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It's a game pretty much anyone can play, depending on the rules — we employ the First Name: First Pet, Last Name: Street You Grew Up On method (our apologies to those with allergies, maybe you had a goldfish?). And the results are, without fail, hilarious.

We asked 100 of our favorite movie stars in Hollywood — including Emma Watson, Keira Knightley, Megan Fox, Ryan Gosling, Paul Rudd, Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Katie Holmes, Jon Hamm, Emma Stone and Neil Patrick Harris — for their porn star names. They did not let us down. Click through the gallery for all 100.

Reporting by: Sandie Angulo Chen ("Millie 69"), Robert DeSalvo ("Rocky Waverly"), Claire Donovan ("Spunky Walter"), Elizabeth Durand ("Stephanie Veronica"), Bryan Enk ("Buck Densmore"), Max Evry ("Orion Cedar Crest "), Breanne Heldman ("Krugerrand Ardon"), Jenni Miller ("Mitzi Turtle Creek"), Kevin Polowy ("Sparkle Sterling"), Brandon Rae ("Sammi von Fernway"), Brooke Tarnoff ("Brandy W. Riviera"), Joanna Varikos ("Angel 14") and Kase Wickman ("Blake Sisters").

We all know "Admission" star Paul Rudd is both handsome and talented, but is that enough for him to pass muster on NextMovie's toughest admissions quiz?

To find out, we sat down with Rudd and grilled him about his personal life, extracurricular activities, where he sees himself in five years and what, exactly, makes him so darn special.

Watch the video interview above to find out all that and more, and check out "Admission," co-starring Tina Fey and Nat Wolff, opening in theaters nationwide Friday.

Also check out: Tina Fey's Admissions Interview

New Line

This week: Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth with "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," the first of three movies based on the classic fantasy novel "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, which features Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen reprising his role as the wizard Gandalf from "The Lord of the Rings."

Also new this week is Kathryn Bigelow's "Zero Dark Thirty," the musical "Les Miserables," the Judd Apatow dramedy "This Is 40" and the pitch-black comedy "Bachelorette."

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'

Warner Bros.

Box Office: $302 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 65% Fresh
Storyline: "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth for this first of three movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit." The first installment follows Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he embarks on an adventure with Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and 13 dwarves to reclaim the lost dwarf kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, Bilbo must face goblins, orcs, wargs and a mysterious figure known only as the Necromancer. Bilbo also gains possession of the One Ring, which of course is tied to the fate of all of Middle-earth.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain 10 comprehensive video blogs and "New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth." There is also a Blu-ray 3D edition to replicate the theatrical 3-D presentation.
We Say: There is no question that Jackson fatigue has set in with critics that are frustrated with the director's decision to drag out "The Hobbit" to three epic-length movies, resulting in less-favorable reviews for the first installment than "The Lord of the Rings." If you're okay with taking the long road through Middle-earth, you'll be rewarded with a stunning adventure that blends seamlessly with the look and feel of the "Rings" trilogy. Familiar faces such as Cate Blanchett as Galadriel and Hugo Weaving as Elrond make for a homecoming feel, but it's Freeman as the titular hobbit who provides the movie's heart as he surprises himself — and audiences — with his ingenuity. If you regret rolling the dice on the video-looking 48 fps version in theaters, know that "The Hobbit" looks gorgeously filmic again in 2-D or 3-D at home.

'Zero Dark Thirty'

Sony

Box Office: $95 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% Fresh
Storyline: Kathryn Bigelow directs this dramatization of the real-life United States military operation that found and killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Jessica Chastain plays Maya, a young CIA officer whose entire career has been focused solely on gathering intelligence on the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America.
Extras!: The DVD and Blu-ray contain a disappointing assortment of brief EPK (electronic press kit)-style featurettes, including one where Bigelow walks us through the construction of the bin Laden compound set built in Jordan, another about the actors training with Navy SEALS, Chastain's thoughts about playing Maya and a four-minute making-of clip.
We Say: "Zero Dark Thirty" stirred up a lot of controversy over its depiction of torture being used by the U.S. to extract the information that led to bin Laden. Bigelow doesn't shy away from scenes of torture, but it's left up to the viewer to decide how much it really contributed to bin Laden's ultimate fate. The movie is a showcase for Chastain, who gives one of the strongest female characters ever put on screen her steely resolve. Even though you know the outcome, you'll be on the edge of your seat in the third act when Bigelow takes us slowly through the dark corridors of the bin Laden compound with the SEALs that risked everything to bring the terrorist down.

'Les Miserables'

Universal

Box Office: $148 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 70% Fresh
Storyline: This film adaptation of the classic musical set in 19^th-century France stars Hugh Jackman as ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, who has been hunted for decades by relentless policeman Javert (Russell Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Anne Hathaway) daughter, their lives change forever.
Extras!: Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain "The Stars of 'Les Miserables,'" "Creating the Perfect Paris," a look at Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables" and commentary by director Tom Hooper. Exclusive to the Blu-ray are "The West End Connection," "'Les Miserables' on Location," "Battle at the Barricade" and "'Les Miserables' Singing Live."
We Say: "Les Miserables" was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won three: Best Sound Mixing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Supporting Actress for Hathaway, who gave many gushing, tearful speeches at various awards ceremonies. There is no question that "Les Miserables" is a triumph of design, but it is also all musical, all the time. For some of you, that's music to your ears; the rest of us that find it off-putting to hear almost every line of dialogue emoted in song will not become newbie musical lovers after this eardrum-rattling exercise.

'This Is 40'

Universal

Box Office: $68 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 52% Rotten
Storyline: Judd Apatow directed and wrote this stand-alone sequel to "Knocked Up" that stars Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann as a married couple each approaching 40 and how their jobs, parents and two young daughters put a strain on their relationship.
Extras!: Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain a gag reel, Line-O-Rama, deleted scenes, music by Graham Parker and Ryan Adams, and feature commentary by Apatow. The Blu-ray has a lot of exclusives, including an unrated version of the movie, making-of featurette, "This Is Albert Brooks (at Work)," "Graham Parker & the Rumour: Long Emotional Ride," "Brooks-O-Rama," "Biking with Barry," "Triumph the Insult Comic Dog," "Kids on the Loose 3," "Bodies by Jason Commercial," "Fresh Air with Terry Ross," deleted/extended/alternate scenes and over 30 minutes of music by Graham Parker and Ryan Adams.
We Say: If you're not 40 before you start watching "This Is 40," you might be — or at least feel a lot older — by the time you sit through this 134-minute (!) rom-com couch challenge in which all the characters, in typical Apatow fashion, have no filters and speak with blunt crudeness. There are occasional funny moments and insights, but this is ultimately a pity party for a fairly ordinary white suburban couple that has self-created domestic problems with which many people cope every day. You decide if that's a knee-slapper … or just kind of sad.

'Bachelorette'

Anchor Bay

Box Office: $447, 954
Rotten Tomatoes: 55% Rotten
Storyline: When one of their fellow "B-faces" (Rebel Wilson) is about to get married, three high school friends (Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan and Isla Fisher) reunite before the wedding and unintentionally rip the bridal dress after the bachelorette party goes awry. With only seven hours before the bride wakes up for her wedding, the trio crawls through the streets of New York in attempt to repair the damage they've done.
Extras!: Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain commentary by director Leslye Hedland, bloopers and a brief behind-the-scenes featurette.
We Say: It's difficult to watch "Bachelorette" and not compare it to "Bridesmaids," which has a similar premise, but this is a darker movie with talk of cocaine, overdosing, sex in dirty public bathrooms and abortion. There's plenty to laugh about if you have a mean-spirited sense of humor, but those with delicate sensibilities will not want to hang out with these mean girls for long.

Also New This Week:

"Rust and Bone"
"Porky's" Blu-ray
"Straight A's"
"Badlands"
"Shadow People"
"Price Check"

The Super Bowl is fast approaching and for many fans, that means just one thing: A bunch of awesome new TV commercials featuring their favorite film stars. But why wait until Sunday night when you can check out the hottest new Super Bowl ad right now?

It's the new Samsung campaign featuring Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen. And since this is for the Super Bowl, they've got some pretty big ideas. Just one problem: The term "Super Bowl" is trademarked, as are the names of the teams involved. So what do you do?

"El Plato Supreme," that's what. Check out Rudd and Rogen (along with the great Bob Odenkirk!) in this clip, then head over to MTV News for all the latest Super Bowl coverage.

When something is this big, even corporate lawyers can't keep a real fan down.

Universal

"The handicapped stall is like a free hotel." We never looked at it that way before.

Judd Apatow has a knack for making us see everyday (and not so everyday) things from completely new perspectives, and there are a lot of perspectives going on in this five-minute deleted scene from his new comedy, "This Is 40."

The relatively spoiler-free restaurant scene begins with Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) discussing their newfound efforts to really "dig in" to what is apparently the greatness of their lives and truly appreciate every moment. Their companions, Barry (Robert Smigel) and Barb (Annie Mumolo), counter with their practice of the "Law of Least Effort," which involves "doing nothing and getting everything."

Unsurprisingly, this brings up a bunch of graphic memories involving having sex in public places whilst their offspring work out their own issues at the "kids' table." This is 40? Well, this is Judd Apatow, anyway.

Check out the NSFW scene below, courtesy of Funny or Die. "This Is 40" is currently playing in theaters.

Funny Or Die

Comedian types are always pretty quick to dish it out, but the question always remains whether they themselves can take it. Enter the trusty Triumph the Insult Comic Dog to find out.

Funny or Die took the mean-spirited faux pooch to the set of Judd Apatow's "This is 40" to haggle him and his central cast — including Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Megan Fox and John Lithgow — to find out just how thick-skinned these supposedly funny people are. The appeal of Triumph, of course, is that he gets the jabs in nice and deep, and it's up to his victims to play it cool under the heat of his hateful barrage.

