Steve Carellis one of the most prolific comedic actors of his generation. His talent spans both TV and movies, playing the lead character in the American adaptation ofThe Officewhile also holding iconic roles in films likeThe 40-Year-Old VersionandCrazy, Stupid, Love. He is also the voice of the mischievous but loving foster father, Gru, in theDespicable Mefranchise. Even as a voice-only role, it has still become one of the actor’s defining works.
In recent years, Carell has been taking on more and more supporting roles in his live-action work. Apart from theDespicable Memovies, one of his most recent credits isIF, a live-action and CGI hybrid film wherein he voices an imaginary creature named Blue. He was also part of theensemble forAsteroid City, Wes Anderson’s 2023 film, but he did not have a lead role. Now,Carell is back to playing a protagonist in a new movie on HBO Max, and it bears some similarity to one of his notable past roles.
Both Depict Rich People In A Satirical Way
Carell plays one of the lead roles in the recently released streaming filmMountainhead. The drama is about a group of four tech bro friends who reunite in a secluded mountain mansion during a state of economic turmoil. It is directed by Jesse Armstrong, the creator ofSuccession.In addition to Carell, theMountainheadcastincludes Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef, and Cory Michael Smith. Carell plays Randall in the film.
Randall is the oldest member of the tech billionaire group at the heart ofMountainhead, and it is hard not to think ofThe Big Shortwhen watching it. Carell played Mark Baum in the2015 Adam McKay movie, who admittedly worked in a slightly different field than Randall. Rather than tech work,The Big Shortfocused on finance bros. While these are different universes, both films employ a similar satirical style and put wealthy people in their crosshairs, skewering their personalities and antics.
A Little Over A Decade Ago, Carell Started Getting More Serious
WithMountainhead,Carell continues to work on higher-caliber projectsthan what he was used to in the earlier part of his career. Whereas he had previously focused onThe Officeand goofy movies likeAnchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Carell’s career took a shift in 2014 when he gave a chilling performance as John du Pont in the movieFoxcatcher.This wound up getting Carell a nomination forBest Actor at the Oscars, elevating his status as an actor and showing off a different side of his acting.
The Big Shortwas, in some ways, a continuation of this career trend for Carell. While it was not a dramatic role, as the movie had ample satirical comedy elements,The Big Shortwas a way for the actor to continue work in more prestigious moviesand other content outside his more typical sitcom appearances. This trend has continued through the release of movies likeBattle of the SexesandWelcome to Marwen. Made by an Emmy-winningSuccessioncreative,Mountainheadis another great way to see Carell continue on this career path.
It’s Been A Good Time For Steve Carell On Streaming Recently
He Was In A Netflix Show Recently
Mountainheadcomes at a particularly good time for Carell on streaming services. This year, he also played a role in the Netflix romantic comedyThe Four Seasons, and, just a few years back, he was on Hulu’sThe Patient.The Four Seasonsreceived decent reviews upon its release, getting a 77% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and a second season renewal.Mountainheadhas split audiences and critics, but is also skewing positive on the latter side.This movie has now continued to show Carell’s capabilitiesin high-caliber content, as well as his propensity to be a streaming star.
