Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Minions: The Rise of Gru, with Steve Carell doing the voice work for the titular villain, we’re counting down our favorite Carell movies! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
One of the most raw, biting, and brutal political satires ever comes from the 2018 film Vice. Written and directed by Adam McKay, the film chronicles the life of Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), who would go on to be the vice president for George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell). Early on in his career, Cheney becomes interested in a certain interpretation of the law called the “Unitary Executive Theory”, which basically says if the president does it, it is legal. So when Cheney achieves the VP position, he takes that theory and runs with it; the rest is history. This film has all the quirks and hyper-stylized elements of a McKay project that we’ve come to expect, especially the editing, and a roll-credits moment around the 45 minute mark that features an alternate version of Dick who retires and settles down with his family. The narration is provided by an Iraq war veteran named Kurt (Jesse Plemons), another staple of the director that works really well in this film. You also get stellar performances from the entire main cast, including Amy Adams, Steve Carell, and Sam Rockwell. Bale is especially great — he simply transforms into Cheney in chilling fashion. McKay is sending a strong message. He wants us to know, for sure, that Cheney is a monster. The great thing is, McKay gives Cheney a chance to respond. The final shot of the film is Dick justifying his actions into the camera, breaking the fourth wall, in the meta fashion that this brilliant director has come to love. Vice is the ultimate political satire, and truly speaks truth to power against the war-mongering, greedy, power hungry man that Cheney is. (Jacob Kinman)
I get the feeling that Bruce Almighty started as a sketch that asked what an average guy would do if he had God’s powers, and what gags you can make out of that. Most of the written comedy comes from that idea, but as is typical of a Jim Carrey film, a lot more comedy comes from his improv. But this story also has an interesting moral: just accepting your lot in life. At the start of it, Carey’s character Bruce Nolan is in a decent situation. He has a solid job, a good house, and his girlfriend Grace (Jennifer Anniston) is very supportive of him. At the end of the story, his situation is the same, and they even emphasize this by having the opening and final scenes featuring him doing similar news reports. The difference is his attitude. He’s no longer focusing on what he could have, and is just appreciating what he’s got. There are a couple of legitimate stand-out scenes for me. The first is Bruce, who attempts to do God’s work (literally!) in answering prayers, asking them to become post-its. They cover every free surface in the room, including Bruce himself and the dog. I admire the time and effort it must have taken to cover the whole room. The other is Bruce sabotaging Evan’s (Steve Carell) job as the news anchor; Carell’s performance in that scene speaks for itself. (John Tillyard)
The 40-Year-Old Virgin is quintessential Steve Carell. Fresh off the first season of The Office, Carell stepped from the small screen to the big screen and delivered. His performance as Andy is both heartwarming and hilarious at the same time. On one hand, it is very easy to laugh at this man’s lot in life and make him the butt of every joke. But Carell adds something to that role by being his usual endearing self and keeping the audience invested in what happens to him. When you add in an absolutely LOADED supporting cast with comedy legends like Jane Lynch, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Leslie Mann and early-career appearances by Jonah Hill, Mindy Kaling, and Kevin Hart, this movie cannot help but be laugh-out-loud funny. It cemented Carell as an A-list star and has been the bedrock of a great career. (Sam Nichols)
Coach is… a very good dramatic actor, and Foxcatcher is one of the movies that helped prove it. Showing a psychologically dangerous relationship between a star wrestler and his coach, this role was transformative for Steve Carell in more than just how he looked. Although let’s not move past that element. The overall design of this movie is fascinating — it’s borderline claustrophobic, which helps create a constant feeling of unease as a viewer. However, let’s get back to the main event here: the main man’s performance. It’s why most people came to watch, and also why they stayed. It’s quiet, it’s menacing, and it’s evocative in every sense of the term. I still hear his quotes in my head whenever I think about this movie, and reflect on the absolutely eerie mood that is further created when you recall that this is in fact a true story. If you’re a Carell fan, this is not one to miss. (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
The comedy films that stay with us are largely those that continue to be hilarious upon multiple viewings. Adam McKay’s Anchorman contains laughs long after its initial viewing due to its colorful cast of characters and the spontaneous nature of the comedy. While Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) provides a ton of laughs, the character that stands out to so many is Steve Carell’s Brick Tamland. Brick is the embodiment of random and has some of the best lines in the entire film. Steve Carell revealed his comedic genius even further with his portrayal of this now iconic character. I can’t count how many times I or someone I know have said “I love Lamp,” and it is still funny each time I hear it. The highlights of the film are Brick’s outbursts and the randomness of his comments throughout. I don’t think these would land as hard as they do without Carell portraying Brick. He has portrayed so many iconic characters, but to this day Brick Tamland from Anchorman is still one of his most memorable roles. (Joe Vargas)
