 "Photo: Getty Images")
In "She's Out of My League," a new comedy from Jim Field Smith in his full-length directorial debut due out March 12, Jay Baruchel plays a familiar character. A nice, quiet, offbeat 20-something, Kirk Kettner becomes involved with a woman he's not used to receiving even a passing glance from. This poses a unique challenge for Kirk, but for Baruchel, it's what is becoming increasingly expected of him.
Recognized for his roles in "Knocked Up," "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" and the cult TV series "Undeclared," the Canadian-born Baruchel has made a name for himself in the U.S. as the funny, awkward dweeb, and although in many ways this archetype reflects a large part of who he is, Baruchel affirms this stigma is not an accurate portrayal of who he is outside of acting, nor is it a testament to his professional preferences and range.
"It's like I've kind of had two careers for the past 10 years," Baruchel said. "You know, for every big-budgety comedy I've made in the States, I've done a weirdo Canadian independent film. And some of those have been pretty dark, and so I don't know that my American resumé reflects all of my tastes."
It's true. Baruchel has returned to his native Canada to star in a number of films over the years - dark comedies such as "Just Buried" in 2007 and "Real Time" in 2008 are recent examples. And while the actor is known for his sidekick status stateside, his career up north has given him plenty of practice as a leading man.
"When I started when I was 12, I was the lead in two different TV shows," he said, "so if nothing else I knew what it was - at least I thought I did - to carry a movie on my shoulders. The whole time that I've had a career in the States doing supporting stuff, I've been making some pretty cool [Canadian pictures], and I've been the lead in most of those."
Signs of the two halves of his career finally merging have reared their head with "She's Out of My League," in which Baruchel shares top billing with co-star Alice Eve. The film looks to prove the actor's ability to command a feature to American audiences and potential casting managers alike, but at the same time, and with the same people, it may further ingrain his one-note image.
Director Jim Field Smith's insistence on creating something real, something directly tangible for audiences, had the actors bringing more of themselves to the parts, meaning Baruchel was left tapping that familiar vein.
"I'd like to think I'm nice, and I've spent a lot of time by myself, so in those respects, I'm similar [to the character], I guess," he said. But: "I think I'm a lot crazier than people know, and I also grew up in one of the worst neighborhoods in Montreal, so I guess that also lends something to it. So, I think I'm close enough [to Kirk], but definitely that's not me 100 percent."
Smith's passion for authenticity, for his actors to fully flesh out their roles, played a major part in every aspect of the film.
"We wanted to make it reality," co-star Nate Torrence said. "I think a great testament to what we were trying to do is our lunch scene: we all got to choose what we thought our character would eat."
In that sense, even in this career-blending opportunity, it was Baruchel's American image - not Baruchel himself in particular - that made Kirk his "perfect" fit, that set him up with a character seemingly so like himself. But it's two steps forward, one step back, and Baruchel seems more concerned with taking jobs that he will most likely enjoy than with satisfying any grand professional ambition - for now.
"If it sounds like I'm going to have fun doing it and I would pay money to see it myself, then I'll usually do it," he said. "And sometimes that's drama, sometimes that's comedy, sometimes that's a weird slasher movie; it just depends... It's just kind of awesome that what I do for a living and how I unwind on the weekend are one in the same."
"She's Out of My League" opens everywhere March 12. Jay Baruchel can also be heard as the voice of Hiccup in the upcoming "How to Train Your Dragon," due out at the end of the month.
Jacob Bohrod is a Reporter staff writer
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