Chris’s comments here earlier, I realized I was watching “Saving Silverman.” And I had seen it before. And it was funnier this time.
Posted by Reed Farrington on June 19th, 2009Saving Silverman has a few funny moments in it (all involving Black or the other guy who is not Silverman) but it is nowhere NEAR as good as Fidelity, Panda, or School of Rock – not even in the same zip code.
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on June 19th, 2009High Fidelity is easily the best movie on that list. Very surprised to see that people have voted School of Rock over it.
Posted by Jonathan on June 20th, 2009I like “the jackel” but thats an older one he was in.. I like that one with him tho
Posted by Sheba on June 21st, 2009haha nacho libre is the shit!!!!!
Posted by luca on December 8th, 2009Leave a Reply