Frat Pack
The "Frat Pack" is a nickname given to a group of male Hollywood comedy actors who have appeared together in many of the highest grossing comedy movies since the late 1990s. The group usually includes Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Steve Carell, and Paul Rudd.
The term was used by USA Today in a June 2004 story and was soon picked up by other media outlets as well.[1][2][3] Before USA Today dubbed this group the "Frat Pack," Entertainment Weekly had referred to them as the "Slacker Pack,"[4] having earlier coined the term "Frat Pack" to describe Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Edward Norton, and Ryan Phillippe.[5] By 2005, Entertainment Weekly had dropped the "Slacker Pack" term and followed suit, referring to the newer crop of actors as the "Frat Pack."[6][7][8]
The name is an allusion to the Rat Pack (and the later Brat Pack), combined with a reference to the group's popular fraternity-related film Old School and the sophomoric style of humor employed in many of their films. Ben Stiller, however, has decried the use of the term, saying, "I think the whole thing about the Frat Pack group is completely fabricated anyway."[9]
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[edit] Membership
Initially, the core members included Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and brothers Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson.[10][11] Later, Steve Carell was also included in the Pack.[12] The previous year, USA Today had listed him, along with Paul Rudd, David Koechner, and Leslie Mann, among the Frat Pack's "Junior Varsity".[13] While hosting Saturday Night Live in September 2005, Carell indirectly claimed membership by mentioning Stiller, Vaughn, Ferrell, Owen Wilson, and Black, and saying he was "one of those guys now".[14]
In 2005, Details Magazine called Judd Apatow, Adam McKay, and Todd Phillips "The Frat Packagers". A year later, Paul Rudd was called a Frat Pack member by the New York Post and other publications.[15][16] Asked by an interviewed with The Advocate whether Knocked Up would usher him into the Frat Pack, Rudd said he was a "pledge" that hasn't "been initiated yet into the brotherhood." Years later, in a 2011 interview, Rudd acknowledged his association with the group by saying, "As far as the Frat Pack concept goes, I'm happy to be included. I think the elder statesmen in it are really talented, and I'm a fan of all of them."[17] In a 2008 interview with Moviefone's Unscripted, Jack Black jokingly initiated Robert Downey, Jr. into the Frat Pack, due to his starring role in Tropic Thunder with Black and Ben Stiller.[18]
The members of the Frat Pack often work with certain directors multiple times. Wes Anderson is a college friend of the Wilsons and directed them in both Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums (which also starred Stiller), while Todd Phillips directed Old School and Starsky & Hutch. Adam McKay directed Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and Step Brothers, which included John C. Reilly as a lead role. Judd Apatow is the writer/producer of several Frat Pack comedies, including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. He made his directorial debut with The 40-Year-Old Virgin, starring Steve Carell, and followed up with Knocked Up, starring Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd, with a cameo by Carell. Apatow was also a co-creator of The Ben Stiller Show. Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin worked again with Vince Vaughn for the Christmas comedy Fred Claus (2007).
The Farrelly Brothers have directed Frat Pack members Ben Stiller in There's Something About Mary and The Heartbreak Kid, Jack Black in Shallow Hal and Owen Wilson in Hall Pass.
[edit] Team Apatow
After The 40 Year Old Virgin there has been a consensus for branding a Team Apatow or the Apatow Mafia which takes its name from the director/producer Judd Apatow, this group of young actors, consisting of: Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Jonah Hill, Martin Starr, James Franco, Justin Long, Ken Jeong, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Jack McBrayer and John C. Reilly in addition to appearing frequently in films of the Frat Pack, frequently collaborate with each other. While often appearing in works among themselves, many fans also consider them an integral part of the Frat Pack.