After years of watching him in The Office, I thought Steve Carell was born to do comedies exclusively. I know some comedians could make the transition into drama, but I wasn’t expecting Carell to do the same. Crazy, Stupid, Love is one of the best romantic dramedies of the centuries, and it’s one of Carell’s best performances. He goes toe-to-toe with the likes of Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, and Ryan Gosling. What I love about this movie is that it meshes all these romance stories so well and delivers a great twist most of the way through that just elevates the story in a great way. This shows me that Carell can anchor a cast of heavy hitters and can play anything that’s needed of him, romantic, seductive, funny, serious, and charming. Crazy, Stupid, Love is one of my favorite movies, and it oozes with charm. There are lots of literal laugh-out-loud moments and it is a great date night movie. This is one to keep on the radar. (Mike Hilty)
The comedic roles are what we’re used to when it comes to Steve Carell, but don’t count him out when it comes to the dramatic roles. Beautiful Boy deals with a father-son relationship between David (Carell) and Nic (Timothée Chalamet) Sheff, which becomes strained by Nic’s growing drug addiction. David is a father who is trying to find ways to understand his son’s addiction and wanting to be his superhero, every step of the way. David didn’t want to see his son fall. Watching Carell as David, struggling in the fight of being his father and saving his child, and eventually having to let him go, is hard to watch. The chemistry between Carell and Chalamet was showcase work, which gives the film life. It took a lot for me to keep from crying too much because the film’s theme was a touchy subject, but done tastefully. It showed the dynamic of what it’s like for a parent, wondering what they’ve done wrong and wanting to fix everything. It was never an easy feat for the father-son duo, but it has a bittersweet ending. Beautiful Boy is one of those movies you can deal with in small doses, and everyone should at least watch this once. The cast should be enough to make you want to watch, because no one holds back. Carell’s performance should’ve had its rounds in the award season, but to no avail. I wish there was a way to avenge him for this role. (Chantal Ashford)
Back in 2013 and fresh off leaving The Office, Steve Carell was still overwhelmingly known for his comedy. The indie coming-of-age flick The Way Way Back was one of the early signs he could do so much more. Carell’s in a supporting role as the jerk boyfriend hosting his girlfriend (Toni Collette) and her teenage son Duncan (Liam James) at his beach house for the summer. In a cast that has a ton of great actors in supporting roles (like Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, and AnnaSophia Robb), he manages to stand out. He also serves as the driving force for Duncan to get his job at the local water park where he bonds with the staff and locals, and really starts to find himself. Honestly, I’d do the same in Duncan’s position. Carell is such a charismatic actor, and to see him so convincingly become someone you just want to punch in the face is quite the feat. (Jake Bourgeois)
A steady stream of narration, exposition, and fourth wall breaking sounds like a recipe for disaster, but The Big Short somehow avoids the typical pitfalls and delivers an engaging, hilarious, thrilling, and effectively informative experience. A standard dramatic retelling of the true story of the mortgage market crisis would have been drab and would have made taking in all the information presented nearly impossible. Director and co-writer Adam McKay utilizes every trick in the book to pull it off. The highlights among the creative solutions are cutaways to celebrities like Margot Robbie, Anthony Bourdain, and Selena Gomez, and their breakdowns of the facts make it understandable even for someone like me who knows nothing about how stocks and bonds work, and doesn’t care to learn. The movie is overloaded with snarky dialogue from a star-studded cast. As groups of jerks try to take advantage of other groups of jerks in the name of money, the moments when the levity is broken up by seeing the human side of the crisis have a heightened effect. The impact of juxtaposition also extends to the acting, as Steve Carell and Christian Bale play against their typical nature. The lighthearted and ever-lovable Carell plays a heavyhearted jerk in Mark Baum, and the effortlessly charismatic Bale plays an awkward loner in Michael Burry. Mark buries himself in his work attempting to avoid facing the tragedy of his past, and the moment where he finally faces his grief is brilliantly acted by Carell and Marisa Tomei. (Jason Mack)
