Depending on which generation you were born into, it’s likely that you would recognize Andy Samberg from either Brooklyn Nine-Nine or The Lonely Island. Whichever one it is, you’ll know him as over-the-top, energetic, and (hopefully) funny. Other notable works are Saturday Night Live, Hot Rod, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping – which all involve obviously comedic acting in the same vein. But when you’ve only seen one facet of somebody’s acting, it can be hard to judge whether they’re actually any good or not. Without the veneer of overblown comedy, can his subtler acting chops step up to the plate?

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Succeeding in comedy could be a good indicator of talent. If you ask an expert, Michael Caine for example, he would tell you “comedy is harder to do than drama,” as he did when speaking to Contact Music. So, by these standards, Samberg should shape up quite nicely in a more dramatic role. Let’s take a look at Celeste & Jesse Forever, a not-so-romantic comedy from 2012 starring Samberg and Rashida Jones as a separated couple getting a divorce. It’s still within his wheelhouse of humor, but is just more refined and nuanced than a usual Samberg showing.

Does Andy Samberg Have What It Takes for Dramatic Acting?

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Celeste & Jesse Forever is not your typical rom-com; it tells the story of a couple breaking up rather than getting together. The movie is still romantic and comedic, but in a way that subverts the tropes we’ve come to expect from the genre. There is also a brief, but amusing, wordless cameo from Chris Pine. It’s simple and subtle with a gentle synth-y soundtrack. It’s written by co-stars Jones, who plays Celeste, and Will McCormack, and directed by Lee Toland Krieger, who is also known for Age of Adaline. We follow Celeste as Jesse tells her he is going to start dating again, mostly in a bid to regain her attention. Celeste denies that this behavior affects her until it’s too late to do anything about it. So, if you’re familiar with Samberg, you might be wondering, “When is he going to sing about something inappropriate?” The answer, shockingly, is never.

Jesse’s narrative arc is similar to a coming-of-age story: he has to learn to grow up and become responsible for himself, no longer leaning on Celeste, both emotionally and financially. It’s interesting to watch as Jesse realizes he must take himself more seriously, while noticing that Samberg is in a role much more serious than his usual choices. This is not to imply that this movie had any kind of profound internal effect on Samberg, but the parallel is evidently present. Samberg takes to the role naturally, he maintains a level of his usual charm, but it is dialed back to a more naturalistic level. There is no grand posturing or melodramatic monologuing, we can just see simple changes in his demeanor throughout the movie. Overall, he does indeed have what it takes for a more serious, dramatic role, making this one look like it was nothing.

Will Andy Samberg Take On More Dramatic Roles in the Future?

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After Celeste & Jesse Forever was released in 2012, Samberg returned to the usual strongly comedic roles. Beginning his time on Brooklyn Nine-Nine in 2013 and taking on some animated movies such as Hotel Transylvania. However, more recently, in 2020, Samberg starred in the movie Palm Springs. This Groundhog Day-style movie saw a reprise of the same kind of rom-com with a more serious edge to it. Palm Springs reveals Samberg’s character Nyles to have been stuck in a time-loop situation for years when newcomer Sarah also gets roped in. He gets to flex his dramatic acting muscles while the movie explores themes of depression, monotony, and nihilism, all the while remaining charming and comedic throughout.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Samberg reveals that he enjoys “doing more serious acting.” However, unfortunately for those of us who enjoy it, he says, “I don’t really court it,” believing that he would ruin the serious indie movies he sometimes receives scripts for. With the acclaim he received for his performance in Palm Springs, maybe this attitude will change. In the same interview, co-stars Cristin Milioti and Camila Mendes praise his acting range. Milioti disagrees with his statement, saying, “I think you’re a good dramatic actor,” and Mendes adds, “He’s really sweet in this movie, I think people are going to be surprised.”

By dipping his toe into more serious acting with these two movies, Samberg has proven himself more than capable at his craft. Perhaps these roles are less interesting to him, or perhaps he truly believes he would “ruin” a serious script despite all evidence saying otherwise. But, hopefully, we will get to see more of Samberg as these kinds of characters because, with only two movies, he has barely scratched the surface of what’s possible.