[edit] Filmography
All members of the Frat Pack have never appeared in a single movie together, they have come closest in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, which featured all but Owen Wilson (chiefly in minor roles and cameos). Also, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, and David Koechner have all been cast members on Saturday Night Live, and, except for Owen Wilson, all members have hosted Saturday Night Live. Will Ferrell, David Koechner, and Jack Black have made guest appearances on The Office with Steve Carell. They have also all presented during the Academy Awards.
| Movie | Jack Black | Ben Stiller | Luke Wilson | Owen Wilson | Vince Vaughn | Will Ferrell | Steve Carell | Close contributors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle Rocket (1996) |
Lead role | Lead role, writer | Wes Anderson (director) | |||||
| The Cable Guy (1996) |
Supporting role | Director, minor role | Minor role | Andy Dick, Judd Apatow (writer, producer), Leslie Mann, Kyle Gass | ||||
| Bongwater (1997) |
Supporting role | Lead role | Andy Dick, Kyle Gass | |||||
| Permanent Midnight (1998) |
Lead role | Supporting role | Andy Dick | |||||
| Rushmore (1998) |
Minor | Co-writer | Wes Anderson (co writer), Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray | |||||
| Heat Vision and Jack (unaired pilot) (1999) |
Lead role | Director, minor role | Lead role, voice | Christine Taylor | ||||
| The Suburbans (1999) |
Supporting | Supporting | ||||||
| Meet the Parents (2000) |
Lead role | Supporting cast | ||||||
| The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) |
Lead role | Lead role | Lead role, writer | Wes Anderson (director) | ||||
| Zoolander (2001) |
Lead role, director, writer, producer | Lead role | Minor role | Lead role | Christine Taylor, Andy Dick | |||
| Orange County (2002) |
Lead role | Minor role | Leslie Mann | |||||
| Old School (2003) |
Lead role | Lead role | Lead role | Todd Phillips (director), Andy Dick, Matt Walsh, Snoop Dogg | ||||
| Starsky & Hutch (2004) |
Lead role, executive producer | Lead role | Lead role | Supporting role | Todd Phillips (director), Jason Bateman, Matt Walsh, Snoop Dogg | |||
| Envy (2004) |
Lead role | Lead role | Amy Poehler | |||||
| Around the World in 80 Days (2004) |
Minor role | Minor role | Jackie Chan, John Cleese, Steve Coogan, Kathy Bates | |||||
| Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) |
Lead role | Lead role, producer | Justin Long, Christine Taylor, Jason Bateman | |||||
| Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) |
Minor role | Minor role | Minor role | Supporting role | Lead role, writer, executive producer | Lead role | Paul Rudd, Ian Roberts, David Koechner, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow (producer), Kathryn Hahn | |
| Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie (2004) |
Minor role | Supporting role | Lead role, writer, executive producer | Lead role | Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Justin Long, David Koechner, Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow (producer) | |||
| Meet the Fockers (2004) |
Lead role | Minor role | ||||||
| Melinda and Melinda (2004) |
Lead role | Supporting role | ||||||
| Bewitched (2005) |
Lead role | Supporting role | ||||||
| Wedding Crashers (2005) |
Lead role | Lead role | Minor role | |||||
| The Wendell Baker Story (2005) |
Lead role, director, writer | Lead role | Minor role | |||||
| Danny Roane: First Time Director (2006) |
Supporting role | Minor role | Andy Dick, Mo Collins | |||||
| Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006) |
Lead role, writer, songs | Minor role, producer | Kyle Gass, David Koechner (deleted scene/DVD), John C. Reilly (uncredited), Amy Poehler | |||||
| Night at the Museum (2006) |
Lead role | Supporting role | Steve Coogan, Paul Rudd, Ricky Gervais | |||||
| Blades of Glory (2007) |
Producer | Minor role | Lead role | Jon Heder, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Craig T. Nelson, Andy Richter, Romany Malco | ||||
| Tropic Thunder (2008) |
Lead role | Lead role, director, writer, producer | Dropped out (originally supporting role) | Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Robert Downey Junior, Christine Taylor | ||||
| Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) |
Lead role | Supporting role | Steve Coogan, Ed Helms, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, Ricky Gervais | |||||
