Judd Apatow has proved himself to be one of the most consistent comedy filmmakers in Hollywood. Nearly every time he has sat in the director's chair, he's delivered gold. One of his biggest strengths is his ability to create hilarious characters and each of the six features he's directed (not counting documentaries) includes several.
The actors themselves deserve credit too, as they've given him some wonderful performances. But Apatow's direction and writing likely played a significant part as well, helping to deliver some of the most comical characters in recent movie history.
LeBron James - Trainwreck
Trainwreck is a perfect vehicle for Amy Schumer as she gets to show off her signature brand of humor within a compelling movie. That being said, the supporting players are the ones who provide most of the laughs.
LeBron James, for instance, is surprisingly hilarious. While the iconic basketball star isn't known for his acting or his comedy, he excels in playing a fictionalized version of himself in this movie. His chemistry with Bill Hader is particularly great, as the two share several humor-filled conversations about things like James' love for Cleveland and his commitment to financial responsibility.
Jill - Knocked Up
Judd Apatow's comedy about an unplanned pregnancy has some fantastic characters, but one that often gets overlooked is Kristen Bell's Jill. She works for E! and is always there when Alison is having a meeting.
The hilarity of the character comes from her passive-aggressiveness. She continually takes subtle little jabs at Alison, like when she comments on her promotion by saying, "It's a lot of work, can't wait to see what happens ... it's gonna be tough." Wiig's comedic timing is perfect, something that fans of her Saturday Night Live characters won't be surprised to hear.
Scott – The King Of Staten Island
The most humorous characters in Judd Apatow movies are usually the supporting players, rather than the leads. This is natural as the main characters have to carry the plot, so they don't have as much time to make jokes. Yet, Pete Davidson’s Scott from The King Of Staten Island is one of the few exceptions.
With his self-deprecation and sharp wit, Davidson carries the movie from a comedic standpoint. Yes, there are several other funny characters in the flick, but none deliver as many laughs as Scott.
Randy - Funny People
As the movie is about a man dealing with a terminal illness, Funny People is more serious than most Apatow projects, yet, there is still an abundance of humor throughout. And one of the people responsible for bringing big laughs is Randy.
The character serves as a parody of over-energetic stand-up comedians, with his mediocre jokes punctuated by lots of shouting and jumping around. Azizi Ansari - who in real-life is a fantastic comedian - is so outrageous in the role that it's hilarious.
Paula - The 40-Year-Old Virgin
The 40-Year-Old Virgin is the first movie that Judd Apatow directed, and in some minds, it remains his best. It certainly has a lot going for it, from a unique premise to a fantastic cast. Among the famous names is Jane Lynch, who plays Paula.
She serves as the boss of all the guys at SmartTech. However, she's not very professional, particularly when talking to Steve Carrell's Andy. In multiple scenes, she makes him uncomfortable with her flirtatious nature. Thankfully, her lewd comments are inappropriate enough to be very funny without crossing the line into being offensive. Plus, her general no-nonsense attitude provides several laughs too.
Leo - Funny People
In recent years, Jonah Hill has proven that he can be a serious actor. But in the 2000s, he excelled in comedic roles. One of his funniest performances comes in Funny People, where he portrays a stand-up comedian who's friends with Seth Rogen's Ira.
The character doesn't have a large role in the film, but he's always there to deliver funny lines. Some of his best include "there's nothing funny about a physically fit man" and "don't be super bummed out because your grandfather is playing backgammon with Hitler right now."
Steven - Trainwreck
Because of his giant size, John Cena is often cast in action movies. However, he tends to deliver his best performances when he gets to show his funny side. His turn as Steven from Trainwreck is the perfect example.
The character is highly emotional, and when he gets worked up, he becomes very funny. His most famous and arguably best scene is when he shouts at a guy in a movie theater. Steven has the right facial expressions and level of intensity to strike fear into most people's hearts. Yet, his verbiage leaves a lot to be desired here, as his threats are oddly sexual.
Cal - The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow are long-time collaborators and Rogen has played several characters in the director's movies. One of his best, though, is Cal from The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
Even for a movie known for its raunchiness, Cal is particularly vulgar throughout the flick. From his story about the risque show he saw in Mexico to his comments on Beth's underwear, some of the things he says are hilariously obscene. The movie wouldn't be nearly as funny without him.
Ben - Knocked Up
A big reason Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen make such a good team is that the former excels at writing goofy yet likable men, and the actor is adept at playing them. One of the best versions of this character is Ben Stone from Knocked Up.
His immaturity is hilarious throughout the movie, whether he's making sex jokes with his buddies or doing mushrooms in Las Vegas. The character will forever be one of Rogen's most iconic roles.
Pete - Knocked Up & This Is 40
Paul Rudd has been in many fantastic movies during his illustrious career. And in most of them, he plays a comical character. But few are as funny as Pete from Knocked Up and This Is 40.
The actor brings his natural wit and sarcasm to the role. However, the funniest aspect of the character is how cavalier he is about everything. For instance, when his wife is fearful of near-by sex offenders, he jokes about skipping their houses while trick-or-treating and not asking them to babysit. Unfortunately, the character isn't quite as funny in This Is 40, as he becomes less of a jerk, though, he still provides several humorous moments.