Accomplished actor and stand-up comedian Kevin Hart puts on a masterclass in searing emotional
vulnerability in "Fatherhood."
Hart plays Matt, a successful businessman whose picture-perfect life is shattered when
his wife dies after giving birth to their first child.
Although Matt is completely unprepared to go it alone as a single parent, he decides
to step up for the sake of his daughter and experiences all of the highs and lows of parenthood.
"You know, Maddy, if you could have only one parent, I wish you could've had your mom.
'Cause she would have been better at it."
His performance is full of tenderness, self-reflection, and outright despair.
It shows just how well Hart can tug on our heartstrings.
Hart's ability to transcend his already-impressive status as an all-star comedic talent makes
his "Fatherhood" performance truly unforgettable.
It also catapults Hart onto an impressive list.
Some of the best comedic minds in history have crossed the threshold into searing dramatic
roles.
Here's a look at some of the other times well-known comedy actors managed to surprise us with
their more serious sides.
Adam Sandler is one of the most prolific comedy actors of all time.
After his stint as an all-star cast member of "Saturday Night Live," Sandler became an
instant A-lister thanks to leading roles in "Happy Gilmore" and "Billy Madison," and went
on to keep the hits coming for decades.
He's still making audiences laugh with his recent films, like "The Ridiculous 6," "The
Do-Over," "Sandy Wexler," "The Week Of," "Murder Mystery," and "Hubie Halloween."
Along the way, though, Sandler has also impressed critics with his more dramatic roles.
As a serious actor, Sandler first turned heads with his stirring turn as anxiety-riddled
Barry Egan in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Punch-Drunk Love."
Sandler brought an understated depth to the character, infusing Egan with quiet desperation
that could at any second give way to bursts of explosive, uncomfortable aggression.
"What's your name, sir.
Answer me!"
"What's your name, asshole?"
"I'm Barry Egan."
The performance netted Sandler a Golden Globe nomination and an all-new level of respect
from the critical crowd.
Sandler continued to blend humor with heart in Noah Baumbach's "The Meyerowitz Stories,"
and he really blew folks away with his work in the Safdie Brothers' "Uncut Gems."
Sandler wears the character of Howard Ratner like a second skin, owning the frenzied mannerisms
of an ambitious jeweler who hopes to make a big score to stave off dangerous debt collectors.
"I have every intention of paying you back.
I'm broke right now."
"You're broke?
What's that?
Look at that.
Do you remember that?
Look at it."
"That is money that's not mine that I sent to you because I wanted to calm you down."
Sandler's performance in the film is absolutely chaotic and electric, and assured his status
as a multi-faceted screen talent forevermore.
Generations of fans have fallen in love with Jennifer Aniston thanks to her work in both
comedies and romantic films.
Aniston became a household name, of course, thanks to her breakout role as Rachel Green
on "Friends," and she took her signature relatable, girl-next-door comedy style to the movies
with her work in films like "Picture Perfect," and "Along Came Polly."
"Hey, what are you doing? That's goose down."
"I'm liberating you."
Aniston really sold her skills as a dramatic actress, though, with her celebrated performance
in the 2014 film "Cake," in which she appears as Claire Bennett, a caustic woman who suffers
chronic pain and depression after suffering an unthinkable tragedy.
Aniston's performance in the film is raw and completely sensational and proved, once again,
the breadth of her talent.
Ever since his early days in standup and sketch comedy, Jim Carrey has been a performer like
no other.
With films like "The Mask," "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," "Dumb and Dumber," and "Bruce
Almighty," Carrey has proven himself again and again to be a singular screen presence
with no limits to how well he can sell absurdist comedy.
"I'm gonna execute a buttonhook pattern, super slow-mo."
And yet, Carrey has also impressed audiences with stellar work in a few dramas.
In "The Truman Show," for example, Carrey managed to blend his physical comedy gifts
with a resonant, heartfelt, and genuine performance.
Similarly, he delivered a touching and eerily accurate portrayal of the enigmatic Andy Kaufman
in the biopic "Man on the Moon."
Both performances earned Carrey Golden Globes.
Carrey's most arresting dramatic turn, though, came in the 2004 sci-fi drama "Eternal Sunshine
of the Spotless Mind."
Carrey plays a man in a relationship so broken that both halves of the couple undergo an
experimental procedure that erases their memories of one another.
Carrey's Joel Barish, however, has second thoughts after the procedure is already underway,
and the movie follows his mental journey as he tries to hide memories of his love in the
corners of his mind.
"Got it."
"Oh God, oh God, come on, we gotta go.
Get going!
We gotta go."
Not only is "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" incredibly original and bittersweet,
but Carrey's performance is riveting.
His larger-than-life persona melts away, revealing a restrained, self-conscious man too lost
in his own thoughts to fully embrace life.
Eddie Murphy exploded onto the scene in the '80s, dominating the comedy box office with
movies like "48 Hrs.," "Trading Places," "Beverly Hills Cop," and "Coming to America."
On top of his staggering comedic success, Murphy can also slip seamlessly into dramatic roles.
In the 2006 cinematic adaptation of "Dreamgirls," Murphy gained critical acclaim -- and an Oscar
nomination -- for his take on troubled soul singer James "Thunder" Early.
Murphy recently reminded audiences of just how versatile he is with his performances
in "Mr. Church" and "Dolemite Is My Name."
While audiences may have been surprised to see Murphy deliver so well during his earliest
dramatic roles, the world now knows there's simply nothing he can't do.
"It's a comedy, and it's sexy, and it's action.
It's a total entertainment experience."