| Community (TV series) (2010) |
Supporting role | Minor role | ||||||
| Megamind (2010) |
Minor role, producer | Lead role | Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Rob Cordry, Amy Poehler, Justin Long, Tina Fey | |||||
| Little Fockers (2010) |
Lead role | Lead role | ||||||
| The Big Year (2011)[19] |
Lead role | Producer | Lead role | Steve Martin, Rashida Jones | ||||
| The Office (U.S. TV Series) (2009-2011) |
Minor role | Supporting role | Lead role | David Koechner, Rashida Jones, Ricky Gervais | ||||
| Fight For Your Right Revisited (2011) |
Lead role | Lead role | Adam Scott, Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, John C. Reilly, Elijah Wood, Maya Rudolph, | |||||
| Neighborhood Watch (2012) |
Lead role | Lead role | Jonah Hill | |||||
| Frank or Francis (2012) |
Lead role | Lead role | ||||||
| Movie | Jack Black | Ben Stiller | Luke Wilson | Owen Wilson | Vince Vaughn | Will Ferrell | Steve Carell | Close contributors |
[edit] Other films
Comedy films that involve only one primary Frat Packer in a large or prominent role, among other close contributors:
- Swingers (1996)
- Best Men (1997)
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1999)
- A Night at the Roxbury (1998)
- There's Something About Mary (1998)
- Your Friends & Neighbors(1998)
- Home Fries (1998)
- Clay Pigeons (1998)
- Mystery Men (1999)
- Kill the Man (1999)
- Superstar (1999)
- Dick (1999)
- Blue Streak (1999)
- The Independent (2000)
- Mission: Improbable (2000)
- Shanghai Noon (2000)
- High Fidelity (2000)
- Charlie's Angels (2000)
- Drowning Mona (2000)
- Keeping the Faith (2000)
- Legally Blonde (2001)
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
- Saving Silverman (2001)
- Made (2001)
- The Third Wheel (2002)
- Shanghai Knights (2003)
- Run Ronnie Run (2003)
- Ice Age (film) (2002)
- Shanghai Knights (2003)
- Bruce Almighty (2003)
- Duplex (2003)
- Elf (2003)
- The Complete Master Works (2003)
- Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
- School of Rock (2003)
- Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
- Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003)
- Blackball (2003)
- Masked and Anonymous (2003)
- Alex & Emma (2003)
- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
- Sleepover (2004)
- Along Came Polly (2004)
- The Big Bounce (2004)
- Shark Tale (2004)
- Pauly Shore Is Dead (2004)
- The Family Stone (2005)
- Kicking & Screaming (2005)
- The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
- Be Cool (2005)
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
- Madagascar (2005)
- The Producers (2005)
- Winter Passing (2005)
- Thumbsucker (2005)
- Over the Hedge (2006)
- The Break-Up (2006)
- Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
- You, Me and Dupree (2006)
- Curious George (2006)
- Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
- School for Scoundrels (2006)
- Idiocracy (2006)
- Nacho Libre (2006)
- Cars (2006)
- Stranger than Fiction (2006)
- My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)
- The Holiday (2006)
- Mini's First Time (2006)
- Hoot (2006)
- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
- Knocked Up (2007)
- Blonde Ambition (2007)
- Dan in Real Life (2007)
- The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
- Evan Almighty (2007)
- The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
- The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
- Fred Claus (2007)
- You Kill Me (2007)
- Stories USA (2007)
- The Complete Master Works 2 (2008)
- Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland (2008)
- Drillbit Taylor (2008)
- Semi-Pro (2008)
- Kung Fu Panda (2008)
- Over Her Dead Body (2008)
- Get Smart (2008)
- Step Brothers (2008)
- Horton Hears a Who (2008)
- Marley & Me (2008)
- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
- Be Kind Rewind (2008)
- Four Christmases (2008)
- Year One (2009)
- The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009)
- Tenure (2009)
- Couples Retreat (2009)
- The Marc Pease Experience (2009)
- 17 Again (2009)
- Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
- Land of the Lost (2009)
- Date Night (2010)
- Despicable Me (2010)
- Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
- The Other Guys (2010)
- How Do You Know (2010)
- Death at a Funeral (2010)
- How Do You Know (2010)
- Marmaduke (2010)
