Lately, Glen Powell’s wacky photoshoot for GQ, through which he sported huge, clearly pretend muscle tissues, acquired monumental consideration. As he instructed the journal of their October “State of the American Male” problem, his early years within the enterprise consisted of navigating a number of casting varieties, which at the moment favored the extreme “brooder” of the Robert Pattinson Twilight selection. Stereotyped as a substitute for years because the jock, with the brand new Hulu collection Chad Powers, Powell appears to have comfortably settled into a special function, that of the “somewhat extra foolish” main man of the Chris Pratt mildew. However in distinction to the comedic male protagonists of yesteryear, the Foolish Main Man appears to mix each humor and a little bit of muscularity—which can be a motive why he’s so at the moment in demand.
A Trendy Hero Who Kicks Butt…however Additionally Does Not Take Himself Too Critically
Having a humorous main man in a film will not be a brand new phenomenon. The likes of Invoice Murray, Robin Williams, Steve Martin, and even Billy Crystal crammed the Eighties with memorable cinematic roles as each the hero and most important love curiosity for the feminine star. The 2000s noticed this development reappear, with Steve Carell, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Adam Sandler, and others proving that they may very well be humorous, valiant, and an excellent catch. However the Chris Pratt model, who first appeared in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy, was considerably completely different from these earlier Foolish Main Man actors in a single essential approach—like Glen Powell, Pratt, fairly frankly, had abs. This was not the Chris Pratt who performed lovable, barely pudgy goof Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation. No, Pratt had clearly labored out very laborious earlier than taking up his function as Star-Lord in Guardians, however crucially, retained some silliness. It was a brand new cinematic paradigm that may see the likes Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, and Paul Rudd clearly displaying off muscle tone whereas additionally being fast with wit.
That Ryan Reynolds, Paul Rudd, and Chris Pratt are all featured in MCU films could also be a clue as to what sparked the “Foolish (Buff) Main Man” development. Many male protagonists in Marvel films have a tendency to have the ability to simply let loose a wisecrack or two — and most are additionally considerably ripped. Name it the “Marvel Impact,” the place actors and actresses are typically anticipated to resemble the proper specimens who grace the pages of the comedian books themselves. This explicit breed of main man may very well be the proper champion (particularly for the starstruck girls who watch the movies): robust like a superhero however with a reassuring humorousness, all glorified Andy Dwyers for a sea of notoriously choosy April Ludgates who have been sick of their moody and unpredictable Edward Cullens & Bruce Waynes. As Powell instructed GQ:
“I keep in mind when Chris Pratt broke out in Guardians of the Galaxy. There’s little doubt it actually helped—not being brooding or darkish. Like, I’m not Christian Bale. Christian Bale has a gravitas and a weight, and Pattinson had his factor. And when Pratt type of appeared on the scene the place he was doing issues that have been somewhat extra foolish and buoyant, that’s the place I really feel most at residence. And that’s the place I really feel like I had a gear that may be a mandatory taste when it comes to Hollywood, and never a gear that numerous guys can play.”
Maybe there may be irony in the truth that as a lot as Glen Powell’s pictures for GQ seem like a parody or perhaps a critique of the musclebound jock ideally suited, they’re really extra of a celebration of this present mix of film hero and comedy aid as typified by Chris Pratt in Guardians of the Galaxy. The heir of the Operating Man function, from none aside from Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, Powell’s physique, regardless of the pretend cartoonish muscle tissues of the picture shoot, remains to be athletic and sinewy to a level. Like Pratt, Ryan Reynolds, and Ryan Gosling, amongst others, he represents a personality who is provided to deal with the pains of herodom however doesn’t take himself too severely, maybe the very best of each worlds.
Chad Powers
- Launch Date
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August 30, 2025
- Community
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Hulu
- Administrators
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Tony Yacenda
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Perry Mattfeld
Russ Holliday / Chad Powers
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Frankie A. Rodriguez
Coach Byrd
