Spoiler alert: it’s not much.

July 31, 2015 7:36 AM

"When someone like Chris Pratt lands back-to-back roles in some of the biggest movies of the year, that’s headline news. But when a charismatic, quirky actress like Judy Greer does the same, well, blink and you might miss her. The comedic actress—best known for her scene-stealing work in shows like Arrested Development and movies like The Descendants—showed up in four major 2015 films: Tomorrowland, Entourage, Jurassic World, and Ant-Man." Here’s Every Single Line Judy Greer Had in a Movie This Summer.
posted by everybody had matching towels (55 comments total)

Everything Judy Greer is in is made better by her presence, even if she has just one line.

That said, she could easily carry a movie on her own.
posted by tempestuoso at 7:46 AM on July 31, 2015 [7 favorites]

I have a major crush on Judy Greer. She does do a lot of stuff, but yeah, she needs more presence in those things.
posted by Naberius at 7:47 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

The only real solution to this is to put Judy Greer in everything.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:48 AM on July 31, 2015 [6 favorites]

Does she do her own stunts?
posted by sammyo at 7:48 AM on July 31, 2015

10 Things to Watch and Read Because You Need More Judy Greer
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 7:49 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

Tell me you wouldn't be running to the movie theater right now if Mission Impossible starred Judy Greer. You can't. And if you can, you're terrible person the world doesn't need.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:50 AM on July 31, 2015 [19 favorites]

Oh that was snarky, but is it reflection on the scumbag film industry or the unfortunately effective film industry analysis of the practical economics of society? Or can we just blame the economists?
posted by sammyo at 7:51 AM on July 31, 2015

Her performance also totally makes Cheryl on Archer. Great example of an actress who is horribly underused in film.
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:51 AM on July 31, 2015 [15 favorites]

Jawbreaker was a very underrated movie, and she made that film so good.
posted by numaner at 7:53 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

Brandon Blatcher: "Tell me you wouldn't be running to the movie theater right now if Mission Impossible starred Judy Greer. You can't. And if you can, you're terrible person the world doesn't need."

Yikes! I don't recognise her name, don't recognise her face, don't know anything she's done. The snippets in the article aren't going to make me run for anything; who is she and why does she rock?
posted by barnacles at 7:57 AM on July 31, 2015

Someone pointed out that Jurassic World would have been a much more well-written movie if Judy Greer and Bryce Dallas Howard's roles were conflated into a single character. A corporate mom awkwardly trying to reconnect with her kids during her divorce with a vacation at the theme park she runs (while dealing with the handsome employee she had a post-separation thing with) and then having to go full Mama Bear on some dinosaurs would have been so much better than... well, that whole movie really.
posted by mightygodking at 7:58 AM on July 31, 2015 [29 favorites]

Tell me you wouldn't be running to the movie theater right now if Mission Impossible starred Judy Greer.

I mean, yes, obviously, I would. But honestly, and more to the implicit point of the article, I think, I'd be going to see a lot more movies in general if women had more roles all around. It seems like most movies I see exist in worlds that are 85 - 90% male.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:00 AM on July 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

I actually only knew her from Arrested Development (and one episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) but she pretty much stole every scene she was in - no mean feat on AD - so I'd totally watch a film with her as the lead.
posted by billiebee at 8:03 AM on July 31, 2015 [4 favorites]

The snippets in the article aren't going to make me run for anything; who is she and why does she rock?

I like her because she had a certain presence and versatile. It's hard to believe she plays such crazy characters in Archer and Arrested Development and then switches to a more mom like role for Ant-Man, while always bringing a certain something that makes watching her enjoyable.

She's had supporting roles in various rom-coms that have also been fun. Would love to see her take on a meatier role
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:04 AM on July 31, 2015

Her sense of comedic timing and deadpan snarkiness is amazing. She should totally be a lead instead of "funny best friend" for vapid rom-coms.
posted by vuron at 8:05 AM on July 31, 2015 [4 favorites]

Greer seems like a really good actor but probably is a bit too much of a "character" for today's movie scene. She's been in a staggering number of movies, but has been typecast as "the redheaded sidekick" for a while. I've seen her in a lot of things, including the unfortunate Sarah Chalke / Jason Biggs sitcom "Big Love" that she was one of the brighter spots in. There's a sort of dynamic to an acting career where you don't really plan it out, it mostly happens, but when you are "the redheaded sidekick" in as many things as Judy Greer has been in, you're kind of stuck there. That's usually not fair to a very talented actor, but Hollywood is very much not fair. It likes to put generic pretty people in leading roles.

Between Greer's looks (she's good-looking but not generically pretty) and her comic timing, she should probably have been the lead in a quirky indie flick by this point, but the stars just haven't aligned yet.
posted by graymouser at 8:09 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

I will always applaud Judy Greer getting paid, and I'm sure that the Jurassic World payday was not shabby in the slightest, but holy shit what a disappointment. The words "Jurassic Park with Judy fucking Greer" were what put my ass in that theater seat. I wish that someone had given me a "she's only in the movie for about two minutes, as a sad mom getting a divorce" heads-up ahead of time, so that I could have skipped that piece of shit entirely.

