asdfasdf wrote:
The more I watch this guy, the more impressed I am with his skills and range. I caught parts of Little Nicky and Grown Ups this weekend on tv and was just blown away. It's so hard to believe it's the same guy who is also able to play characters like Happy Gilmore and Bobby Boucher - WOW
Definitely not the best actor of this generation, but I do think that he is (perhaps unfairly) underestimated because of his early, goofy roles. I mean, Billy Madison/Waterboy/Happy Gilmore are basically the same character in different situations. It's fair to see why he's underestimated when his first dozen staring roles are all fairly similar characters.
He started showing his range as a producer and writer in the late 90s and then with his acting in Punch Drunk Love (2002). He still hasn't wavered too far, but far enough to take him out of the ranks of a Chris Farley/David Spade/Martin Lawrence type of category where their range is 100% limited to basically playing the same character over and over again.