Anyone who still thinks of Ed Helms as just a comic actor — he played Andy on “The Office,” Stu in the “Hangover” trilogy, and Rusty Griswold in the “Vacation” reboot — probably hasn’t seen his serio-comic side, as Tim in “Cedar Rapids” and Pat in “Jeff, Who Lives at Home.” They definitely haven’t caught his straight dramatic turn as Joe Gargan in “Chappaquiddick.” Helms has shown that he’s a versatile actor who can handle any sort of role thrown his way and, by the way, plays both a pretty hot banjo and guitar in his bluegrass group The Lonesome Trio.
Helms again hits the right mix of funny and serious (but mostly funny) in the new comedy “Tag,” in which he co-stars as Hoagie, one of five longtime pals who keep their friendship alive by getting together every year for a month of playing an over-the-top game of tag. Helms, 44, spoke about the film and his musical sideline by phone from Los Angeles.
Q: I have a confession. I went to see “Tag” with some apprehension that it was going to be a one-note joke. It turns out that it’s silly and funny, but it also has a real warmth about these guys’ feelings of love and friendship toward each other.
A: I’m really touched by your response because that’s exactly what we set out to do. The appeal of the movie to me was what you’re describing. I think it’s kind of a Trojan horse. It looks like this big, silly, ridiculous movie, but then it actually is kind of a poignant story about these middle-aged guys finding a way to stay connected, to keep each other in their lives. It’s hard as adults to maintain old friendships, but these guys have found a way to do it that’s juvenile and ridiculous and utterly joyful.
Q. Did you have any of the trepidation I felt when you first heard the plot?
A. Yes, I will say that just the premise scared me a little bit. But then I read the Wall Street Journal article about the real guys and I watched the ESPN package about them. The fact that this is a true story is mind-blowing, and the more you learn about those guys, the more you love them. Reading the script, I realized that it’s about so much more than just a simple game or adults acting childish. But that’s what hooks you in, and I love that stuff as much as anybody, but I’m at a point now where it’s important to me that there’s a little something extra going on in a movie. You know, where we are culturally right now in the world, it just feels so important to be putting positive energy out there, and to be celebrating friendship and love and empathy and all these things that seem to be taking a back seat right now.
Q: You guys do a lot of running and dodging, and you take a lot of falls in the film. Did you have specific training for that?
A: (Laughs) No! It’s a very physical movie and part of what’s funny about it is we are too old to be doing a lot of the stuff we’re doing in it.
Q: Were there any injuries?
A: Well, Jeremy Renner broke both arms on the third day of shooting. So, it was action star comes to hang out on a comedy set and gets injured. Apparently, we’re a little too intense for him. (Laughs) I only had some bumps and bruises and sore joints.
Q: You really nailed the role of Joe Gargan in “Chappaquiddick.” Is there a whole different approach for you between comic acting and dramatic acting?
A: Well, thank you for saying that, but no, I don’t really approach it any differently. I kind of come at everything from a character standpoint — trying to understand what makes a character kick. Whether it’s comedy or drama, it’s just about sort of committing to a point of view.
Q: One quick non-acting question: How’s the band doing?
A: You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about the band because it’s sort of my “Tag” in my own life. Jake and Ian, the other two guys in it, are my best friends in the world. I’ve known them since I was 17, and we are always finding ways to be together and play music, which is really just an excuse to hang out ... and drink whisky and goof off. The Lonesome Trio is doing great in that we are still best buds and we still get together and hang out and play music all the time. But I can’t say that there’s anything like a new album in the works.
“Tag” opens on June 15.
— Ed Symkus writes about movies for More Content Now. He can be reached at esymkus@rcn.com.
Ed Helms is both funny and serious in ‘Tag’
