It’s OK, It’s Still Me…Joe! [Canon]

OK Revelers, Pop Quiz Time!

Q:  How many types of comic actors do I think there are?

Q:  What type of comic actor have I not yet discussed in a post?

Answers and more, after the jump!

If you answered three and comic actors that are in and of themselves funny, give yourself an A!

Joe Jonas is funny.  He is inherently funny; he simply has that spark that makes him hilarious, whether what he’s doing is funny or not.  We long-time JB fans are no strangers to the eclectic, rapid-firing wit of Joe Jonas.  We have logged much giggling time in front of grainy YouTube videos.  So naturally, I was certain that we would be awash in Joe-zaniness once JONAS premiered.  However, I was wrong about the amounts of zaniness, at least in the four episodes we’ve seen thus far.  Joe is a laugh-riot, don’t get me wrong.  However, what impresses me most about Joe’s unique contribution to JONAS is how versatile he is proving to be.  The writers and directors of JONAS are using Joe in many different ways, and no matter what need they want Joe to fill, he is coming through aces.

It should be noted that the episode “Keeping It Real” – while likely the first episode filmed – is the fourth episode to be aired.  This is interesting because, in my opinion, “Keeping it Real” shows the most instances of the Joe that I had assumed we would see:  crazy, silly, using his expressive face often, just this side of over the top.  Had I seen “Keeping it Real” first, I would have noted Joe’s acting through the subsequent episodes, but I might not have been as impressed with the differences.  Seeing where he came from (“Keeping it Real”), after seeing where he went (“Wrong Song,” “Groovy Movies,” and “Slice of Life,”) gave me a unique opportunity to  witness the progression of Joe’s acting skill.  Joe went into JONAS a comedian; he has been a comedian all of his life.  However, he is growing into a fine comic actor – one with skills that may be utilized in whatever capacity the JONAS ensemble needs him to fulfill.

“The Wrong Song” gives us a comparatively laid-back Joe.  Many of his reactions are underplayed, for instance when he finds Nick getting ready to see Penny perform in the club:

Joe:  Are you still trying to find an outfit to wear to your girlfriend’s show tonight?

Nick:  She’s not my girlfriend.

Kevin:  You’re obviously crazy about this girl.

Joe:  And a little bit nervous about whether she likes you, too.

Nick:  I’m not nervous.

Joe:  Oh, really?  (Gestures at Nick’s mismatching shoes)

Joe’s interpretation of “Oh, really?” and accompanying gesture is the epitome of underplayed.  Just the right amount of skepticism in the voice, a hint of a raised eyebrow, and then he points with perfect timing – it’s nothing short of beautifully done.

Joe also shows impressive restraint during the scene when Nick finally confesses that he fell hard and fast for Penny.

Kevin:  Nick, what’s going on?

Nick:  Nothing.

Joe:  C’mon, it’s us.

Nick:  You’re just gonna make fun of me.

Kevin:  We’re your brothers.

Joe:   We’re gonna make fun of you no matter what it is.

Joe’s delivery of his punch line couldn’t be more perfect.  He is simply stating fact.  The humor is left for the audience to discover, not indicated by Joe.  He shows the confidence of a professional:  to wait for the audience to catch on to the joke rather than hit them over the head with it.

However, lest we worry that Joe is being denied his turn at the slapstick, he has some funny physical comedy in the club scene.

Joe:  Uh oh.  I think I put the Stell-Cro jeans on inside out.

Kevin:  How do you know?

Joe:  Just a feeling.

His take on that last line is classic Joe, and classically funny.  In addition, his whacking of Jimmy with the chair is a hoot.

The second episode to air, “Groovy Movies,” is practically a tour de force for Joe – he has so many varied and wonderful moments.  There is the stellar crying bit when they are watching the home movies:

Nick:  Are you crying?

Joe:  What?  No.  I’m…a bug flew in my eye.

That line is an absolutely wonderful moment of less is more.  Overplayed, that bit would not have been funny.  Underplayed, it would have been missed.  But this is Joe, fine actor that he is becoming, playing it so well that we’re laughing.

Another delightful bit is during the filming of the Christmas morning reenactment:

Kevin:  Cut!  Cut, cut!  It’s just, something doesn’t feel right.  You’re playing too good, and you need to dance like you need to go to the bathroom.

Joe:  But I don’t have to go to the bathroom.

Joe:  OK, I really gotta go now, do this!

Just watch Joe’s facial expressions during the dance on his knees and try not to laugh, I dare you.  But for all that, what Joe is doing is a study in economy of movement and moment.  Nothing is wasted or overdone.  He is, you should excuse the expression, fluid in his playing of this scene.

Joe is also stellar during the reenactment of Stella’s spilling the eggnog.  Here we have Joe as movie director, calling the shots:

Joe:  All right, let’s do this people.  Lights!  Snow!  Stella!

Joe is in mad creative genius mode here, even going so far as to command one of his flunkies (namely Nick) to make a pitch and try to guilt-trip Stella into complying.

But here again, Joe never steps over the line of overplaying.  His energy is in keeping with the other actors, and he never steals focus.  For someone like Joe, who has the kind of presence and charisma that make him a powerful, watchable front man, blending into an ensemble is not easy.  That Joe is managing to do so with such panache and genuinely decent acting chops is impressive, exciting, and bodes very well for Joe’s future sideline career choice.

What is probably my favorite instance of Joe-ness in “Groovy Movies” comes during the frenetic search for the missing video camera.  Shots of people frantically searching are cut with shots of Joe mugging for the Polaroid.

This is a great example of how Joe is funny, even when doing nothing.

Third in the episode line-up is “Slice of Life.”  Herein the writers made use of Joe to enliven some of the “old chestnut” jokes that the scrip contained.

Such as when Kevin reads what the guys think is the Jonas Book of Law, but is not:

Kevin:  It was a dark and stormy night.  Fireball the pony was lost inside of Box Canyon…This is the wrong book.

Joe:  What happens to the pony?

Or when Nick interrogates Joe about why he is all dressed up:

Nick:  Pizza coupons.  Care to explain these?

Joe:  Certainly.  You present these when you pay for your pizza and you get a discount.  It’s actually really cool…

Nick: I know what they are!

And again, when the guys agree that they all should date Maria:

Nick:  And may the best man impress her the best.

Kevin:  Absolutely.

Joe:  You’re right.  Well I’m gonna run to the door now.

We see these bits coming from a mile away, but because Joe manages to breathe life into them, we laugh.

Finally, we come to “Keeping it Real” which is the fourth episode.  Watching this show what I noticed was how frenetic Joe’s energy was and how broad many of his facial expressions were when compared to the earlier (or rather later) episodes.

To wit, some of the Many Faces of Joe Jonas:

I loved Joe in “Keeping it Real.”  He is hilarious, naturally.  But clearly, the directors and Joe have been working on how much expression and energy is needed to serve the needs of the comedy in a given scene.  And just as clearly, Joe is taking this opportunity to hone his skills seriously, and is learning and growing as a comic actor.  I have so much respect for what he has already accomplished in just four episodes, that I can’t wait to see what he has to show me next.

Some more favorite Joe-ments:

“My stomach’s growlin’ for love!”

“Apparently, a colander is some kind of bowl with holes in it.”

“The phone is absolutely way, way ringing!”

[Awww.  I love me some Joe, don’t you?]