So, how did the "40" gang fare? Well, Rudd got the worst of it when Triumph outright trivialized his place in the business of comedy by declaring, "I always like to follow your career because I love knowing which movies Zach Galifianakis turned down. Let's be honest, you're like the fourth guy they call right? I mean, when you can't get Will Ferrell or [Steve] Carell or Zach, then you call Paul Rudd and you say, 'Paul, do you have Danny McBride's phone number?'" Yow!

Also, Apatow was at the receiving end of the equally stinging inquiry "Is it pronounced Ap-a-tow or Crap-a-tow?" and Lithgow was downright informed he's a "freaky looking guy."

You know, there's a reason they call him Triumph. Win!

Universal

Ah, Hanukah! Festival of Lights! A time for Jews everywhere to get together in a spirit of peace, give gifts and sing songs. It's also a time for gentiles everywhere to ask questions like "So... what's the deal with Hanukah?" and "How do you spell Chanukah?" and "Why does it keep moving around the calendar like a celebratory hobo?"

These are good questions; deep questions. And who better to ask than Hollywood's Jewish stars! But who's Jewish? It's no shock that certain actors are from the tribe (shalom, Sasha Baron Cohen!), but Zac Efron?

Let's take a look...

Kat Dennings

Born Katherine Litwack, her first major role was on HBO's "Sex and the City" in 2000 where she played a 13-year-old who hires Samantha to do the publicity for her Bat Mitzvah. When asked if she is a practicing Jew, Kat (who broke out in "Nick and Norah") responded that Judaism is an important part of her family history (translation: don't ask her any Jewish trivia).

Zac Efron

Yup. He's a Jew -- or, at least, from Jewish ancestry. This elven-faced heartthrob's last name actually means "lark" in Hebrew. And yet, with all the evidence in, it's still really, really, really hard to believe, right?

James Franco

Jews have a reputation for taking education seriously. The "127 Hours" star has taken this tradition and run with it to insane degrees (pun). In recent years, he's attended UCLA, gotten a master's at Columbia, NYU, Brooklyn College and Warren Wilson College -- and he's now at Yale and the Rhode Island School of Design. But when does he find time to call his mother?

Andrew Garfield

Sony

Raised in Surrey, England, this handsome up and comer and soon-to-be Spider-Man gets eight days of gifts as opposed to the one day of presents on Christmas. But, what they don't tell you is that, for most of the eight days, you just get stuff like underwear and socks -- only they're wrapped -- like that's fooling anyone.

Ginnifer Goodwin

As a 13-year-old, the "He's Just Not That Into You" star totally rocked her Bat Mitzvah in her home town of Memphis, TN. She's found even greater critical success as the third wife of a polygamist, Mormon-ish family in the HBO series "Big Love," but still does a mean hora on the weekends.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Such a nice, well-groomed, Jewish boy, isn't he? The "50/50" star even took time off from his acting to attend Columbia University because knowledge is... well, just insert here one of a million Jewish sayings about knowledge (hint: they all say it's very important).

Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal

When said in their entirety, Jacob Benjamin and Margaret Ruth Gyllenhaal's full names sound a lot more Jewish, don't they? Jake's parents threw his Bar Mitzvah party at a homeless shelter to instill him with a sense of gratitude for his privileged lifestyle (that and the shelter had better food than the synagogue caterer -- such dry fish!) It must have stung a bit that Maggie had her Bat Mitzvah at the Four Seasons.

Kate Hudson

Mother Goldie Hawn gave her a Jewish upbringing, along with her stepdad, Kurt Russell. It's fun to imagine Kurt coming in after a long day of kicking ass on set, grabbing the menorah and yelling "Goldie, Kate! Let's light up this sucker!"

Scarlett Johansson

Though famously tight-lipped about her personal life, she did mention that she was able to bond with Woody Allen during the making of "Match Point," saying "We have a lot in common. We're New Yorkers, Jewish." Sure. Guess that makes them have a lot in common. Though aliens would not be able to identify these two people as being from the same species...

Mila Kunis

Mila's grandparents were killed in the holocaust and her family was not allowed to practice Judaism in her native U.S.S.R. But in 1991, the "friends With Benefits" star and her parents were lucky enough to escape the Ukraine and moved to Los Angeles where she quickly found success as a child actor. She is proud of her Judaism, even though she is not very trained in its practice.

Shia LaBeouf

His Jewish mother gave him the name Shia, which is Hebrew for "gift from God." Shia got his last name, LaBeouf, from his Cajun father – it's a misspelling of the French term "the beef." But, if you see him on the street, do not call him "meat gift." Resist the urge.

Gwyneth Paltrow

This beautiful "Contagion" star's great-grandfather, whose surname was "Paltrowicz," was a rabbi in Poland long ago. One wonders if Rabbi Paltrowicz would have been a Coldplay fan. One wonders...

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah only had a Jewish father and received no religious training growing up so, for a long while, her Chosen People rating was hovering around the 25 percent mark (not too chosen). But after marrying the Jewish Matthew Broderick, her numbers are up to about 50 percent (under consideration of being chosen). We'll keep you posted.

Joaquin Phoenix

Phoenix had a pretty standard upbringing. He was born to a Jewish mom from The Bronx and a Catholic father from California. They joined the cult The Children of God and roamed around South America for a while before relocating to the more kid-friendly environment of Hollywood. There, they changed their last name to Phoenix to symbolize rebirth. Yes, it's an old Jewish story; one you've probably heard many times before.

Daniel Radcliffe

Yes, there are British Jews. And, apparently, most of them are actors. No one is sure how it happens or where they come from. And they're all handsome.

Nikki Reed

Though her brother had a Bar Mitzvah, the "Twilight" star did not herself go through this rite of passage. And we all saw the results in her film "Thirteen" (which she helped write). If this isn't an argument for a Bat Mitzvah, what is?

Paul Rudd

Paramount

He's handsome, successful and Bar Mitzvah-ed. The perfect Jewish catch. So of course he's married to a blonde shiksa -- all the good ones are! Rudd's grandparents changed their name from Rudnitzky long ago, which was probably a smart choice.

Winona Ryder

This '90s Hollywood icon was actually born Winona Horowitz and had Jewish grandparents who emigrated from Russia. Jewish stars have a long history of changing their last names either from pressure to seem more "mainstream." Well, OK, it's hardly just the Jewish stars.

Evan Rachel Wood

Wood recently brought home to mom every Jewish parent's ideal fiance: rock-star creep-show Marilyn Manson. But before the gothic Chuppah had even been ordered, the engagement was called off, and Rabbis everywhere breathed a sigh of relief.

(Originally published on Dec. 21, 2011, at 2 p.m. ET)

Universal

Here's what you need to know about the new trailer for the upcoming comedy "Admission:" It stars Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. Any questions?

Yeah, sometimes it's good to be a movie fan.

Helmed by "About a Boy" and "American Pie" director Paul Weitz, "Admission" stars Fey as an admissions officer at Princeton University. Everything in her life if prim, proper and by the book. And totally boring.

That is, until one day she gets a call from Rudd, who is a teacher at an experimental school. He's got a bright new student that he thinks may just be a perfect fit at Princeton. And he also thinks that student might just be, you know... the long lost son Fey gave up for adoption when she was a college student herself.

Needless to say, that shakes up Fey's life. And based on this trailer, "Admission" just may shake things up at the box office as well. Take a look, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies, and see the dream team of Fey and Rudd in action.

Trimark Pictures

Not all great cinema stars have the most auspicious beginnings to their lives in celluloid. Some start in commercials, TV, bit parts, background work. Hell, a few even dabble in porn (we're looking at you, Sylvester Stallone).

Ground zero for acting talent, more often than not, is the horror genre. This being Halloween season, we decided to highlight a few mega-talents who jumpstarted their careers in much the same way they entered the world: naked, screaming and covered in blood.

George Clooney, 'Return to Horror High' (1987)

It took the "Ides of March" actor-director a solid decade in show business before he launched into superstardom as Dr. Doug Ross on "ER." Good ol' Gorgeous George may have paid his dues at the school of hard knocks, but he earned his diploma from "Horror High" playing an actor who gets killed by a serial killer while filming a movie about that killer. Totally meta! Totally '80s! Watch the Cloonster and his mullet get axed from this production.

Brad Pitt, 'Cutting Class' (1989)

Another member of the "Ocean's 11" crew made a killing early on, in his first lead role after leaving Missouri to conquer Hollywood. This campy romp centers on a teen mental patient (Donovan Leitch, son of '60s folk troubadour Donovan) who killed his father. While Leitch's character seems like the most obvious suspect in a string of murders taking place on campus, many lay the blame on hotheaded Dwight (Pitt). Turns out it's the ... oh, we won't spoil it for you.

Jennifer Aniston, 'Leprechaun' (1993)

Pitt's ex-wife made friends with the lecherous little leprechaun of the title as a fresh-faced 18-year-old. As former Ewok Warwick Davis chased her around in gross-ass makeup, she probably never dreamed she would become one of the biggest stars in the world a scant year later, or that Warwick would still be in that makeup five sequels later.

Paul Rudd, 'Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers' (1995)

A frequent costar of Aniston's ("Friends," "The Object of My Affection," the upcoming "Wanderlust"), Rudd has been a cornerstone of the comedy frat pack ever since "Anchorman," but there's nothing funny about trying to stop unkillable super-fiend Michael Myers from murdering an innocent baby. Okay, maybe a little, but that was the task at hand in Rudd's inaugural screen outing. If we ever need a mass murderer beaten with a lead pipe, we'll know whom to call.

