BuzzSugar

Hesher's Rainn Wilson on Getting Serious, the Future of The Office, and Being a Dad

PopSugar — Wed, 11 May 2011 03:12:00 PDT

Rainn Wilson is best-known for his role as Dwight Schrute on The Office, but he gets a chance to show off his range as a dramatic actor in his latest movie. In Hesher, which is out in selected theaters Friday, Rainn portrays a pill-popping, recently widowed dad whose grieving is interrupted by a strange visitor, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Rainn said that, while he hasn't experienced a similar level of loss in his own life, being a father to his young son, Walter, definitely informed his work. The actor also chatted about Steve Carrel's recent exit from The Office and what it means for the future of the show before telling us what it was like to have Natalie Portman as a producer. Watch our talk with Rainn, as well as our interview with Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Rainn Wilson and Director James Gunn Talk Super's "Absurd Humor" and "Warped Sensibility"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:00:00 PDT

Rainn Wilson and director James Gunn stopped by WonderCon last weekend to talk about their dark comedy Super. Gunn, who's the ex-husband of Wilson's The Office costar Jenna Fischer, talks about how Wilson came to be cast as Frank, a costumed but powerless superhero. Wilson divulges the reasons why he wanted to make the film, and why this "oddball" movie isn't for everyone - a statement I'd agree with.

Super: A Major Misnomer of a Movie Title

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:00:00 PDT

In Super, Rainn Wilson dons a costume to play a different kind of social avenger: one without any powers, strength, or special talents. Wilson plays Frank, a downtrodden diner cook whose spouse (Liv Tyler) has recently left him. He has an enlightening spiritual experience that compels him to suit up as "The Crimson Bolt," and run around his town fighting crime with nothing but a disguise, the intention to help people, and a huge, highly effective wrench.

Though Frank originally sets out to take down criminals like the smarmy Jacques (Kevin Bacon), the drug dealer that his recovering addict wife has taken up with, soon Frank finds himself literally splitting the skulls of anyone he perceives as corrupt. This includes citizens as innocuous as line cutters at the movie theater, leading the media - and the audience - to start questioning whether the Crimson Bolt is a bad guy himself.

When Frank befriends local comic book fan Libby (Ellen Page) while he's doing "research" for his side job, she figures out his secret identity and wants a piece of the action. Cue Page in a skintight green and yellow ensemble, pitching herself as "Boltie," a sidekick to the Crimson Bolt. The sight of Page in her homemade costume doing cartwheels and other silly gymnastic moves is a funny one - and the last time you'll laugh. Though Super begins as a comedy with an offbeat sense of humor, it takes a severe change in tone and turns into a movie that's needlessly violent and repulsive.

To find out what's so wrong with Super, just

read more. In theory, there's a lot to like about the movie. Wilson is an unconventional comedy favorite, and he's well cast as an insecure dope who's easily taken advantage of. Before the violence of Super starts getting out of hand, Wilson's delivery of the mildly funny dialogue is spot-on. Similarly, Page is amusing as a bored hipster when she hasn't yet started her tenure as Boltie. But once the Crimson Bolt and Boltie take to the streets as a pair, Libby becomes frighteningly bloodthirsty. It's frankly unbelievable how psychotic she becomes. Though it seems that director James Gunn is going for a certain level of absurdity with the characters and the plot, it's poorly executed. Gunn completely misuses the kind of comic book fighting that other movies are able to pull off and instead offers scenes of stomach-turning brutality. If you don't do well with gore in movies, stay far away - this one is so aggressively graphic that I wanted to walk out. Stuck on its frenzied roller coaster of bloodlust, the film loses all direction in its mission to shock. Once you're sufficiently disturbed, the ending seems to come out of nowhere. It's another 180-degree tone change, with a conclusion that doesn't fit at all. Super is a mishmash of madness - but not in a fun way.

Rainn Wilson Brings His Superhero Character From His New Movie to the Streets of Austin

PopSugarTV — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:19:15 PDT

Rainn Wilson, who stars as a normal man who one day decides to become a superhero in the upcoming film Super, brings his character to the streets of Austin, Texas. Wilson films himself running around Austin attempting to stop crime as his character, The Crimson Bolt.

Liv and Steven Tyler Have a Super Night of Father-Daughter Bonding

Allie Merriam — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:47:28 PDT

Liv Tyler had her American Idol judge father, Steven, on her arm for the LA premiere of her new movie Super last night. The Aerosmith frontman has been busy promoting his Fox program and bonding with his new buds Ryan Seacrest and Jennifer Lopez, but he seemed happy to support his daughter's big evening and even show some paternal PDA. Her costars in the indie superhero film Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson also stepped onto the red carpet, and later Rainn and Liv tore up the dance floor with their crazy moves. Liv has been focusing on her East Coast social schedule recently alongside her rumored boyfriend Theo Wenner, who is both the son of Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner and a photographer who memorably shot Robert Pattinson for Dossier magazine in 2009.

