What is “The Frat Pack” and Who Are They?
Have you ever wondered how come Vince Vaughn keeps on appearing in Ben Stiller flicks, or how the Wilson brothers always end up landing small roles in each other’s films? That’s because all four of them belong in a group called “The Frat Pack”, together with Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd and Jack Black. They’re a group of comedians who keep on appearing in films that they have written, produced or directed. They are the funny faces behind some of the most hilarious movies of all time.
So why are they called The Frat Pack? These guys are the kings of witty comedy, and since there’s a trail of nicknames left in the entertainment industry left by legends, they decided to name themselves how legendary comedic acts would. It all started with “The Rat Pack”, a nickname given to a group of popular entertainers who made our grannies swoon in the mid-50’s and mid-60’s. And then “The Brat Pack” followed, a group of young Hollywood actors in the 80’s which included Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore and Judd Nelson among a few others whose careers are all pretty much non-existent. Their name was also derived from the movie Old School, which of course, most of them starred in. “The Frat Pack” also works closely with Team Apatow, where Knocked-Up star s Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen and Suparbad’s Jonah Hill are key players.
Here are some of the Frat Pack classics that you’ll sure be familiar with:
1. The 40 Year-Old Virgin
This movie definitely proved Steve Carell’s comedic valor. The movie follows Andy Stitzer, a middle-aged virgin geek who works in an electronics store. His co-workers are all determined to help him become a man when he found love on a woman who works for an eBay store nearby. Not only was the chest hair wax scene grossly epic, but the characters are extremely funny. Mindy Kaling, who plays the Indian blabbermouth Kelly Kapoor in Carell’s hit TV series The Office is also featured in the flick as Paul Rudd’s ex.
2. Old School
I can only think of two words when describing this movie: comedy gold. Hailed as probably the funniest frat pack movie ever, the movie is about three men who wish to recapture their college days. Mitch, Frank and Beanie (Luke Wilson, Ferrell and Vaughn) tried to start their own fraternity with a group of not so ecstatic college kids in order to have a frat house. Snoop Dogg appeared in a scene, but it didn’t overpower the vicious hilarity that Frank the Tank showed in the movie. A sequel is already on the works.
3. Zoolander
Derek Zoolander’s (Stiller) Magnum look is one of the most unforgettable faces in Hollywood comedy. The satirical representation of the fashion and modeling industry in this film leaves no room for seriousness and a whole lotta space for laughter. Owen Wilson plays Hansel, Derek Zoolander’s modeling competition who became his ally against the evil fashion designer Mugatu, played by will Ferrell. Ben Stiller’s dad Jerry and wife Christine Taylor both appear in the movie, as well as cameos by John Voight, Billy Zane, Christian Slater and Donald Trump.
4. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is San Diego’s famous news anchor in the male-dominated broadcast media of the 70’s, then came a witty, confident, and determined female newswoman Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) who’s willing to fight to the death just to prove her place in the newsroom. Burgundy and his entourage of newsmen Brian Fantana, weatherman Brick Tamland and sports guy Champ “Whammy” Kind (Rudd, Carrell, Koechner) do their best to kick Corningstone away from her seat in front of the camera, until Ron falls deeply in love with her. While on their way to get new suits, they encounter other news teams such as the Spanish News Network led by Ben Stiller, the Primetime news team of Luke Wilson and Vince Vaughn’s channel 6 team. They all engage in an entertaining brawl to the gut where prosthetic arms were pulled off and horses running around. Jack Black was also featured as a furious biker who Ron accidentally threw a burrito at. He then gets mad and kicked Ron’s beloved pooch off the bridge.
With Frat Pack future comedy legends Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder coming up, it is sure that these boys won’t be taking a rest from making the whole world laugh for a little while.
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