Jack Nicholson, 'The Little Shop of Horrors' (1960)

Rudd recently had the honor to act alongside Nicholson, who played his pappy in "How Do You Know." How do we know that Jack was always one crazy customer? We have the film to prove it: a hilarious three-minute cameo in Roger Corman's cult classic, where he's just dropped in from the cuckoo's nest as a masochistic dental patient who's orgasmic about pain. Bill Murray later portrayed the same character in the 1986 remake.

Kevin Bacon, 'Friday the 13th' (1980)

We could connect him to every actor on this list, but it took a fella by the name of Jason Voorhees (or, in this installment, his vengeful mama) to connect Bacon to the summer camp cot where he'd just been getting busy. Although it wasn't his debut feature, as he'd been initiated into "Animal House" a few years prior, this was Bacon's first big bloody splash playing a counselor at Camp Crystal Lake. Perhaps they should retitle the film "Neckloose."

Johnny Depp, 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984)

With Bacon kickstarting the Jason franchise, Depp was getting his feet wet in the initial chapter of the Freddy Krueger saga. To paraphrase Jonah Hill in "Superbad," this actor's been f**ked since Jump Street, getting sucked into a bed, chopped into confetti by Freddy, and discharged like a bad piece of sushi. Fun fact: Depp went to the "Nightmare" audition with his buddy (and upcoming "Dark Shadows" costar) Jackie Earle Haley, who wound up playing Krueger 25 years later.

Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey, 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation' (1994)

Here we get some two-for-one value as the two Texas natives squared off against each other (after previously both appearing in "Dazed and Confused") in this rehash of the original 1974 splatter classic. McConaughey manages to go psycho here without the aid of naked bongos, and Zellweger is the hapless teen whose prom night gets ruined by some backwoods cannibals.

John Travolta, 'The Devil's Rain' (1975)

At least two decades before he had his Royale With Cheese and a couple years prior to spilling pig's blood on "Carrie," John Travolta became revolta as an eyeball-less Satanist freak in this bizarre cult film starring William Shatner, Tom Skerritt and Ernest Borgnine. And yes, before you ask, the rain in this movie is literally evil and melts a lot of characters' faces, including Travolta's. The actor wouldn't wear makeup this grotesque again until "Hairspray."

(Originally published on Oct. 10, 2011)

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What does it mean to be cool? It's pretty damn subjective. So when compiling our list of the 25 coolest people making movies right now (somebody had to do it, right?), we accounted for various factors.

These are the actors who not only impress us onscreen (though that helps), but convey a certain genuineness off it, be it at awards shows, on TV appearances or during our own personal experiences interviewing them. They can be multi-talents, also excelling at music, art or writing. And they can make a habit of turning up in hilarious viral videos or even at your local karaoke bar.

But most of all, these are the 25 actors we'd really just like to sit down and have a beer with.

Welcome to NextMovie's 1st annual Cool List – and let us know who makes your own list in the comments section below.

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25. RZA

Yes, he's best known as the grand wizard of the seminal hip-hop outfit Wu-Tang Clan, but RZA's long been one of the world's coolest students of film (who do you think programmed all those kung-fu samples?). Counting indie-cool Jim Jarmusch among his friends, (see his hilarious vignette in the auteur's "Coffee and Cigarettes"), RZA takes his role in moviedom to new heights this fall with the marital arts epic, "The Man With the Iron Fist," his directorial debut produced by another king of cool, Quentin Tarantino. – Kevin Polowy

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24. Woody Harrelson

There was an era when Woody was best known as a clueless, squeaky clean Boston bartender in "Cheers." That was a long, long time ago. Since then, Harrelson has proven (some) white men can jump, helped make a pair of "Natural Born Killers" unlikely screen heroes, owned some sucker zombies and won a vital roster spot in "The Hunger Games." He also regularly hangs with Willie Nelson and has become one of the country's most famous proponents of hemp. High times all around. – KP

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23. Christopher Mintz-Plasse

McLovin's made his living playing nerds, but he does it with such uninhibited joie de vivre, we can't help but think he's actually the coolest kid in school. As hilarious off-screen as he is in his movies, with a knack for picking quirky roles in great comedies – "Superbad," "Kick-Ass," "Role Models" – Mintz-Plasse is proof that, yes, the geeks shall inherit the Earth. – Brooke Tarnoff

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22. Mark Wahlberg

Beginning his career as shirtless (and pantless) rapper Marky Mark, Wahlberg could have easily faded into oblivion. But he's become the actor girls love and guys want to hang out with due to his unique blend of dramatic, comedic and action roles, his all-around good guy personality and, um, did we mention those abs? Plus, few Oscar nominees look as adorable hangin' with their kids. – Laura Rosenfeld

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21. Ezra Miller

The rising star may have terrified those who saw 2011's "We Need to Talk About Kevin," but, after "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," we can't get enough of him. We also have to tip our hats to the 19-year-old for the candid, confident way he came out as "queer" to Out magazine earlier this year. It was mature and inspiring, much like his performance in "Perks." – Breanne L. Heldman

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20. Channing Tatum

Tatum's cool factor isn't just about the jaw-dropping abs and killer biceps he makes shows off in just about every movie. It's his versatility as an actor (he's nailed action, romance, comedy and drama all in 2012 alone) and his reputation off-screen. Known for being a prankster on set, he's a charmer with the press (yes, including this writer) and speaks openly about how much he loves his wife, "Step Up" co-star Jenna Dewan-Tatum. Swoon. – BLH

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19. Zoe Kravitz

With rocker Lenny Kravitz as her dad and bohemian actress Lisa Bonet as her mom, coolness is in this girl's genes. It's no wonder she brings a free-spirited vibe to all of her roles, whether she's playing a high school heartthrob ("It's Kind of a Funny Story") or kicking ass as a mutant ("X-Men: First Class"). Kravitz is a 21st century hippie, and we totally dig her. Plus, she's besties with Jennifer Lawrence (see below) – who wouldn't want to be the third wheel with the two of them? – LR

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18. Jennifer Lawrence

For just a moment, forget that amazing hair, killer bod and flawless fashion sense. J.Law has an Oscar nomination and, better yet, a heart-melting photo of her in her pajamas learning about said nomination while surrounded by her dancing mother, brothers and "X-Men" cool boyfriend, Nicholas Hoult. All that, and she's Katniss. 'Nuf said. – BLH

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17. Emily Blunt

Blunt played Anne Hathaway's nemesis in "The Devil Wears Prada," and somehow managed to steal our hearts in her meanest role ever. She has a knack for playing the slightly offbeat girl next door which, it turns out, that's kind of how she is in interviews. She doesn't take herself too seriously even though she's one of the most sought-after actresses today. Plus, everything just sounds cooler in a British accent. – LR

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16. Justin Timberlake

When someone you really respect does something awful, it's particularly crushing (De Niro in "Jack and Jill," anyone?). JT enjoys the flip side: After *NSYNC, anything he did would be cool by comparison. Then he wildly surpassed our low expectations with a shockingly legit solo music career, an unforeseen but genuine acting talent and recurring guest appearances on "Saturday Night Live" funnier than half the actual castmembers. Honestly, he had us at "Dick in a Box." – BT

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15. Lizzy Caplan

Not to sound like a bunch of hipsters, but we've loved Lizzy Caplan since before loving Lizzy Caplan was cool. We loved her in "Mean Girls," dressed as a Gothy nerd to obscure her natural hotness (though she couldn't hide it from us). Her picks are impeccable – watching her short-lived TV series "Party Down" awards automatic cool points, and her upcoming movie "3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom" shows great promise. – BT

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14. Samuel L. Jackson

Sure, he may churn out a couple dicey flicks a year, but couldn't the world use some more Samuel L. Jackson? This is The Man who made Ezekiel 25:17 holy word to even non-believers and catapulted a campy movie called "Snakes on a Plane" to web phenom status simply by incorporating a couple MF-bombs. Soundboards were invented to contain the fiery outbursts of SLJ. – KP

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13. Bill Murray

Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin – all iconic comedians who saw their heyday come and go. But Bill "Mutha F**kin'" Murray has NEVER gone out of style, achieving a type of staying power rare in any industry. It's fueled by his sublimely random and internet-legendary appearances at everything from private karaoke rooms in New York to college parties in Stockholm, but also his continually strong cinematic output (see: Best. Cameo. Ever.) and admirable resistance to a sequel no one needs, "Ghostbuters III." – KP

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12. Michael Fassbender

When you're willing to drop trou on screen, your cool factor automatically goes up, especially if you've got the goods to back it up like Fassbender in "Shame." His superhero turn as Magneto in "X-Men: First Class" and his appearance as a robot in "Prometheus" further set fanboy and girl heards aflutter. Lastly, his name is Fassbender – is there anything cooler than that? – LR

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11. Kristen Bell

We XOXO'd K.Bell on television first as sweetest teenage crime solver ever on "Veronica Mars" and currently as the voice of the mysterious "Gossip Girl," but we fell in love with her even more when she graduated to the big screen. Her explosion of emotion over her sloth birthday present from longtime fiancé Dax Shepard might be the cutest darn thing we've ever seen, and we'd probably act the same way if we actually got to hang out with Bell. – LR

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10. George Clooney

There's no actor who oozes classic Hollywood more than Clooney. He's suave, he's charming and he's the definition of handsome. Clooney has mastered TV and movies, won an Academy Award and is an acclaimed director. But, what's even more awesome, he's a huge philanthropist, co-founding the human rights advocacy organization Not on Our Watch and extensively advocating for the resolution of the Darfur conflict. If trying to make the world a better place isn't cool, we don't know what is. – LR

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9. Jon Hamm

"Mad Men"'s Don Draper is the coolest character on TV, but he would be nothing without Hamm's timeless charm. We mostly love him because he's a big goofball deep down inside, making us laugh in "Bridesmaids" and "Friends With Kids." In these movies, Hamm seems like he's just hanging out with his celebrity friends and they just happen to be making a movie, and we'd love to be invited to that party, too. – LR

