For a film centered on debauchery, the set of the 2003 comedy classic “Old School” lived up to its premise. Snoop Dogg transformed his trailer into a social hub, inviting attractive extras from the film to hang out while he DJed between takes. According to Matt Singer in his new book, “Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever,” when an assistant attempted to retrieve Snoop for filming, the door was blocked by a bouncer. “There was a bouncer at the door not letting him inside,” recalled Scot Armstrong, the film’s co-writer.
The aughts saw a comedy boom driven by figures like Judd Apatow, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, and Seth Rogen, who created films that resonated with audiences. Stiller starred in four movies in 2004, each grossing over $100 million domestically. This was the era of the “Frat Pack,” a group known for their raucous humor, yet often depicted a nerdy outrageousness.
Apatow’s ambition was evident even in his youth. At age 12, he approached Steve Martin for an autograph, only to be snubbed. The rejection prompted Apatow to pen a scathing letter. “Apatow wrote him a letter chastising him for treating his fans ‘like crap’ and threatening to send his address to ‘Homes of the Stars’ if he didn’t apologize,” Singer wrote. Martin later sent Apatow a copy of his book “Cruel Shoes,” inscribed, “Dear Judd. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was speaking to the Judd Apatow! Your friend, Steve Martin.”
Apatow’s boldness would later manifest in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” Initially, Universal Pictures shut down production after two days due to concern over Steve Carell’s appearance. “The studio was horrified by endless footage of Carell riding a bicycle and walking down the street looking at posters of scantily clad women,” Singer noted. Producer Clayton Townsend confirmed the executives’ fears, asking, “He looks like a serial killer. Is he going to kill someone?”
Following an emergency meeting, Carell received a haircut and filming resumed. However, another memorable moment emerged from the shoot: the infamous chest-waxing scene. Carell allowed his chest to be waxed on camera for authenticity, a decision that nearly led to disaster. “We almost ripped Steve’s nipples off during the shoot,” Apatow later remarked, suspecting the waxer exaggerated her expertise. The waxer defended herself, citing Carell’s long chest hair as the issue. Carell’s anguished cry, “Noooooo Kelly Clarkson!” became an iconic moment, thanks to a line scripted by Rogen.
The era was not without its challenges. Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder,” released in 2008, faced a tumultuous shoot in Hawaii that lasted 13 weeks. It was plagued by constant rain, illnesses, and injuries, leading Robert Downey Jr. to dub it “Ben Stiller’s Comedy Death Camp.”
In 2009, “The Hangover” nearly faced a shutdown during filming in Las Vegas when police witnessed Ken Jeong emerging naked from a car trunk. The film's dark themes, which included “kidnappings, beatings, car crashes, roofies, tiger maulings and tasings,” propelled it to a global box office total of $469 million. Phillips turned down a $6.5 million directing fee in favor of a share of the profits, ultimately netting $70 million.
The appeal of these male-driven comedies began to wane as superhero films gained popularity, coupled with the rising ages and salaries of those involved. Apatow reflected on the genre’s lasting charm. “I look at [them] like Marx Brothers movies, [which were] comedies about these weird male friendships,” he said. The films captured a unique dynamic, exploring the absurdity of male relationships through a comedic lens.
Whether the world will see a resurgence of this type of comedy remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is the indelible mark left by these films on the cultural landscape of the aughts.
According to NY POST.