Still, I am legit happy that she got that check. She deserves so much more.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 8:12 AM on July 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

I wish that someone had given me a "she's only in the movie for about two minutes, as a sad mom getting a divorce" heads-up

Similarly, I wish somebody had given me a heads-up that her role in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was not as a human, but as a sad CGI ape-mom who dies after only being in the movie for ~5 minutes and has no spoken lines. I suspect that part of her story line may have been edited out, but there was literally nothing for her to do and she was completely invisible except for a little bit of mocap. But I guess a check is a check.
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:21 AM on July 31, 2015

She actually managed to make the episodes she was in of Two and a Half Men almost funny.
That alone proves she's a comedic goddess.
posted by signal at 8:23 AM on July 31, 2015

When asked why Judy Greer was almost completely cut from Tomorrowland, director Brad Bird replied, "I wish there were something I could have done, but I'm just one man—one massively influential, powerful, A-list director of a man. I vaguely hope to work with her again"
posted by Lorin at 8:25 AM on July 31, 2015 [30 favorites]

Between Greer's looks (she's good-looking but not generically pretty)

Get your eyes checked, son
posted by clockzero at 8:27 AM on July 31, 2015 [9 favorites]

It likes to put generic pretty people in leading roles.

But there's more to it than that. While this is one angle on the problem, it's not the only one. It also like to put men in leading roles rather than women, and for any female roles to be played by young, sexually attractive actresses. There is a dreadfully obvious sexism problem.

We can't really predict what would be different with Judy Greer's career if the world really viewed women as interesting, fully realized people. But we would have more characters with more lines that an actress like her would be perfect for.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:27 AM on July 31, 2015 [4 favorites]

I do appreciate that Greer has a sense of humour about her continued career as a bridesmaid and never a bride. This reminds me I should put her book about her career on hold at my local library. I bet it's awesome.
posted by Kitteh at 8:30 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

I'm confused as to why a lead actor is being compared to a character actor? Won't a better comparison be Chris Pratt and Melissa McCarthy?
posted by I-baLL at 8:30 AM on July 31, 2015 [6 favorites]

I was just baffled by her role in Ant-Man. She's an amazing comedic actor, appearing in a comedy, and...she plays a mother with no funny lines. I went in not knowing she was in the movie, squealed happily when I saw her on screen, then left confused that she was completely wasted.
posted by Eddie Mars at 8:34 AM on July 31, 2015

I'm confused as to why a lead actor is being compared to a character actor?

The comparison is a little odd, but the larger point the article makes is about talented actresses who don't get many roles. So just, uh, roll with it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:37 AM on July 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

Was she attached to Ant-Man while Edgar Wright was still the director for the project? Because that could explain a lot as to why she was underutilized.

Too bad we never got that version of Ant-man
posted by vuron at 8:38 AM on July 31, 2015

I sometimes fantasize about a remake of Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion starring Judy Greer and Parker Posey.
posted by mhum at 8:39 AM on July 31, 2015 [16 favorites]

I'm not sure reality could deal with awesomeness of a Parker Posey-Judy Greer movie
posted by vuron at 8:41 AM on July 31, 2015 [4 favorites]

I AM WILLING TO GIVE IT A SHOT
posted by angeline at 8:42 AM on July 31, 2015 [14 favorites]

I'm confused as to why a lead actor is being compared to a character actor? Won't a better comparison be Chris Pratt and Melissa McCarthy?


I think it works because those categorizations are more meaningless now than ever. Both Chris Pratt and Melissa McCarthy were slotted as character actors for years until recently
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:43 AM on July 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

NPR's Linda Holmes had a great joke on Twitter:

Not sure how many people would get my "starring LeBron James as Judy Greer" TRAINWRECK joke.

So I guess without that casting she could have had five roles this year?
posted by fedward at 8:45 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

I was just baffled by her role in Ant-Man. She's an amazing comedic actor, appearing in a comedy, and...she plays a mother with no funny lines. I went in not knowing she was in the movie, squealed happily when I saw her on screen, then left confused that she was completely wasted.

