BY JOE REID |
Working Actor: Johnny Simmons
Where have you seen this everyteen in the movies recently?
There's is something so refreshingly familiar about the characters Johnny Simmons always plays. He's every high-school boy you ever crushed on or were in a band with or watched pine for a girl who wouldn't notice him. That's probably why he's ben such a reliable presence in teen movies for the last several years. But it's that familiarity that has perhaps kept him from standing out for you. Here's your quick tour of Simmons's recent projects to help jog your memory.
You've Most Likely Seen Him In ...
... Last year's longing teenage dream, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. As the object of affection for Ezra Miller's Patrick, Simmons played his most overtly jock-ish character, if not his most sympathetic.
Unless You've Really Been Paying Attention, in Which Case You Remember Him From ...
...Diablo Cody's tremendously underrated Jennifer's Body. He played the major love interest to Amanda Seyfried, ending up in the crosshairs of demon monster Megan Fox, a breakthrough role that set the stage for many more fresh-faced roles to come.
"Wait, So He's That Guy From ..."
...One particularly memorable scene in 21 Jump Street. That's a movie that does not lack for brilliant comedic moments, but Simmons's scene as a YouTubing teen tripping major ballsack on the newest designer drug is instantly memorable and feels like a featured cameo. Considering the other actors who got featured cameos in this movie, it's a pretty solid position to be in.
You Can Also Go Back and Spot Him In ...
...Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, where he played the ironically monikered (not that that differentiated him from any other character in the movie) Young Neil, fanboy and replacement band member. Or perhaps Evan Almighty, where he played Steve Carell's oldest son. And of course as the helpful pet store manager in Hotel for Dogs.
Perhaps Your Cultural Tastes Lie in Television, In Which Case...
...You may have seen Simmons in HBO's Cinema Verite, based on the true-life tale of the Loud family, of PBS's An American Family. Simmons took a small role as one of the younger Loud siblings, giving him the chance to work with the likes of Diane Lane, Tim Robbins, and the late James Gandolfini.
Where You Can Find Him Now ...
Opening this week, Simmons appears to be battling for the affections of clueless Aubrey Plaza in Maggie Carey's The To-Do List, this summer's entry into the Summer Teen Sex Comedy genre. Undoubtedly, his boy-next-door familiarity will be incredibly charming.