Jason Bateman: The Consummate Straight Man

In addition to proving that Kirstie Alley should be involved in every conversation on the planet for eternity, Jason Bateman’s New York Times profile makes a strong argument for Bateman’s true calling as ensemble player, best as a supportive straight-man to Charlie Day’s wild card or the ravening Bluths. “He’s a great audience barometer. If a character’s going off the rails, it’s funny to check in with Bateman, who’ll be waiting patiently, listening, and know exactly when to drop in the perfect one-liner,” says Horrible Bosses’ co-star Charlie Day. “I don’t look for Jason Bateman vehicles,” Bateman himself admits. “I played a ton of team sports growing up, and team wins are just incredibly gratifying. Guys like Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Sacha Baron Cohen, they do things you love to watch. I like to do the other half.”

Jason Bateman: The Consummate Straight Man