The Efron Line
There are some actors who take merit in being in one particular genre of film. And by that I mean there are some who permanently stick to the classical artistic and independent roles and others who happily fart, piss and sing in comedies (Adam Sandler being one connoisseur of the latter.) A lot of people manage to slip and slide between both, finding comic relief in their work and still garnering that Oscar Nomination (although once you go gold, you don’t go back to the old. Or something of that calibre.) Zac Efron, who recently won Best Shirtless Scene at the prestigious MTV Movie Awards (yes, I know what I just said,) is one of those doesn’t so much toe the line between the bad and the good but bop bop bops over it.
The Guitly Efron Pleasures
Most people know Efron from the Disney Original Movie High School Musical and it’s subsequent sequels. First off, I must insist that I am not here to completely slag off the film because there is a part of me that loves it so much. Directed by Kenny Ortega who is better known for his video movies, High School Musical started off a phenomenon of tweeny boppers busting out pompoms from the youngest of children to the adults who hungrily scream Wildcats when someone says “what team?” Though it isn’t polished Shakespeare, it is has some hilarious moments with Efron as the floppy haired crooning hero that pairs up with the annoying Gabrielle to take over the school musical. Despite the fact that the entire trilogy recycles the same plot, Efron is the best thing about it. The songs Bet On It and Scream are true highlights of Efron’s vocal and dancing talents. Ridiculous? Yes. Cheesy? Yes. Unbelievably catchy? Hell yes.
While High School Musical was on its current reign of taking over the world alongside Hannah Montana and Amanda Byrnes before both leading ladies went a little bit insane. Efron expanded his portfolio by taking a classic musical stage character to the film: Link. Ok, so maybe not so classic, however if you don’t love a film where Zac Efron falls in love with the overweight girl without her having to change then you are wrong. I love as much as the cookies I cram down my throat. Again, Hairspray is an overblown cheesy musical feast but on the outside it looks good. Not to mention the songs are incredible. I repeat, Efron falls in love with an overweight girl all set to some toe tapping songs.
When the High School Musical and Hairspray hype died down, Efron had decided to depart from that scene and head into the world of cinema thankful for his step into fame. His departure into cinema centred on 17 Again where he played a 17 year old basketball player much like High School Musical. Ok, so it doesn’t really scream bustling serious movie career but it actually speaks volumes for Efron’s acting skills. For one, he has to play Matthew Perry who made a wish and was turned into a seventeen year old. And he is charismatic, funny and has some incredibly epic comedic timing that definitely needs to be watch. Especially when you are miserable.
The Serious Efron
His first notable serious role was Me and Orson Welles. With Christan McKay as the titular famous actor and Claire Danes, Efron stars in this wonderful Richard Linklater movie. He is Richard Samuels, a student of theatre who works alongside Welles in this compelling drama movie. It is an accessible movie that is heralded as a collection of fine acting including Efron who is astonishing as Samuels despite being over shone by McKay. Samuels is vindictive and learns to be a bit more humble and Efron layers him in a way that makes you want him on the stage (not grinding over the ropes and pulleys.)
But if we were going to talk about a complete separation from his prior career than look no further than Lee Daniels independent The Paperboy. Toeing the line, itself, between trashy cinema and serious cinema, The Paperboy proved that Efron could indeed act. After all, it takes a lot of musto to pretend that Nicole Kidman is peeing on your face. While he may play naïve really well, he also plays pain and anguish as well as endearing qualities that level with the dark ploys at play in The Paperboy. It was a notable and intelligent movie that may leave you utterly bewildered but there was no denying that Efron proved his acting mettle rises above his muscle form.
More recently, Efron showed once again that this talents exceeded expectations. In the enthralling biopic Parkland, that dramatized the event surrounded the shooting of J.F Kennedy in Dallas, he is on the roster of impeccable acting talents who play characters severely affected by the death. He stars as the Doctor entrusted with the Presidents body in hopes that his injuries were not fatal. As Dr James Carrico, when that flat lining sound echoes throughout the theatre his enraged emotions get the better of him, he ferociously attempts to resuscitate to no avail. One of the more highly charged scenes, it’s Efron that embodies the hopelessness of the situation, stealing the drama.
So Efron bounces. He probably always will. From New Years Eve to Liberal Arts, That Awkward Moment and The Lucky One. But what is more important to note is that Efron is not to be tarred with the same brush, popped in a basic and closed into a box before of one movie. He is an actor ahead of his generation, destined for longevity because his selections of films appeals to the intellectual film snobs and the general audience.
In short, the man might just be a genius.