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Frat Pack

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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, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, and Steve Carell.

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]

Membership

Owen Wilson (left) and Ben Stiller (right) with Amy Adams in May 2009 promoting Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

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] Carell claimed membership when hosting Saturday Night Live. Though he did not use the term "Frat Pack," he did say he was "one of those guys now" and specifically referenced Stiller, Vaughn, Ferrell, Owen Wilson, and Black.

A year before citing Carell as a member, USA Today tagged him, in addition to Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Leslie Mann, as the Frat Pack's "Junior Varsity."[13]

In 2005 Details Magazine cited Judd Apatow, Adam McKay and Todd Phillips as "The Frat Packagers", while Paul Rudd was cited as a Frat Pack member in the New York Post, among other publications.[14][15] In an interview with The Advocate, when questioned if Knocked Up will officially welcome him into the Frat Pack, Rudd speculated that he is a "pledge" that hasn't "been initiated yet into the brotherhood." In an interview by Moviefone, Jack Black stated that Robert Downey, Jr. (a notable member of the Brat Pack) was now a member of the Frat Pack. However, this has not been publicly discussed outside of the interview.

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).

Filmography

Although all Frat Pack members 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. 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 cast Lead role Andy Dick, Kyle Gass
Permanent Midnight
(1998) 		Lead role Supporting cast Andy Dick
Heat Vision and Jack
(unaired pilot) (1999) 		Lead role Director, minor role Lead role, voice Christine Taylor
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 cast Todd Phillips (director), Jason Bateman, Matt Walsh, Snoop Dogg
Envy
(2004) 		Lead role Lead role Amy Poehler
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
(2004) 		Lead role, producer Lead role Justin Long, Christine Taylor, Jason Bateman
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(2004) 		Minor role Minor role Minor role Supporting role Lead role, Writer, Exec. 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, Exec. 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 cast
Bewitched
(2005) 		Lead role Supporting cast
Wedding Crashers
(2005) 		Lead role Lead role Minor role
Around The World In 80 Days
(2005) 		Minor role Minor role
The Wendell Baker Story
(2005) 		Lead role, director, writer Lead role Minor role
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 cast Paul Rudd
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 cast) Christine Taylor
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
(2009) 		Lead role Supporting cast Ed Helms, Craig Robinson
Little Fockers
(2010) 		Lead role Lead role
The Big Year
(2011)[16] 		Lead Role Producer Lead role
Movie Jack Black Ben Stiller Luke Wilson Owen Wilson Vince Vaughn Will Ferrell Steve Carell Close contributors

Other films

Comedy films that involve only one primary Frat Packer in a large or prominent role, among other close contributors:

See also

References

  1. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (June 15, 2004), "Wilson and Vaughn: Leaders of the 'Frat Pack'", USA Today, retrieved February 14, 2010
  2. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (June 21, 2004), "Life in the 'Frat Pack'", Chicago Sun-Times, p. 47 {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ Randall, Laura (July 9, 2004), "Unlikely heroes of the box office: The Frat Pack", The Christian Science Monitor, retrieved February 14, 2010
  4. ^ Rich, Joshua (April 23, 2004), "The A.V. Club", Entertainment Weekly, retrieved February 14, 2010
  5. ^ Daly, Steve (April 24, 1998), "Introducing The Frat Pack", Entertainment Weekly, retrieved February 14, 2010
  6. ^ Lundergaard (July 14, 2005). "Frat Packers just get better". msnbc. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  7. ^ Kane, Michael (August 14, 2005), "The Frat Pack- How a Dozen Doofs Saved Comedy", New York Post, p. 78 {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  8. ^ Susman, Gary (August 17, 2005), "Who's the Kevin Bacon of comedy?", Entertainment Weekly, retrieved February 14, 2010
  9. ^ "Stiller tired of "Frat Pack" label". Ben Stiller dot Net. September 23, 2006. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  10. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (June 17, 2004), "These guys would be great to hang out with", USA Today, retrieved February 14, 2010
  11. ^ Johns, Ian (July 6, 2006), "Laughing all the way to the bank", The Times, London, retrieved February 14, 2010
  12. ^ "Frat Pack persona: Archetype casting". USA Today. July 13, 2006. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  13. ^ Breznican, Anthony (August 11, 2005), "Carell just wants some love", USA Today, retrieved February 14, 2010
  14. ^ Stewart, Sara (April 30, 2006), "Boys' Life - Frat Pack Back on Track this Summer", New York Post, p. 44 {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  15. ^ Garcia, Chris (June 22, 2007), "Hollywood's funny frat pack", Austin American-Statesman, retrieved February 14, 2010
  16. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053810/

External links

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