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8. Helen Mirren

Most Hollywood actors' star power begins to fade once they hit their 40s, but Mirren just gets better with age. The veteran actress brings poise, grace and a sense of humor to every role. She gives women half her age a run for their money in a bikini. And, while she may be old enough to be your grandmother, we'd much rather hit the clubs with this "Queen" than sit home and knit. – LR

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7. Daniel Radcliffe

There's just something magical about this guy. Radcliffe is quietly re-writing the book on how to grow up in the spotlight by staying true to himself and managing not to take himself too seriously. Forget following "Harry Potter" with another big franchise – this guy opted for Broadway. Now, following a successful turn in "The Woman in Black," he's focusing on independent films and getting super-involved in charities (he earned a Hero Award from the Trevor Project in 2011). – BLH

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6. Anna Kendrick

She can sing – really well, actually. She more than held her own against Hollywood icon George Clooney in "Up in the Air." And, unless you're a Twi-Hard – or you're a Twi-Hard being brutally honest with yourself – you know the moments Kendrick spent onscreen were the best and brightest of the entire "Twilight Saga." We love the way she's stayed friendly and funny, despite her success … and, after seeing "Pitch Perfect," we really want to go to karaoke with her. – BT

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5. Ryan Gosling

Gosling played the ultimate babe magnet in "Crazy, Stupid, Love.," but the truth is, he wasn't acting. Once you've starred in arguably the most popular chick flick of all time, pretty much everything you do is going to be swoon-worthy. But not only does the Oscar-nominated star have the acting chops to back up his hotness, he's also got a few other talents, like saving damsels in distress, breaking up fights and busting a move. He's basically our hero. – LR

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4. Rashida Jones

It shouldn't be any surprise that the daughter of legendary musical producer Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton is talented; we've seen her draw laughs on TV's "Parks and Recreation" and movies like "I Love You, Man," flex her dramatic muscle in "The Social Network," and display her writing prowess with this summer's "Celeste and Jesse Forever." Apparently she's also a really good singer-songwriter. What's mildly surprising is discovering just how incredibly down-to-earth, friendly and just plain cool she is in real life, too. – KP

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3. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Part of JGL's cachet is rooted in his talent – as an actor and script-picker. We can count his mediocre choices on one hand, and they're far outweighed by the outstanding in his lengthy resume. From could-have-been-silly teen comedy "10 Things I Hate About You" to noir thriller "Brick" to Christopher Nolan's beautiful mindf**k "Inception," JGL's movies are almost as cool as JGL himself. Owning hitRECord, an open-collaborative production company for artists of all kinds, is icing on the cake. – BT

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2. Paul Rudd

Show us a dude who doesn't have a man-crush on Paul Rudd and we'll prove that dude probably doesn't have a soul. Characterized by his Midwestern amicability, everyman sensibilities and fully understated comedic style, Rudd can play the ultimate d-bag ("Wet Hot American Summer," "40-Year-Old Virgin") and you'd still want make him your boy. It's even better that we know he's more like his lovable "I Love You, Man" and "Our Idiot Brother" characters. – KP

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1. Emma Stone

What could be cooler than a gorgeous, talented and self-deprecating gal? There's something about the "Easy A" star that makes us crazy stupid love her, and we're not even sure we can put our finger on it. Perhaps it's the chill attitude she brings to every photo shoot (or even a paparazzi stalk — see also her charity promotions while walking around with BF Andrew Garfield), or maybe it's the sense that no matter how high atop the A-list this 23-year-old gets, she'll still be someone who can share a laugh over a beer with her high school friends … and Spider-Man, of course. – BLH

Universal

The first full-length glimpse of "This Is 40," Judd Apatow's (unofficial) sequel to "Knocked Up," is finally here. Well, it's online anyway.

The trailer reveals a story based on the day-to-day lives of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann,who happens to be Apatow's real-life wife)—Katherine Heigl's sister and brother-in-law from the 2007 hit "Knocked Up." It aims to show the reality of aging-- your kids growing up, your body dropping down-- with enough laughs to make us all feel better about our inevitable decline becoming older and wiser.

The trailer opens with Rudd (clad in spandex cycling gear) asking his friend, innocently, if he ever fantasizes about his wife dying so he can get a new one. Somehow, though, when Rudd says it, it really doesn't sound that mean. Maybe it's his sheepish smile or earnest blue eyes. Just sayin'.

It seems the movie has big aspirations, claiming (in bold letters) that this isn't just their story—"It's everyone's story." Combine that with the fact that it's the first flick Apatow has actually directed himself since 2009's "Funny People" and its Christmas release and it's pretty clear that the powers-that-be believe this is the middle-aged movie that can succeed. So check out the trailer for yourself, courtesy of Empire Online, and see if you can see your future in this family. Just don't say we didn't warn you.

Warner Bros.

This week: In "Project X," a teenage house party goes viral, and the neighborhood watches helplessly as things get explosive.

Other new DVD releases include the funny, warm-hearted "Jeff, Who Lives at Home," the fish-out-of-water comedy "Wanderlust" with Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston, and the Blu-ray debut of Christian Bale in "Newsies."

'Project X'

Warner Bros.

Box Office: $54.7 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 26% Rotten
Storyline: Three high school teens (Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathan Daniel Brown) plan a party to make a name for themselves, but the situation gets out of control when the all-night bash attracts news helicopters and even the police are unable to get the party under control. This R-rated found-footage flick comes with an extended version to keep the party going.
Extras! The Blu-ray exclusive "Project Xpensive: Tallying Up the Damages" adds up the final price of the trio's fight for their right to party.
We Say: Even though the three lead characters and the partygoers initially come across as obnoxious and mean-spirited, everyone can relate to wanting to gain the respect of their high school peers. Part cautionary tale, part birth-control incentive and part "Animal House" for Generation Next, you might still end up rooting for Thomas to succeed in his quest to have the most epic birthday party of all time, even as his parents' house literally burns down around him.

'Jeff, Who Lives at Home'

Paramount

Box Office: $4.3 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Fresh
Storyline: Jason Segel plays the titular character -- a 30-year-old stoner living in his mother's (Susan Sarandon) basement -- who searches for the meaning of life by following random signs. An errand to get wood glue sends him on a cross-town adventure during which he helps his brother (Ed Helms) spy on his cheating wife, as Jeff himself stumbles toward enlightenment.
Extras! Except for an Ultraviolet digital copy of the movie that you can stream from the cloud service to any compatible device, there are no extras on the DVD or Blu-ray.
We Say: On the opposite end of the emotional spectrum from "Project X," this warm, funny tale about one guy's quest for meaning features touching performances by Segel and Helms. There's also an engaging subplot about Sarandon's lonely cubicle worker, who's excited about having a secret admirer in the office.

'Wanderlust'

Universal

Box Office: $17.3 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 59% Rotten
Storyline: After George (Paul Rudd) loses his high-stress job, he and his wife Linda (Jennifer Aniston) abandon their expensive Manhattan studio apartment and wind up crashing at Elysium, a wilderness commune filled with nouveau hippies, pacifists, nudists and sexual explorers (played by Justin Theroux, Malin Akerman and Alan Alda). Will George and Linda stay, or will they go?
Extras! The Blu-ray contains the Bizarro Cut, an alternate version of the film with different jokes in every scene.
We Say: This fish-out-of-water comedy works because of the improvisational skills of its talented cast -- particularly Rudd and Theroux -- and the fact that the naturalistic hippie ideology is easy to make fun of in an age of smartphones and iPads. Writer-director-producer David Wain paints these nouveau flower children as goofy, good-natured aliens unaware of how the world has moved on, which is funny in a pitiful kind of way.

'Newsies' 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray

Walt Disney Video

Box Office: $2.8 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 32% Rotten
Storyline: Long before he played Batman, Christian Bale starred as Jack "Cowboy" Kelly, a young man who organizes a union of newsboys that goes on strike after the price of newspapers is raised. Based on the true story of New York's Newsboys Strike of 1899, this musical drama has 12 songs and multiple dance sequences.
Extras! This Blu-ray debut has a sing-along feature, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and an interesting mini-documentary on the actual strike.
We Say: Disney performed a state-of-the-art restoration on this period musical, and it shows in every frame. The film didn't find much love upon its initial release in 1992, but has since found a cult following that should increase now with popularity of "Glee" and Bale's "The Dark Knight Rises" looming.

Also New This Week:

"Evita" Blu-ray
"Big Miracle"
"The FP"
"Blade" Blu-ray
"Blade Trinity" Blu-ray

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Ever since the first teaser for "Anchorman 2" dropped like a comedy A-bomb on the world two weeks ago, fans have been asking one question: Whither Veronica Corningstone? Okay, so most of them weren't using the word "whither," but still, while it was great to see Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and David Koechner in their polyester suits again, the absence of Christina Applegate was glaring.

Well, good news: According to Celebuzz, Applegate's representatives have confirmed that she will indeed be returning as the number one woman in broadcast news, Veronica Corningstone.

Corningstone, of course, was one of the main characters in the original "Anchorman;" indeed, without her presence as both an antagonist and love interest for Ferrell's self-centered Ron Burgandy, there wouldn't have been a story at all. So she's kind of a big deal.

Until now, though, it hadn't yet been confirmed that Applegate would be returning for the sequel. And it wouldn't have been a huge surprise if she had missed it, as Applegate is currently hard at work putting together the second season of her NBC sitcom "Up All Night."

Now, though, it appears that the whole gang will be back for "Anchorman 2," Applegate included. And all we can say is, that's one bit of news that doesn't smell like a used diaper filled with Indian food. Welcome back, Veronica!