- Get Him to the Greek (2010)
- Gulliver's Travels (2010)
- I'm Still Here (2010)
- The Trip (2010)
- Middle Men (2010)
- Everything Must Go (2011)
- The Dilemma (2011)
- Hall Pass (2011)
- Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
- Cars 2 (2011)
- Crazy Stupid Love (2011)
- Midnight in Paris (2011)
- Tower Heist (2011)
- The Muppets (film) (2011)
- Everything Must Go (2011)
- The Dilemma (2011)
- Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
- Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012)
- Dog Fight (2012)
- Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)
- Lay the Favorite (2013)
[edit] See also
- Brat pack
- Brit Pack – 1980s
- Child actor
- Rat Pack – 1950s & 1960s
- Splat Pack
- Typecasting
- The Second City
- Upright Citizens Brigade
- Heat Vision and Jack - a failed Frat Pack pilot starring Jack Black and Owen Wilson, directed by Ben Stiller
[edit] References
- ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (June 15, 2004), "Wilson and Vaughn: Leaders of the 'Frat Pack'", USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-06-15-frat-pack_x.htm, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (June 21, 2004), "Life in the 'Frat Pack'", Chicago Sun-Times: 47
- ^ Randall, Laura (July 9, 2004), "Unlikely heroes of the box office: The Frat Pack", The Christian Science Monitor, http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0709/p11s01-almo.html, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ Rich, Joshua (April 23, 2004), "The A.V. Club", Entertainment Weekly, http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,611646,00.html, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ Daly, Steve (April 24, 1998), "Introducing The Frat Pack", Entertainment Weekly, http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,282766,00.html, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ Lundergaard (July 14, 2005). "Frat Packers just get better". msnbc. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8500264/. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ^ Kane, Michael (August 14, 2005), "The Frat Pack- How a Dozen Doofs Saved Comedy", New York Post: 78
- ^ Susman, Gary (August 17, 2005), "Who's the Kevin Bacon of comedy?", Entertainment Weekly, http://popwatch.ew.com/2005/08/17/whos_the_kevin_/, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ "Stiller tired of “Frat Pack” label". Ben Stiller dot Net. September 23, 2006. http://www.benstiller.net/ben-stiller/stiller-tired-of-frat-pack-tag/. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (June 17, 2004), "These guys would be great to hang out with", USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-06-16-fratpackchart.htm, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ Johns, Ian (July 6, 2006), "Laughing all the way to the bank", The Times (London), http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article683291.ece, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ "Frat Pack persona: Archetype casting". USA Today. July 13, 2006. http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-07-12-fratpack-chart_x.htm. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
- ^ Breznican, Anthony (August 11, 2005), "Carell just wants some love", USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-08-11-steve-carell_x.htm, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (July 13, 2006), "'Frat Pack' splits", USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-07-12-frat-pack-main_x.htm, retrieved June 10, 2011
- ^ Stewart, Sara (April 30, 2006), "Boys' Life - Frat Pack Back on Track this Summer", New York Post: 44
- ^ Garcia, Chris (June 22, 2007), "Hollywood's funny frat pack", Austin American-Statesman, http://www.austin360.com/movies/content/movies/stories/2007/06/0622garciacolumn.html, retrieved February 14, 2010
- ^ Crossman, Kevin (April 19, 2011), "Paul Rudd Interview", The Frat Pack Tribute, http://the-frat-pack.com/2011/04/19/paul-rudd-intervew/, retrieved June 10, 2011
- ^ Moviefone's Unscripted with the stars of Tropic Thunder, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v7f44irTVU, retrieved June 14 2011
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053810/
[edit] External links
- The Frat Pack Tribute, a website detailing recent information and news about the Frat Pack
- Boys' Own Stories from Sight and Sound magazine, tracing the history of the Frat Pack
