Why Him?

Cranston Plays Cranston for James Franco’s ‘The Masterpiece’
Cranston Plays Cranston for James Franco’s ‘The Masterpiece’
Cranston Plays Cranston for James Franco’s ‘The Masterpiece’
Say what you will about James Franco, you can’t deny he isn’t a prolific artist. With a metric ton of projects that are either ongoing or announced, Franco has enough work to keep him busy for the next half a century. And like any actor-director, he has his favored collaborators, and he’s just announced that Bryan Cranston will play a younger version of himself for their third collaboration together.
Weekend Box Office Report: ‘Rogue One’ Stays Ahead of ‘Passengers’
Weekend Box Office Report: ‘Rogue One’ Stays Ahead of ‘Passengers’
Weekend Box Office Report: ‘Rogue One’ Stays Ahead of ‘Passengers’
It has long been a fine American tradition to escape the awkward enclosure of your parents’ house over your holiday vacation and spend a few hours in the local movie theater, where everyone can shut up about politics and stop swapping passive aggressive comments on each other’s lifestyle for a few hours. 2016 was no different, with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Sing drawing in the big crowds while La La Land and Fences impressed in limited release. Not so impressive: Passengers, Why Him?, and Assassin’s Creed, each of which underperformed.
‘Why Him?’ Red-Band Trailer: Family, Christmas, and Moose Testicles
‘Why Him?’ Red-Band Trailer: Family, Christmas, and Moose Testicles
‘Why Him?’ Red-Band Trailer: Family, Christmas, and Moose Testicles
The entertainment industry has done Bryan Cranston dirty. His award-hoarding turn as mild-mannered meth kingpin Walt White on Breaking Bad should have cracked Hollywood wide open for him, with high-power producers lining up to cast him in the next big prestige release. But for every Trumbo (which earned Cranston an Oscar nomination, despite plenty of shortcomings), there is a Why Him?, and the soggy prosthetic moose scrotum that goes with it.
‘Why Him?’ Trailer: James Franco Is Your Worst Nightmare
‘Why Him?’ Trailer: James Franco Is Your Worst Nightmare
‘Why Him?’ Trailer: James Franco Is Your Worst Nightmare
It’s not much of a stretch to say James Franco is every parent’s worst nightmare. Could you imagine your kid — hypothetical or actual — dating the self-proclaimed artist occasionally known as Semaj? That’s the gist of Why Him?, in which Franco plays an obnoxious, foul-mouthed, tattooed billionaire dating the daughter of Bryan Cranston’s doting dad. He’s not technically playing himself, but it’s a pretty believable nightmare scenario.
James Franco Is the Him in ‘Why Him?’
James Franco Is the Him in ‘Why Him?’
James Franco Is the Him in ‘Why Him?’
James Franco has become one of our most prolific actors/directors/writers/artists/deli meat purveyors (probably)—he is, in the parlance of the Full House theme song, everywhere you look. Not only is he starring in Hulu’s upcoming Stephen King miniseries 11/22/63, but he’ll also appear in the new comedy Why Him? from co-writer Nicholas Stoller and the director of I Love You, Man.