2020 might have been a bust for many of us, but at least “Borat” star Sacha Baron
Cohen had a good year.
Not only did the comedian leave us all in stitches with the surprise Borat sequel, but
he also amazed audiences with his gripping portrayal of Abbie Hoffman in Aaron Sorkin's
"The Trial of the Chicago 7."
"What are you wearing?"
"It's an homage to you, your honor."
"Do you have clothes underneath there?"
"Yes.
Hold on...yes."
The biographical film centers on the titular group of anti-Vietnam War protesters who participated
in an uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and were subsequently
charged with conspiracy and other crimes, resulting in a trial that captivated the nation.
Cohen plays Hoffman perfectly as a silver-tongued wordsmith who champions the cause not with
blind zealotry but with a shrewd understanding of the issues.
Even though Cohen had already proven his ability to take on serious roles in "Les Misérables"
and "The Spy," his depiction of the revolutionary marked his most celebrated dramatic effort
to-date, notching him nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and more.
"We're not going to jail because of what we did; we're going to jail because of who we are.
Think about that the next time you shrug off cultural revolution.
We define winning differently, you and I."
Whether you've been a fan of Melissa McCarthy since her days as Sookie St. James on "Gilmore
Girls" or if you came to know her thanks to her laugh-out-loud performances in more recent
projects like "Bridesmaids," "Spy," and "Thunder Force," you already know that she is a commanding
comic presence in any project she tackles.
"Do not throw that bus."
"I can't hear you because I'm literally throwing a bus."
McCarthy's aptitude for physical comedy is legendary, so it was doubly surprising when
she reined all that in for her quiet, studied performance in 2018's "Can You Ever Forgive
Me." McCarthy plays struggling biographer Lee Israel, who turns to a life of forgery
after her book sales plummet.
Not only does McCarthy truly own the character's desperation, but she also brings an elegant
sensibility to the screen.
McCarthy might've broken out with her riotous role in "Bridesmaids" -- she even earned an
Oscar nomination for it -- but the critics were so stunned by her revelatory work in
"Can You Ever Forgive Me?" that the Academy gave her a second nod.
Sheldon Cooper of "The Big Bang Theory" is such an icon that it may be hard to see Jim
Parsons' face without thinking of the word "Bazinga!"
But while Parson is a master of making us laugh, he's proved time and time again that
he can make us feel as well.
After impressing in projects like "The Normal Heart" and "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil
and Vile," Parsons starred as Michael in the 2020 adaptation of the stage play "The Boys
in the Band," playing a man who, alongside his friends and estranged associates, explores
what it meant to be gay in late '60s New York.
Parsons imbues his character with a thinly veiled bitterness that gradually comes into
the light over the course of the film.
It's a masterclass in subtle emotion, miles away from his "Big Bang Theory" persona.
"It's like watching an accident on a highway.
You can't look at it, and you can't look away."
It's clear that, as successful as he already is, Parsons is an actor whose best roles may
still be ahead of him.
Another sitcom legend who has flexed his dramatic muscle with great success is Ray Romano.
Romano might have become a household name because of his eponymous family sitcom "Everybody
Loves Raymond," but in Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman," his character is no laughing matter.
Romano starred in the gangster epic as Bill Bufalino, a union lawyer with loose morals
who defends crooked Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa and helps Robert De Niro's Frank Sheeran
get an "in" with his cousin's crime family.
"You know I don't, uh, I don't care whether you did it or not.
That makes no difference to me."
"Yeah I know."
"I'm here to defend you, right?"
"Right...what do you want to know, you want to know if I did it or not?"
Romano has also been a reliable dramatic presence in films like "The Big Sick" and "Paddleton,"
but his performance in "The Irishman" is particularly poised and sharp, showing that Romano doesn't
even need to crack a smile to steal a scene.
"Your honor, this is an example of a personal vendetta against my client, against his family,
by a frustrated justice department and the Attorney General, Robert Kennedy."
Like a lot of comedy stars, Richard Pryor got his start performing standup before making
his way to Hollywood.
The late, great comic soon became known for his sharp-as-a-tack comedic delivery and writing.
However, while Pryor is best known for his energetic screen humor, especially during
his frequent collaborations with Gene Wilder, he also wowed the crowds with a dramatic turn
in Paul Schrader's 1978 crime drama "Blue Collar."
While Pryor still got to use some of his signature comedy stylings in the film, he also proved
that he was a dramatic powerhouse.
Even though Pryor stuck mostly to comedies for the rest of his career, after "Blue Collar,"
no one ever doubted his ability to do drama.
Kevin Hart is one of the most reliable names in comedy.
After working the stand-up circuit, Hart became a marquee name with comedies like "Ride Along,"
"Central Intelligence," and the "Jumanji" series.
And even with nearly 100 screen credits, he still somehow finds time to rock the standup
stage.
As such, even before "Fatherhood," Hart had already established himself as one of Tinseltown's
premiere talents.
Now, audiences get to see an all-new side of him.
As Matt, Hart takes the unexpected challenge of playing a father raising a child alone
as a chance to show just how much he can do.
In "Fatherhood," Hart's character soon finds that there's more to being a dad than sheer
determination.
Between the scenes showing Mike experiencing the unthinkable and those in which he has
to make some truly tough choices, Hart's ability to reach deep and convey so much emotional
truth through his performance makes this a role -- and a movie -- that audiences won't
soon forget.
"I just wanna do what your momma would've wanted me to do.
Two kisses. One from mommy. One from me."
Thanks for watching.
Click the links in our video to watch more from Netflix Film Club.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest exclusive videos.
Plus hit the bell so you don’t miss a single one.