Is anything more endearing than a family coming together and supporting the youngest as they chase their dreams? That is the core of Little Miss Sunshine, a family drama with plenty of wit and crazy characters. This film is known for its little star in Abigail Breslin, but there is so much talent that brings this family to life. Steve Carell captured people’s attention with one of his first real dramatic roles as the suicidal and depressed uncle, and Alan Arkin portrays the beloved grandfather who offers up endless sass. Throw in Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, and Paul Dano and you have yourself a pitch-perfect ensemble. With tons of heart and emotion, this little film is a wonderful experience, including its riotous and over-the-top finale that will certainly put a smile on your face. This is the kind of film that you wish would get more recognition at awards season, like this perfect little film did. (Shane Conto)
Dan in Real Life
Okay, listen. You’re going to have to weather some Dane Cook, but Dan in Real Life just might be worth it. There’s not a whole lot new under the sun — Steve Carell plays a widowed, lonely father of three who runs into Juliette Binoche on the eve of a vacation retreat with the rest of his extended family. Binoche turns out to be dating his brother, played by Cook. As I said, not a whole lot here that you’ve never seen before, but Carell doesn’t have a great many quiet performances in his library, and this just might be my personal favorite. With John Mahoney and Diane Wiest as his parents and a young Alison Pill as his oldest daughter, it’s the kind of family drama that manages to feel comfortable even when you’re kind of embarrassed by some of the things Carell gets up to. I feel like I’m being too focused on the fact it won’t blow you away, but honestly you can do a lot worse with 90 minutes on a weekend afternoon. (Chris Bakker)
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Set during the final weeks of our existence, as an asteroid hurtles toward earth, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is hopelessly devoid of a happy ending, while simultaneously heart-warming and uplifting, with the happiest ending possible given the circumstance. The atypical romantic comedy finds Dodge (Steve Carell) and Penny (Keira Knightley) sharing small moments while waiting for a big bang that will end all life on the planet. It’s a series of quirky, episodic adventures peppered with gallows humor that approach the impending destruction of the planet intimately, rather than bombastically, and begs the question of its audience: how would you react if the world was only a few weeks away from obliteration? For Dodge, the goal is to find his first love and reunite, while Penny wants to find a plane and get back to England to die alongside her family. The two agree to help each other, and their journey proves to be more important than their destination. Carell was born to play a man in crisis, and he and Knightley have good chemistry. There’s no NASA scientist mounting a counter-offensive against the asteroid, no superhero to punch it out of the sky. When faced with their end of days, people riot and steal, they drink and party, and they kill themselves and others. And Dodge and Penny, with a dog named Sorry along for good measure, go on a melancholy trip to find some closure and ultimately each other. (Jonathan Fedee)
Get Smart
Get Smart is one of Steve Carell’s most underrated comedies. Based on the old TV show from the ‘60s, Get Smart is an entertaining spy adventure that pokes fun at James Bond and Mission: Impossible. Maxwell Smart (Carell) is an analyst who dreams of becoming a field agent, and when their headquarters is attacked and the identities of their spies revealed, he gets his wish. With the help of Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), he must go on an international mission, complete with skydiving, undercover fancy galas, and infiltrating underground bases. The movie hits all the clichéd beats of the famous spy movies, but it does so with a healthy dose of dad jokes and one-liners that I just find to be absolutely delightful! There are so many fun characters scattered throughout the movie, and every single one of them gets a moment to shine. There is the Chief, played by Alan Arkin, who both tackles the vice president and has one of my favorite movie lines involving a swordfish. James Caan, who plays the US President as a caricature of George W. Bush, is so incredibly silly. Oh, and did I mention a quick cameo by Bill Murray hiding in a tree? Not only will you have a good time with Get Smart, but it’s also family friendly enough that my kids enjoyed watching too. (Nick Ferro)
Despicable Me
Between all the sequels, spin-offs, and spin-off-sequels, it can be easy to forget that Despicable Me is a genuinely delightful movie. Steve Carell gives an endearing and hilarious performance as Gru, an unintentionally comical super-villain with an unfortunately large nose, whose life is changed when he adopts three orphan girls. As much as Carell has come to be the face (or rather, the voice) of this franchise, the entire cast is a who’s who of well-utilized comedic talent: Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Jemaine Clement, Danny McBride… the list truly does go on. Illumination, the animation studio behind the Despicable Me films, has since gotten some flack for their lack of variety when it comes to their animation style and sense of humor, but given that Despicable Me was Illumination’s first feature-length film, the ideas felt fresh for the time. Unique character designs, a quirky sense of humor, and lovable vocal performances set Despicable Me apart from the crowd in 2010, but the film’s heart makes this one of the most rewatchable animated movies of the last 20 years. (Foster Harlfinger)
Also See: Last Flag Flying, Battle of the Sexes, Over the Hedge, Date Night