The Gritty Chimp Guide To... John C Reilly

Who is the man behind the doctor? Let's check it out...

He’s undoubtedly one of Adult Swim’s biggest stars and one of life’s oddest looking fellows. He has his own spin-off show from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! You know him as Dr Steve Brule, Hollywood knows him as John C Reilly but I’m betting you won’t be the first to look at him and say ‘so that’s where I know him from’. This is essentially the story of John C Reilly’s career.

Reilly has been acting for a very long time, getting his first major break in 1989’s ‘Casualties of War’. He impressed Brian De Palma so much that his role as a soldier with a penchant for rape was significantly expanded. Since then he’s been largely on the peripheral of the big screen delivering solid, curly haired character acting in an impressive array of hugely successful films like ‘Days of Thunder’, ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?’ and ‘Magnolia’. Despite this success, red blooded cinema goers and nostalgic fans of the 70’s only really started noticing him after he played narcissistic, frizzy haired, 70’s porn star, Reed Rothchild in 1997’s semi-fictional porn biopic Boogie Nights.

 It’s really in the last ten years that he’s come to the fore. In 2002 he made Hollywood history by starring in three of the films nominated for the Academy Award for Best picture; ‘Chicago’, ‘The Hours’ and ‘Gangs of New York’. Impressive stuff for a guy who, let’s face it, is no Brad Pitt in the looks department. In an industry obsessed with image John C Reilly has had to work harder than most and is as good as the likes of Christian Bale in terms of actually becoming the character and making you forget he’s acting (albeit without the mum slapping and swear laden temper tantrums). He very nearly won an Oscar for his role in Chicago and if you need proof that this guy can sing, take a look at this (note - for hardened Brule fans with an aversion to musicals, don’t click it) 

Whilst I enjoy a lot of his straight stuff, my brain does strange things when I see him playing serious roles.  Reilly has made me laugh so hard in recent years that even at his acting best a little piece of my grey matter coughs up an image of him with a wine soaked chin being chased by a hysterical Jan and Wayne Skylar. It’s the same with Bill Murray. At any second I’m expecting a perfectly timed and immaculately delivered nugget of funny to hit me in the face. If anything that’s a slight on me and not on Reilly’s obvious talents.

Speaking of his comedies, that side of his career took a huge leap with the birth of a new breed of comedy writers. Previously stupidity in films was stupid for stupid’s sake and we ended up with brainless efforts like the instantly forgettable ‘Bio-dome’ (Pauly Shore anyone?) or the entire career of Rob Schneider. Nowadays writers like Adam McKay and writing duo Seth Grogan and Evan Goldberg are being much cleverer with their stupid, appreciating that audiences want great characters but not the same old rehashed clichés. They want genuinely funny yet necessary obscenity and superbly timed slapstick and John C Reilly has become the perfect vehicle.

Talladega Nights and Step Brothers are some of the funniest films I have ever seen but where Reilly really gets his comedy spurs is his starring role in ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’ where he parodies music Johnny Cash biopic ‘Walk The Line’ and a slew of others. Having written the soundtrack he took it on tour to further promote the film Spinal Tap style.

He deserves a place on the Hollywood funny shelf of people who have made me almost hurt myself through laughing. I’d pop him next to Mr Murray, Gene Wilder, Will Ferrell and John Candy (hey it’s my funny shelf, alright?). The thing is he’s one of those actors who I reckon wouldn’t be content with my funny shelf, let alone any shelf. He’s a rare breed that can flutter between straight acting and comedy with comparative ease which probably explains his choice to get so invested in Brule.

For him Steve Brule is an amazing chance to have almost total control over a character. He doesn’t even want to talk about the slightly retarded guru of cable for fear of over analysing him and making him boring. He truly sees Steve Brule as a different person similar to how Steve Coogan sees his cringeworthy, blazer wearing, alter ego Alan Partridge.

What we've been given is one of the finest comedy characters of our generation and it's got Swim written all over it. How much more Brule will we get? Who knows? But revel in it because I've got a feeling Mr Reilly is one good part away from the Oscar he deserves.

This weekend's all about the Brule. Check it Out! Weekend. Two eps added every day, culminating in all six Steve Brule eps available on this here site for 24 hours only. Check it Out! ya dinguses...