Paramount

When word first came out that there would be an "Anchorman 2" teaser trailer before showings of "The Dictator" last week, many folks were confused for a simple reason: The movie hasn't been filmed yet. Or written. Or ... anything. So how could they already have a trailer done?

Well, the first teaser has hit the internet and the answer is clear: Put Ron Burgundy and his friends in front of a camera and they will just make s**t up until you laugh.

Now that's a recipe for success.

Burgundy, of course, is noted improvisationalist Will Ferrell, so winging it is hardly anything new. And considering he's once again backed up by the all-star comedic line-up of Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and David Koechner — not to mention directed by Funny or Die co-founder Adam McKay — the fact that the spur-of-the-moment teaser delivers better than most trailers for completed movies is no surprise.

So here it is, the first look at "Anchorman: The Legend Continues." Just don't expect any of this to be in the actual film.

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You know how you can tell a real tried-and-true collaboration? When two talented people make a flop together, yet continue to work on project after project.

Those two people in question are director David Wain and star Paul Rudd, who Variety says will reunite before the flaming box office wreckage of "Wanderlust" has even been put out by the fire department on anti-romantic comedy "They Came Together."

"Parks and Recreation" all-star Amy Poehler, who appeared opposite Rudd in Wain's 2001 cult camp comedy "Wet Hot American Summer," will add her unparalleled improv gifts to the script, which was originally intended to be Wain and co-writer Michael Showalter's follow-up to "Wet Hot" before it was canceled by Universal a decade ago.

After the more mainstream "Wanderlust" and "Role Models," Wain is returning to his roots by making this new meta take on the rom-com genre through Lionsgate's microbudget division.

The love story is kicked-off by a very "You've Got Mail" meet-cute situation, involving Joel (Rudd) and Molly (Poehler): "His big corporation is the one that threatens to shut down her quirky knick-knack store. Their predictably on-again/off-again relationship features rom-com staples such as the jealous ex-girlfriend, the office jerk, scary in-laws, a boring dentist, a wise dog and beautiful shots of New York City in autumn."

Rudd, who shares great chemistry with Poehler as a frequent guest star on "Parks and Recreation," still has Judd Apatow's "This Is 40" on the way this year and is stocking up on mustache wax for forthcoming "Anchorman 2." Poehler is currently filming "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner's "You Are Here" as Zach Galifianakis' sister.

Universal

Ask anybody and they'll tell you: Turning 40 is guaranteed to cause an existential meltdown. Luckily for us, though, other people's angst is Hollywood's primary source of entertainment — especially when those other people happen to be Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann.

"This Is 40." And this is a trailer you won't want to miss.

If the team of Rudd and Mann rings a distant bell with you, that's probably because the two co-starred opposite of each other as married couple Pete and Debbie in the hit 2007 comedy "Knocked Up."

And now director Judd Apatow has reunited the old team for a sort-of sequel that focuses on how the pair deals with hitting the big four-oh.

Add in Melissa McCarthy and Jason Segel and you've got a mid-life crisis that we wouldn't miss for all the botox in the world. Check it out, courtesy of Apple:

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Paul Rudd, who has been on a roll lately, has just landed another one — a role, that is. Word around Tinseltown is that the funny guy du jour is gearing up to headline "Admission," directed by Paul Weitz (of "American Pie" and "About a Boy" fame).

If this deal goes through, Rudd would replace Owen Wilson, who had been previously circling the comedy.

Though story details remain sparse, the story follows an unmarried college admissions counselor (played by none other than Tina Fey) who meets a man she went to school with, but never really knew (Rudd).

It just so happens, however, that he's been harboring thoughts about her, and possibly a secret, for years. OK, so that sounds kinda creepo but since it's a comedy, we're going to bet it's not.

Penned by Karen Croner (the scribe behind the '98 tearjerker "One True Thing"), the story should have an ample dose of "heart" built in. Before this, though, Rudd still has "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and "This Is 40" coming out — not to mention the surprising "Wanderlust," in theaters now.

Shooting is slated to begin sometime in May, after "30 Rock" wraps earlier in spring, which is a good thing because we're not sure how long we can wait to see Paul Rudd try to wine and dine Liz Lemon Tina Fey.

NBC

As if we didn't have enough reasons to dig on Paul Rudd, the funnyman has given us more… seven more, actually.

While dropping by "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" on Friday, ostensibly to promote new Anistonian comedy "Wanderlust," Rudd and Fallon reminisced about all the movies they made this year that went unnoticed by critics and audiences alike.

They trotted out seven posters, each with a more brilliantly idiotic premise than the last.

Some of the fakesterpieces cast likeable Rudd opposite Fallon in some compromising situations, including as a mini-Minuteman in "L'il Patriot," a big revolutionary war drama in one tiny package.

"It was tricky 'cause it was a small budget and there was no CGI. Everywhere I went they had to just dig a hole and put you on apple boxes," said Rudd, taking a page out of the "Tiptoes" playbook.

Other posters include crossdressing comedy "That’s What 'She' Said," horse-themed courtroom drama "All Opposed Say 'Neigh'," and the fairly self-explanatory "3-DJs."

Can you imagine ditching an urban jungle like New York City for a not-so-urban forest and a bunch of hippies?

Neither can we, but that's exactly what Linda (Jennifer Aniston) and George (Paul Rudd) had to do when they faced unemployment in the movie "Wanderlust."

As they traveled in search of a new home, our minds followed their changes in fashion, which were reflective of where they were. Ultimately, as they end up in "Hippie Land," we were submersed in a world fringe and skin-baring clothing.

Even if that hippie-like style doesn't particularly appeal to you, Linda and George manage a few looks that could work for just about anyone. See for yourself in our the latest Get the Goods — you won't have to go far to score the hip looks from "Wanderlust."

Lauren Cox

If I could sum up my meeting with Paul Rudd yesterday into one word, it would be awkward.

In my experience, the funnier the celebrity, the more socially off they are. Don't get me wrong: the "Wanderlust" star is a super nice guy. When he arrived at the "Late Show with David Letterman" studio yesterday, he came right across the street and started signing – even personalizing! – autographs for fans.

Once he signed for the group of girls next to me, I promptly asked him for a picture. He ignored me.

Awkward!

However, as Paul made his way along the barricade signing all sorts of Judd Apatow memorabilia, I asked again. Okay, scratch that. I pleaded. I even went so far as to make puppy dog eyes at his publicist but she wasn't paying any attention to me. Feeling sheepish (read: shameless), I asked again every time Paul even looked in my general direction.

Just as the publicist announced he needed to wrap it up and get inside, Paul came back up to my end of the barricade to return the guy next to me's Sharpie, and, again, I asked for a picture. His publicist started to interfere but Paul said, "I'm just gonna get these guys right here first."

Not only did Paul finally take a picture with me, but he also got the group of girls next to me. My pleading paid off for all.

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Like many of you, Professional Fan Girl Lauren Cox has always had a fascination with movie stars. She's turned her hobby – hitting premieres and other events in New York City to meet them – into a blog, and now a NextMovie column. Keep up with her adventures meeting celebs by following her on Twitter.

According to Jennifer Aniston, "nude" does not qualify as "news."

Aniston and her "Wanderlust" co-star Paul Rudd appeared on MTV First to discuss their raunchy new comedy about a suddenly unemployed Manhattan couple who move to a commune inhabited by people who don't really see a need for clothing most of the time. In staying true to the film's premise, the Hollywood superstars stepped up to the plate and stripped for the camera.

Aniston's purported nude scene has been the subject of much hullabaloo in leading up to the film's release, but the "Horrible Bosses" star has waved off the scene.

"Big deal," she said. "At that point we had been shooting for two months, two-and-a-half months, and the amount of things we were asked to do that we were just, 'All right' ... at that point it was, like, putting on my shoes."

Or, rather, taking off her shoes.

You can watch the full interview with Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd (and watch them introduce an exclusive, never-before-seen clip from "Wanderlust") when MTV First: Wanderlust airs on MTV on Wednesday, Feb. 22 starting at 7:56 p.m. ET.

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That smile. Those eyes. That devil-may-care attitude. Sure, ladies love him -- but who wouldn't be lost in the wily, sardonic sea that is "Wanderlust" star Paul Rudd, the guy who put the "man" in "bromance"?

Having first caught our eye in Amy Heckerling's "Clueless" in 1995, this former bat mitzvah DJ has always had charm to spare and the kind of non-threatening good looks that headliners are made of. Despite featured roles in hit movies like "The Cider House Rules" and "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet," not to mention practically becoming the unofficial seventh friend as Pheobe's husband on "Friends," it took Rudd nearly a decade to truly enter the bro-sphere with a little watershed film called "Anchorman."

In the 2004 Will Ferrell newsroom comedy, 1970s-era crazypants antics reigned among members of the Channel 4 News Team, including the stylish one of the group, Brian Fantana (Rudd).

DreamWorks

"I know what you're asking yourself, and the answer is yes, I have a nickname for my penis," said Fantana. "It's called the Octagon, but I also nicknamed my testes -- my left one is James Westfall and my right one is Doctor Kenneth Noisewater. You ladies play your cards right, you just might get to meet the whole gang."

Rudd played the mustachioed Fantana's over-the-top bravado to absolute perfection, so much so that you could practically smell the crockpot of testosterone through the screen … or was that Sex Panther by Odeon?

Rudd solidified his standing as the American male's hetero lifemate the following year, helping Steve Carell get some action in Judd Apatow's "40-Year-Old Virgin." In 2007's "Knocked Up" he played Leslie Mann's fantasy baseball-loving husband, who takes the journey with slacker Seth Rogen of going from manchild to grown-up despite having a good decade on Rogen.

All three of these movies made Rudd a bona fide member of the Frat Pack, as well as an all-star MVP in the Apatowverse, to the point where he was actually the alternate choice to play the Adam Sandler role in "Funny People."