What should have happened: merge Bobby Cannavale's role in that movie with hers. She's still Scott's ex-wife, but she's also a cop, so that makes the tension between them greater (she has to bust her ex?). Also she gets to point a gun at Yellowjacket.
posted by mightygodking at 8:45 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

If you love her and have not seen Married, you must correct that. The second season just started up and you also get Jenny Slate - WIN.
posted by soelo at 8:46 AM on July 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

She's on a pretty good show right now called Married that, despite having a world weary view of love and relationships, still often falls into the wacky/funny dad, serious mom trap. Except when it doesn't and is great.
posted by humans are superior! at 8:46 AM on July 31, 2015

Is it just me or does she look almost exactly like Joan Cusack? Maybe I'll try my hand at screenwriting and I'll write a movie with her and Joan Cusack as leads. I'll call it "Mass Confusion". It'll be a scifi comedy about 2 physicists who discover a weird crystal whose mass does not match its composition. And the antagonists will be a local drug gang who misunderstand the term "crystal mass." Yes, I'm a hack.
posted by I-baLL at 8:53 AM on July 31, 2015 [6 favorites]

Tell me you wouldn't be running to the movie theater right now if Mission Impossible starred Judy Greer.

you're not my supervisor!
posted by The Whelk at 8:53 AM on July 31, 2015 [11 favorites]

Hell she even made those shitty T-Mobile commercials slightly better.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:53 AM on July 31, 2015

I do think this article is a bit of a stretch, even if the larger point stands.

It's not exactly the same but it reminds me of the great documentary, 20 Feet From Stardom. You have these enormously talented musicians who are backup singers to the biggest musicians in the world. Some of them are completely fine with this--they have steady work without the pressure of stardom. But some have tried to break through and they just can't do it.

But I haven't read Greer's book so I don't know how she feels about being a character actor.
posted by girlmightlive at 8:57 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

Buncha Judy-come-lately fans in this thread. I've been a fan of hers since she played Deadly Girl in The Specials.
posted by The Tensor at 9:02 AM on July 31, 2015 [1 favorite]

Greer seems like a really good actor but probably is a bit too much of a "character" for today's movie scene. She's been in a staggering number of movies, but has been typecast as "the redheaded sidekick" for a while.

It's not too much to hope that that could change though. Steve Buscemi was everyone's favourite rat-eyed shifty guy, then Boardwalk Empire happened. Greer does need to get a role in the next Cohen Bros. film. If they're smart, they'll look for her.
posted by bonehead at 9:03 AM on July 31, 2015 [6 favorites]

A recent interview with her on Grantland finished with this bit about her most famous line on Arrested Development, which cemented her in my heart forever:

Sometimes I can’t resist saying it to my husband. Like, we’re getting dressed in the bedroom together and I’m putting my shirt on. I’ll be like, “Hey, babe, say goodbye to these,” and then put my shirt on. I’m sorry that you even have to hear that.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 9:13 AM on July 31, 2015 [23 favorites]

Judy Greer racks up so many of these roles ... She must be particularly skilled at the art/craft of the audition process. Making connections, instant chemistry, showing energy/effort, etc.

I've heard actors recognize this as a skillset that doesn't have a 1:1 correspondence to the broader, overall acting craft. You can be good at one but not the other.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:23 AM on July 31, 2015

She must be particularly skilled at the art/craft of the audition process. Making connections, instant chemistry, showing energy/effort, etc.

Or, she may simply be very talented, a proven commodity, not a source of conflict on-set, bright, a quick study, or any of a combo another many things. Probably any single one of which would have her on many casting director's short lists.
posted by maxwelton at 9:51 AM on July 31, 2015 [3 favorites]

Greer's Cheryl on her Fireman Fantasy from Archer (NSFW audio)
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:59 AM on July 31, 2015

Judy Greer managed to transform the character of Cheryl/Carol/Krystaaaaaal into one of the highlights of "Archer", and that's another case of "no mean feat" when you consider the amount of talent that show has on its bench. She should be a lot more famous than she is. And for any given movie that she's been cast in, the answer to the question "Did they give Judy Greer enough to do" is always "No!"
posted by Ipsifendus at 9:59 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

You know she had to get the roles first, before she became a "proven commodity," right?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:10 AM on July 31, 2015

I only ever knew her from Archer, which is more than enough to tell me she is really good. Nearly everyone on that show is, really, but still. OUTLAW COUNTRY!
posted by Hoopo at 10:17 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

Greer will be starring in Addicted to Fresno, which will be out on video in September and have a limited theatrical release in October.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:22 AM on July 31, 2015

I think it is probably that she is both extremely talented in acting as well as being really good at all the meta stuff about acting (networking, be personable, easy to work with). Her FX show Married and her book about being a character actor were heavily featured in this Bullseye interview.
posted by mmascolino at 10:27 AM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

I'm actually trying to forget that she was in Jurassic World, and I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear you say she was in Entourage.
posted by kanewai at 10:32 AM on July 31, 2015

Psst...want to see her in a starring role in a short film based on the Chick tract (religious pamphlet) about the dangers to your mortal soul posed by Mardi Gras? Of course you do! (Bonus: French Stewart) (I did the production design)
posted by sexyrobot at 10:36 AM on July 31, 2015 [8 favorites]

Few lines means more $$$/word, no?
posted by blue_beetle at 10:55 AM on July 31, 2015

Some advice from Greer to women in their 20's.
posted by el io at 9:53 PM on July 31, 2015 [2 favorites]

She is so funny. I recommend listening to the Bullseye interview that mmascolino mentioned above.
posted by radioamy at 9:46 PM on August 1, 2015