Rainn Wilson Talks Getting Tearful Over Steve Carell's Departure From The Office

PopSugarTV — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 11:46:56 PDT

Rainn Wilson tells Jay Leno how sad it was to wrap up shooting with Steve Carell, joking that it was like a cast of kids losing a father ("We miss you, dad! Come home please!"). Rainn goes on to share that he isn't yet sure who will be taking Steve's place, but mentions how amazing it's been working with Will Ferrell as Steve's temporary replacement.

Movie Preview: Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page Fight Bad Guys in Super

Lauren Bradshaw — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:24:02 PST

The Office's Rainn Wilson is leaving his desk job to take on a masked alter ego in Super. Wilson stars as Frank, a married man whose wife (Liv Tyler) leaves him for a drug dealer (Kevin Bacon). Upset over the split, Frank decides to win her back by taking on the persona of Crimson Bolt, a violent hero who wields a wrench as his weapon. To help him in his endeavors, a girl from a comic book store (Ellen Page) offers herself up to be his sidekick, Boltie.

Sound familiar? It should, because by all appearances, Super plays out like a ripoff of Kick-Ass. It's impossible not to see the similarities between the films' concepts or how Boltie resembles Hit Girl. That said, Super looks more quirky-indie and, unfortunately, not as good. My other complaint: could we please see more Nathan Fillion? The actor only pops up once in the trailer. Take a look, and share your assessment after the jump.

Hesher Trailer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Lights Things on Fire, Meets Natalie Portman

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:36:27 PST

Thanks to a long-haired Joseph Gordon-Levitt, indie flick Hesher made some waves at last year's Sundance Film Festival, but we've been waiting since then for a release date and a trailer. Today, we have both; the movie comes out April 15, and we finally get a longer look at the film (more than just this clip), which stars Gordon-Levitt as a grungy mentor of sorts to Devon Brochu's character T.J., who has recently lost his mother.

With his father (Rainn Wilson) deep in the grieving process, T.J. is vulnerable to being befriended by the older, greasy Gordon-Levitt, an eccentric man who calls himself Hesher. Spouting odd words of wisdom and exhibiting the occasional destructive act like lighting furniture on fire, Hesher isn't exactly a great role model. T.J.'s other new friend comes in the form of a de-glammed Natalie Portman, a grocery store clerk on whom T.J. has a crush. It's tough to determine how exactly we're supposed to take the beloved JGL - is he weirdly sympathetic or just a weirdo? Decide for yourself when you watch the trailer after the jump.

Peep World Trailer: Michael C. Hall and Rainn Wilson Are a Dysfunctional Family

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:42:10 PST

The trailer for Peep World makes it look a lot like The Royal Tenenbaums, if one of the Tenenbaum kids had written a book about the family and infuriated everyone. Youngest child Nathan Meyerwitz (Parks and Recreation's Ben Schwartz) has just published Peep World, exploiting the lives and problems of each of his siblings. The casting of the brothers and sister is its biggest draw: Michael C. Hall, Rainn Wilson, and Sarah Silverman make up the Meyerwitz family, and if those actors aren't enough to get you interested, there's also Judy Greer, Taraji P. Henson, and Kate Mara in the supporting cast.

The predictable family fight at the dinner tables ensues, relationships are tested, and resentment continues to build toward Nathan. Still, there are some very funny moments in the preview for the indie comedy, so check it out when you

Link Time - Will Ferrell Recruits You For The Other Guys

BuzzSugar — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:30:38 PDT

Will Ferrell made this recruitment video for the NYPD, complete with freeze frame special effects - Funny or Die
Ferrell is also rumored for a Spanish-language comedy. No joke - The Wrap
The Real Housewives want more money from Bravo - TV Squad
Quentin Tarantino is reportedly looking to write and direct The Shadow - Cinematical
Talks begin for The Girl Who Played With Fire movie - MTV Movies Blog
Fox picks up a new pilot from Diablo Cody - Collider
Favorite TV weddings (including George Michael and Maeby's fake one!) - TV.com
Rainn Wilson pops up in this music video for Ferraby Lionheart - Stereogum
Lou Ferrigno (aka the Hulk) will guest star on Chuck - Ausiello Files
First photos from Matt LeBlanc's Showtime series, Episodes - The TV Addict
Five scandalous TV firsts - TresSugar