He's not just a fave of the Apatow clan, though, as evidenced by his longtime association with "The State" alum David Wain, who wrote and directed Rudd in several hit comedies including "Role Models" and "Wet Hot American Summer." It was the latter cult summer-camp film that made men want to carve their names with his on a tree after one of the all-time classic scenes, the infamous cafeteria temper tantrum.

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This week our mancrush will reteam with Wain for the communal comedy "Wanderlust" (costarring Jennifer Aniston), and later this year he'll reprise his "Knocked Up" role alongside Mann in Apatow's nonquel "This Is Forty." Will he continue to be an outstanding comedic actor while also getting the opportunity to show off those dramatic chops we know he has? Will he keep flashing that smile that makes men and women melt in equal measure?

A great quote from a 2003 EW interview pretty much sums up why Rudd is a guy's guy who makes the kind of movies we actually want to watch: ''I'd like to have the acting equivalent of Elvis Costello's or Tom Waits' career -- navigating a life where art and commerce don't have to go together.''

Universal

Lust may be one of the seven deadly sins, but from where we're sitting, it kind of all depends on what you're lusting after.

Coveting thy neighbor's nanny? Bad. Coveting our amazing new "Wanderlust" giveaway prize package, which includes a Jennifer Aniston/Paul Rudd DVD Prize Pack?

Well, let's just say the confession booth is going to be really crowded after this one.

That's because Aniston and Rudd have proven time and time again that they are two of Hollywood's premiere rom-com stars, with "Wanderlust" — which opens this Friday and features the pair as a couple who unexpectedly find themselves living in a hippie commune — only being the most recent example.

So to celebrate their latest achievement, we're giving away both a "Wanderlust" t-shirt and the ultimate Aniston/Rudd DVD pack, which includes copies of the Rudd hits "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Roles Models" as well as the Aniston vehicles "The Break-Up" and "Love Happens." And all you have to do to win is read the rules and enter your name in our free giveaway.

Lust: It's not so bad after all, now is it?

To enter, just shoot us an email at NextMovie@MTV.com and include your name, address, birthdate and be sure to copy and paste the following statement:

"By sending this email, I accept and agree to: (1) the Official Rules of the 'Wanderlust' Giveaway and (2) MTV Networks’, a division of Viacom International Inc., Nextmovie.com Terms of Use and Privacy Policy."

The contest runs from now until 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Entrants must be at least 13 years old and reside in the U.S. Click here for complete rules and further details.

As an added bonus, all entrants will be signed up for the fun and useful UpNext newsletter. As an UpNext subscriber, you'll receive daily updates on the hottest releases, events and merch from the world of movies.

For most celebrity-types, all roads eventually lead back to Hollywood.

Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd and other famous wandering spirits found their way to the premiere of "Wanderlust," the new comedy about a suddenly unemployed Manhattan couple who experiment with living in a rural commune that practices "free love." How many scenes do you think will feature Aniston and Rudd looking uncomfortable and confused as naked people wander around like nothin' is nothin'?

Everyone kept their clothes on for the premiere, though, including Malin Akerman, Judd Apatow, Justin Theroux, Kathryn Hahn, Kerri Kenney and Ray Liotta.

Check out our gallery because it feels good, and get down with some "Wanderlust" yourself when it opens on Feb. 24.

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A tree may grow in Brooklyn, but if you can't find it there, don't worry, because Paul Rudd 's got one — and he'll be happy to sell it to you.

Sound weird? Well, don't worry, Rudd hasn't given up the life of a Hollywood star to become New York's most charismatic arborist; according to Deadline, he's actually getting ready to shoot the upcoming comedy "Lucky Dog," about a con-man turned Christmas tree salesman.

No wonder mommy was kissing Santa Claus.

But before you start thinking this is another feel-good story about someone learning the true meaning of Christmas, well, think again.

See, "Lucky Dog" is being filmed by director Phil Morrison, who is best known as the auteur behind the indie dramedy "Junebug," which earned Amy Adams an Oscar nomination back in 2006.

And while Adams won't be around this time, Rudd will have some pretty high profile company, as he's being joined by Paul Giamatti for a story that "centers on a pair of French-Canadian conmen pals who, despite being on the outs with each other, hatch a get-rich-quick scheme to sell Christmas trees in NY."

Add in the always awesome Sally Hawkins and you may not have a recipe for holiday cheer, but you definitely have a recipe for box office magic.

Eureka Pictures

While crowds at Utah's Sundance Film Festival were marking the 10th anniversary of the cult comedy hit "Wet Hot American Summer" by, well, watching other movies, the cast found their own way to mark the occasion ... with a massive reunion in San Francisco that included a live stage performance of the script.

Advantage: Cali.

Almost the entire original cast of "Wet Hot American Summer," which was a flop when it hit theaters a decade ago but which has since become an underground sensation, got back together one more time to reprise their roles from the original for a special live script reading in front of a delirious San Fran crowd — and thanks to Entertainment Weekly, those of us who couldn't make it in person can at least check out some sweet photos of the once in a lifetime event.

So just who was in attendance at the Marines Memorial Theater? Well, one-time unknowns Amy Poehler and Paull Rudd were joined by Molly Shannon, Michael Showalter, David Wain and Ian Michael Black. And while not everyone could attend -- David Hyde Pierce and Janeane Garofalo were notably absent -- some high profile celebrity fans stepped up to fill in the gaps, including David Cross, Andy Richter, Busy Phillips and Colin Hanks.

Head to Entertainment Weekly to check out the exclusive pics — and wash your winter blues away with a little slice of "Summer" heaven

DreamWorks

Freezing people is easy. Coming up with a great cast for a major motion picture about cryogenics? Now that's hard.

And yet, it looks as though Oscar winning director Errol Morris has done just that, as Deadline is reporting that Paul Rudd, Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson and Christopher Walken are all close to inking deals to appear in the upcoming film "Freezing People Is Easy."

When they said the iceman cometh, this is probably not what they had in mind.

Here's the background on "Freezing People,"  which is clearly a bit of an odd duck right from the synopsis: Based on Robert Nelson's memoir "We Froze the First Man," it tells the tale of how Nelson and his cohorts created cryogenics in the mid 1960's through trial and error, a process which we're pretty happy we didn't get to see first hand.

Screenwriter Zach Helm ("Stranger Than Fiction"), however, saw the cinematic and comedic possibilities and whipped up a screenplay, which Morris is now set to direct in a bit of a departure for him; up until now, he's worked almost exclusively in documentaries.

If you're going to make your first scripted film, though, you could do a lot worse than having a team like Rudd, Wiig, Wilson and Walken, though. And while none of them are technically signed on yet -- Wiig in particular is up in the air due to being on everybody's want list right now -- the thought of them all riffing on the wacky world of frozen corpses is enough to warm anybody's heart.

No offense intended.

Universal

Sometimes you just have to break out of your routine and try something new -- and that's true even if you're a big time Hollywood star. Take Paul Rudd for example. Sure, he's been in a bunch of wildly successful Judd Apatow films, but even Rudd must feel a little creative wanderlust from time to time, right?

Well, thank goodness he does, because the first trailer for Rudd's newest project has arrived -- and "Wanderlust" appears to be one case of art imitating life imitating awesome.

Not that Rudd is any stranger to director David Wain either; after all, the two previously teamed for the cult hits "Role Models" and "Wet Hot American Summer."

This time around, though, they seem to have outdone themselves with the story of a guy (that's Rudd) who, along with his reluctant wife (Jennifer Aniston) sort of accidentally end up living in a weird hippie commune.

And since that commune is filled with all sorts of other top notch stars -- like Malin Akerman, Alan Alda and Reba McEntire (no, really) -- this is one side trip that has a detour straight to box office magic.

Here's the trailer for "Wanderlust," courtesy of Yahoo! Movies:

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Funny guy Seth Rogen has something new to smile about: he's married! On Sunday, the comedy star tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, writer Lauren Miller, at Kunde Estate in Sonoma, California.

A female rabbi (who apparently also has a solid sense of humor) officiated the Jewish ceremony on a hilltop overlooking picturesque vineyards. "The wedding was more laughs than anything else," US Weekly reports. "Every other line was a joke and the crowd couldn't contain their laughter. It was nonstop fun!"

As you probably expected, the three-day celebration was a star-studded event. Guests included Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Craig Robinson (0f "The Office" fame), director-producer Judd Apatow and wife Leslie Mann, plus their two freakishly adorable kids. Bet that was one good party.

From the looks of Seth in his tux and Lauren in her ballgown, the wedding day was a bit more traditional than the proposal — which Seth admitted happened while Lauren "was changing in the closet." Ahh, just like every girl dreams about.

Though something tells us if Lauren can hang with Seth, the nontraditional proposal probably didn't throw her off. Congratulations to the happy couple!

DreamWorks

Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has had a hand in making some of the most influential and appreciated films of the past half-century or so but, in his long and storied career, he's never appeared in front of the camera...until now. So, did he choose to make his debut in a moving drama, or a scintillating satirical expose of the Hollywood studio system?

Nope - he basically sits there and watches Paul Rudd be wacky for three minutes in a Funny or Die clip promoting the upcoming "Our Idiot Brother."

Fortunately, Rudd is pretty hilarious (and handsome - some guys just have it all), so it's fun to watch him reel off marketing ideas for the movie, molest Weinstein's furniture, and just generally make an ass of himself. And, for what it's worth, Weinstein makes a great straight man. Watch, and witness movie history in the making.

DreamWorks

Errol Morris may be one of, if not the, premiere documentary filmmakers. His subjects have been as varied as pet cemeteries ("Gates of Heaven"), Stephen Hawking ("A Brief History of Time") and Abu Ghraib prison ("Standard Operating Procedure"), and are known for their directness and frequent Philip Glass scores.

