I Didn't Think Of That: The Other Local Actor

So far, a lot of the things that I have written for this blog have been editorial. There really hasn’t been a lot of feedback and what not about anything related to Boston movies or shows, so what I decided to do was take a little trip into Boston and ask around really about anything. To me, it’s a good way to pick up an identity in Boston and see what the locals think of their own movies.

Now, one of the things I always enjoy asking involved the top five actors for people. I asked it before when I interviewed Tim Cochran, but I feel like a question like that really helps to show someone’s tastes in movies and what they value in movies and what not. One of the first people I talked to in Boston, a really cool guy named Jim, was the epitome of this.   

Jim: Top five? Well, there’s Jason Segal

Casey: Wait, seriously?

J: I mean he’s not my favorite. It’s my top five. Yeah, so Segal, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlie Day,                   Ben Stiller, and…Liam Neeson.

C: Okay, so did you ever hear of the Top Five Actors of all time from “Shit Massholes Say?” It’s on                   YouTube.

J: Oh shit was that what you were looking for?

C: No no you could answer however you wanted it’s fine. Really quickly though, do you live in                      Boston?

J: Nah, I’m from Haverhill.

C: Oh, see it’s fine then you don’t count.

So there were a few interviews that ended up getting shot way into left field, but I found out really quickly throughout this interviewing process that it was a great idea because, as it turns out, we had missed a local actor that everyone seemed to like: Adam Sandler.

Emily: Adam Sandler, Bradley Cooper, Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, Wentworth Miller from                                      Prison Break.

Casey: You think he’s cute don’t you.

Emily: Maybe (laughs)

There was also this interview with a guy named Mike.

Mike: Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Charlie Murphy, Donald Glover, and can I put in Mila Kunis?

Casey: Can’t think of anyone else?

M: I mean I guess Mike Myers.                                                                                                                                                                      Usually, when we talk about Boston actors, it's about guys like Mark Wahlberg (who showed up in a few lists), Matt Damon, etc. Sandler, who lived in Manchester, New Hampshire, is a local actor known best for his comedies such as The Waterboy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Big Daddy, and Happy Gilmore. What makes him fly under the radar as a local actor though? 

Mike: I mean, he was originally from New York, so even though he grew up around Boston, he                    kind of has that against him a little bit. It's cool to see all the references to where he's from in all                    his movies. You know like the Bruins jersey in Happy Gilmore, UNH and other local college                   apparel he wore in Grown Ups. Can't say I'm a fan all the jokes he makes against the Red Sox in                 Anger Management, but it is what it is.                                                                                                       
So if you want to learn about people in Boston and talk about what makes Boston Boston, just go out and roam the streets. You'll never know what you're going to find out, like how when you talk about actors from New England, don't ever forget about Adam Sandler