One of his docs, "The Thin Blue Line," actually played an integral part in getting a man released from prison.

Now the Oscar-winner is planning to step over another line, into narrative feature filmmaking, and he's taking Paul Rudd with him.

According to The Washington Post, the documentarian has the "Anchorman" star nailed down to play Bob Nelson, a real-life 1960's TV repairman who joins a group of folks developing technology to freeze people for later resuscitation. The screenplay is being developed by Zach Helm along with "This American Life" head-honcho Ira Glass, based on a famous segment from that Public Radio program.

Although Morris considers this his first foray into this type of filmmaking, he's flirted with several similar projects in the past, including two Stephen King adaptations and a bank robbery movie with Tom Waits and Mickey Rourke. He's credited as director on 1991's Lou Diamond Phillips Indian reservation thriller "The Dark Wind," on which he was let go by producer Robert Redford. He considers the Bob Nelson project his first dramatic feature.

Nelson is a great American eccentric, and a perfect fit for Rudd who specializes in likable goofs, but an even greater fit for Morris whose forte is making characters like this not just palatable but truly fascinating. Here's him summarizing his approach in a 1992 interview:

"The idea is to allow each character to create a world for themselves, a dream. I've always thought of my portraits as my own version of the Museum of Natural History, these very odd dioramas where you're trying to create some foreign exotic environment and place it on display."

Warner Bros.

It wasn't until the climax of 2005's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" that Voldemort first appeared in the flesh, but it was well worth the wait as we beheld the beastly Death Eater in all his noseless glory.

We're not saying Ralph Fiennes isn't perfect for the role (in fact, Ralph Fiennes IS pretty perfect for the role), but what if the filmmakers had gone elsewhere when casting Voldy?

We did the dirty work and imagined eight other actors as Voldemort.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Johnny Depp

Christian Bale

Denzel Washington

Jude Law

Paul Rudd

Charlie Sheen

The Rock

[Photoshop wizardy by Dustin Glick]

Originally published Nov. 12, 2010

Want more Potter? Vote for your favorite character in the Potter World Cup on MTV Movies Blog.

Big Beach Films

Whether he's playing the straightman to a band of wacky co-stars ("I Love You, Man," "Role Models") or the affable dunce ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall", "Anchorman"), Paul Rudd  is always exuding charisma. The actor would have to commit a fairly heinous crime for our love to even begin to wane -- he's that charming.

Now, Rudd will put his laid back allure to the test with his new movie "Our Idiot Brother," a family comedy about a all-around nice hippie who redefines Murphy's Law.

After being arrested for dealing pot from his organic food stand, Rudd's Ned finds himself without a home, hopping from one family member's apartment to the next. Unfortunately, when he's with his sisters, everything that could go wrong, does go wrong.

The first trailer for the film has popped up on YouTube and it's Rudd working at 110%: goofy, fun-loving and on an entirely different planet then the rest of the world. "Our Idiot Brother," which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival (back when it was titled "My Idiot Brother") to generally favorable reviews, puts  Rudd in the middle of a bevy of known actresses, including Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer and Zooey Deschanel, who play Ned's sisters, plus Rashida Jones as Deschanel's girlfriend. The trailer gives Rudd plenty of room to crack jokes and dabble in slapstick, but also looks to intertwine the comedy with a ton of heart -- a sentiment echoed by those who caught it earlier this year.

Check out the trailer for "Our Idiot Brother," which hits theaters August 26.

Warner Bros.

Between YouTube, Upright Citizens Brigade, and half the cast of "Freaks And Geeks" creating world-famous superstars, there is a literal glut of talent coming through the comedy pipelines, which as metaphorical as they are could probably use some kind of filtration system.

That's where we come in. We're here to give you the skinny on the 20 most uproariously irreverent, maniacally twisted, ingeniously brilliant (male) comedic movie stars out there (see our picks for top 20 funniest women here).

20. Michael Cera

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Taking exasperated wimpitude to new heights, this wee 22-year-old Canadian took the big screen by storm in 2007 with the twin successes of "Juno" and "Superbad." The latter teen comedy showcased Cera's deadpan to maximum effect as the ultrasensitive Evan, who sets his phaser to "flustered" when the girl of his dreams decides to sock it to him. This past year he did a 180-degree riff on his wuss persona playing a twee musician who also happens to kick major butt in the fan fav, "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World."

Bonus TV Cred: Cera first brought his deer-in-the-headlights comedy approach to television playing Jason Bateman's son George-Michael on "Arrested Devlopment."

19. Justin Timberlake

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Former Mouseketeer and 'N Sync frontman Timberlake may have seemed initially easy to write off as another cookie-cutter boy band tabloid king, but not only can the guy act, but he's proven he's funny as hell. Timberlake chose some unfortunate vehicles such as "The Love Guru" at first, but he transcended the awfulness of those pictures and caught the ever exacting eye of director David Fincher, who cast him as Napster bad boy Sean Parker in "The Social Network." This summer JT turns into a true comedic movie star, honing his chops in two high-profile summer laughers, "Bad Teacher" and "Friends With Benefits."

Bonus TV Cred: Alongside side Andy Samberg, Timberlake made "SNL" digital shorts all the rage with "D**k in a Box" and "Motherlovers."

18. Ken Jeong

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This real-life MD won a Laff-Off in New Orleans then promptly moved to Los Angeles where he started doing standup at The Improv and Laugh Factory, eventually scoring some TV guest shots. It was Dr. Ken's breakout role as the endearing-but-tightly-wound gynecologist in "Knocked Up" that put him on the map and led to other supporting parts in "Role Models" and "Pineapple Express" ("Suck my balls… two times!"). His biggest hit has been as the flamboyant gangster Leslie Chow in "The Hangover," which he will reprise for the sequel.

Bonus TV Cred: Jeong is the hilariously pathetic, disgraced Spanish teacher on NBC's "Community."

17. James Franco

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America's favorite multi-hyphenate has dabbled in all there is to dabble in: writing, directing, painting, performance art, PHD studies, Oscar hosting, and, presumably, open-heart surgery. Oh, and occasionally the dude acts too. One of the great discoveries from Judd Apatow's classic dramedy series "Freaks And Geeks," Franco's shown his dramatic chops in "Milk" and an Academy Award-nominated turn in "127 Hours," but earned stoner hero status playing cross-joint inventor Saul Silver in "Pineapple Express." He reunites with "Express" co-star Danny McBride and director David Gordon Green in this month's equally irreverent "Your Highness," followed most likely by an attempt to scale Mount Everest.

16. Jonah Hill

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Another "Son of Apatow," this portly performer made it big as the foul-mouthed, sex-crazed yin to Michael Cera's yang in "Superbad." He started as a writer/performer in New York's East Village, until a friendship with Dustin Hoffman's kids got him his first break in "I Heart Huckabees." We learned to heart Jonah from his many appearances with the Apatow gang, playing abrasive loud mouths in "Knocked Up" and "Funny People," but especially his uncredited cameo in "Walk Hard" as an angry spirit: "I can't even masturbate! You ever tried to jerk off with a ghost hand? Nothing!"

15. Mark Wahlberg

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Here's a guy whose career defies logic, time, and space. After we stopped feelin' the good vibrations in the early '90s, you'd think Marky Mark would have gone the way of Vanilla Ice and taken his Funky Bunch on the last Greyhound out of town, but NO. He had to be TALENTED, much to cynics' eternal frustration. He explored the highs and lows of porn stardom as the John Holmes stand-in for "Boogie Nights" and continued to find the funny side of things in films like "Three Kings," "I Heart Huckabees," and "Planet Of The Apes"… okay, so that last one's not intentionally comedic, but, ya know. Last year he had dynamite chemistry with Will Ferrell in "The Other Guys," proving a true comic star, and will soon join family guy Seth MacFarlane for "Ted."

14. Ed Helms

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This plucky performer got his start in New York City, where he eventually attended an open-audition for "The Daily Show," got the gig, and after his four-year tenure on the show followed in Steve Carell's footsteps to the silver screen. After a few minor roles, he hit paydirt as the put upon Dr. Stu Price in "The Hangover," where he lost a tooth, married a hooker, and played piano. The underrated "Cedar Rapids," with Helms in the lead, didn't make much of a splash, but he'll get married to hottie Jamie Chung (!) in the sequel, "The Hangover: Part II."

Bonus TV Cred: He plays the lovable, musically talented goof Andy Bernard on "The Office."

13. John C. Reilly

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Here's an excellent case of a low-profile character actor who finally came into his own. Having made appearances in over 60 movies and TV shows over the years, Reilly was initially just "that guy" in flicks like "Days Of Thunder," until finally landing gigs for dudes like Martin Scorsese and an Oscar nod (cha-ching!) for "Chicago." We know him best, though, as Will Ferrell's buddy in "Talladega Nights" and "Step Brothers," with director Adam McKay praising his comedy improv ability on both films, claiming Reilly often makes up lines for other actors besides himself. He'll yuck it up again next year for "Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie."

12. Craig Robinson

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In "Pineapple Express" the often-abused Robinson (see Bonus TV Cred) dealt the abuse, typicallyu with a loaded gun, and was still hilarious (until he got his nuts smashed with a Daewoo). No matter what the situation, Robinson is a professional scene-stealer from the likes of Seth Rogen ("Zack And Miri Make A Porno") and John Cusack ("Hot Tub Time Machine"). Of all the dudes on this list, we would LOVE to see Robinson get his shot at a lead role soon.

Bonus TV Cred: As Darryl, the warehouse foreman at Dunder Mifflin for TV's "The Office," he absorbs much of Michael Scott's abuse.

11. Danny McBride

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While many of those on this list come from television or major improv institutions, here is a truly self-made comedy superstar. He wrote and starred in his own super-low-budget vehicle "The Foot Fist Way" playing a Taekwondo guru in need of a reality check. The $79,000 dollar film got him noticed, and it also got him high profile supporting roles in big laughers like "Tropic Thunder." Aside from his starring role in "Your Highness," we'll see him this summer opposite Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari in "30 Minutes Or Less."

Bonus TV Cred: McBride plays the deluded-but-capable jackass (amplified up to 11) as former baseball great Kenny Powers on the HBO series "Eastbound And Down."

10. Aziz Ansari

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This South Carolina native of Indian heritage has been blowing up since Rolling Stone named him their "Hot Standup" of 2005. Ansari honed his skills at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, forming sketch group Human Giant that landed an MTV series. He branched out into scene-stealing parts in movies like "Observe And Report." For Judd Apatow's "Funny People," Ansari created the garish comic Raaaaaaaandy (with eight "A"s) who he described as "Soulja Boy doing comedy." His best joke as the character involved performing cunnilingus underwater and wishing he'd died doing it, "'cause that would have been the most baller death of all time!"

Bonus TV Cred: Ansari plays the lovable, hilarious hip-hop loving bureaucrat/wannabe entrepreneur Tom Haverford on "Parks and Recreation."

9. Bill Murray

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When someone asks you if Bull Murray is a god, you say "Yes!" The often laconic, always brilliant performer is soaked from head-to-toe in 100-proof genuine screen presence. He just needs to stand there, he's so damn good. From "SNL" to "Caddyshack" to bustin' ghosts, Murray was already an icon by the time he hit the 90's and gave us "Groundhog Day." However, it wasn't until Wes Anderson cast him as the depressive steel tycoon in "Rushmore" that he began his "blue period," if you will. Turns in movies like "Lost In Translation" and "Broken Flowers" proved this was a serious guy, but just when we start taking him too seriously, there he was in "Zombieland," perhaps one of the funniest movie cameos of all time.

8. Sacha Baron Cohen

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Not since Peter Sellers has an actor created such indelible, varied, and eclectic comedic identities. His Channel 4 program "Da Ali G Show" became a showcase for his three big characters of Ali G, Brüno, and Borat, all three of which received their own movies, although it was "Borat" which launched him into the stratosphere of recognition. The filthy but lovable Kazakh blurred the line between staged gags and real-life reactions to major social faux pas, but proved very nice at the box office. Since making his way across the pond he's raced with Will Ferrell in "Talladega Nights," sang for Tim Burton in "Sweeney Todd" and will channel Clouseau for Scorsese as a French Inspector in the upcoming "Hugo Cabret."

7. Jason Segel

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Another "Freaks And Geeks" vet, he funneled all the sadness, frustration, and depression of his real-life breakup with actress Linda Cardellini for the screenplay he co-wrote with Nick Stoller of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." He broke boundaries for male actors by letting his little Segel hang out in a now-legendary breakup scene -- and played against type as a ballsy BFF any guy would kill to have in "I Love You Man" -- but it was his love of puppets and rendition of the "Muppet Show" theme that nabbed him the gig of bringing Jim Henson's adorable Muppets back to the big screen later this year for Disney.

Bonus TV Cred: He's the lovable Minnesotan Marshall Eriksen on "How I Met Your Mother."

6. Steve Carell

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He became legendary at Chicago's famous Second City comedy troupe (where Stephen Colbert was his understudy) but it would take another decade for his talents to get the attention they deserved via "The Daily Show," and then onscreen in the one-two-three punch of "Anchorman," "The 40 Year-Old Virgin," and "Little Miss Sunshine." As if the continued starring roles weren't enough to shore up his status as one of the biggest guys out there, "The Office" sealed the deal. He'll soon go out on a limb again for "Bad Santa" writers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa as a clueless Divorcé in "Crazy, Stupid, Love."

Bonus TV Cred: He takes obliviousness to Gervaisian heights as Dunder Mifflin boss Michael Scott on "The Office," but will leave the show at the end of this season.

5. Seth Rogen

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The shining hope for every overweight, frizzy-haired dude to one day get the girl, save the day, and still fit in time for some doobage. The "S" in "Seth" stands for three things: Sarcastic, Stoned, and Successful, and all it took was a helping hand from Mr. Apatow. Judd said of his power protégé (and "Knocked Up" star) that the initial impression on hiring him for "Freaks And Geeks" was of someone "born with a comic persona fully formed." Okay, we forgot a 4th "S": Screenwriter, since he and partner Evan Goldberg penned "Superbad" and "Pineapple Express," and more recently went big (except for Seth's weight-loss) for "The Green Hornet." He'll soon return to his roots with supporting roles in "50/50" and "Take This Waltz." One last "S": SUPERSTAR.

4. Paul Rudd

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Rudd first caught our eye all the way back in 1995 as Josh Lucas, the love interest of Alicia Silverstone in "Clueless"… not to be confused with movie star Josh Lucas, but like Josh Lucas he struggled to come into his own as a star. Unlike Josh Lucas, he succeeded, as another "Son of Apatow" to emerge from "Anchorman." He was reporter Brian Fantana, "the stylish one of the group," and didn't need a bottle of Sex Panther to attract a big following from then on. After several more Apatow productions, he tried his hand at co-writing with "Role Models" and hit a home run. Yes, the disaster of "How Do You Know" might be an albatross around his neck, but he's got the sure-thing "Knocked Up" quasi-sequel in-the-bag for 2012.

3. Russell Brand

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The British bad boy of comedy makes no bones about his checkered past, but with a future this bright he's gotta wear shades. Before he had the clout to fill Dudley Moore's shoes in the "Arthur" remake, Brand got his start in England as an MTV VJ and standup comic. He put the "VD" in "VJ" with his highly promiscuous ways and consumption of every drug known to mankind. After kicking the drugs he got cast as the rocker Aldous Snow in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," then reprised the part for "Get Him to the Greek," both of which made him a household name all over the world. He married some obscure singer named Katy Perry last year, and will give her pipes a run for their money in "Rock of Ages."

2. Zach Galifianakis

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For many years Zach was an acquired taste, like fine bearded wine. His unique style of standup involved plunking away beautiful melodies on the piano while spouting non sequiturs like: "Have you seen that show on CBS called 'The Amazing Race'? Is that show about white people?" This brand of ultra-irony was not for everyone, and after doing time in flicks like "Corky Romano" or "Out Cold" the underground comedian finally hit his mainstream stride as Alan Garner, the wildcard weirdo in "The Hangover." He proved it wasn't a fluke by holding his own opposite Robert Downey Jr. in "Due Date," and will reprise Alan in "The Hangover: Part II." This success train shouldn't derail anytime soon, assuming his "Between Two Ferns" guests don't strangle him.

Bonus TV Cred: He's "Bored To Death" on HBO.

1. Will Ferrell

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"I'M IN A GLASS CASE OF EM-O-TION!" Sure he did "SNL" for years, sure he had breakout success in 2003 with "Old School" and "Elf," but we knew it was for keeps when Ferrell donned that mustache for the outrageous "Anchorman." As both star and co-writer, he displayed a knack for controlled absurdity not seen since "The Jerk"-era Steve Martin, and he's continued his run with Adam McKay in three more uproarious films, including last year's cop caper "The Other Guys." Yeah, there's been a few misfires in there, but one "Step Brothers" is worth 100 "Bewitched." If you don't agree Ferrell is the tops, let us quote another famous character of his: "I'll smack you in the mouth, I'm Neil Diamond!"

Bonus TV Cred: Rumor has it he might replace Steve Carell on "The Office," which would be – how do you say – f**king amazing.

More Comedy:

The 25 Funniest Movies Ever... This Millennium
The 20 Funniest Women in Movies... Right Now

We're giving away two copies of 'Scene It: Comedy Movies' for each of our big comedy-themed features! Click here to enter.

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Okay, we admit it, that shot in "Transformers" of Megan Fox bending over the hood of Shia LaBeouf's double pump carburetor ("It squirts the fuel in so you can go faster.") made her an overnight star. Our favorite outspoken tattooed lady then quickly went from scorching hot ("Transformers 2") to lukewarm ("Jennifer's Body") to box office poison ("Jonah Hex") to the enchanted straight-to-DVD forest ("Passion Play").

So now who better to transform a fading starlet's career than undisputed nerd king, Judd Apatow? The bearded comedy guru turned the awkward clay that is Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill into bona fide box office gold. Just imagine what he can mold with Ms. Fox…

According to THR, we'll find out. Fox is in negotiations to join the cast of Apatow's fourth movie as a director, the still-untitled comedy that follows up on Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann's married couple from "Knocked Up."

Although no official plot synopses is given yet, our first guess is that Fox could play some variety of temptress that creates marital friction between the snappy couple. Or maybe she's a helpful librarian who teaches their children the joys of reading? Who knows.

We do know that Apatow has hinted that he's trying to find a way to possibly incorporate Rogen's character from the first one, which will finally give he and Fox some face time to patch-up that famous on-air slight from a few years ago.

Paramount

In the movie, Sydney (Segel) and Peter (Rudd) memorably bond over their mutual love of the Canadian power trio, Rush. In this new scene, the two get backstage passes to the band's "Time Machine Tour" and sneak into their dressing room. The result is both awkward and hilarious as the actors improvise around annoyed musicians with enough new jokes and callbacks to the film to crack up any fan.

Big Beach Films

Resistance to Paul Rudd's charisma is futile. Any attempt to abjure his charm will result in immediate mental shutdown.

Seriously, "My Idiot Brother," the latest comedy from director Jesse Peretz and the aforementioned Mr. Rudd, is all about the smug actor's ability to win over an audience with the most simplistic of ideologies. Rudd's Ned is two links removed from Rain Man. Recently released from prison for dealing weed to a cop, the fun-loving, laid-back organic farmer seeks new direction in his life and jumps between the houses of his three sisters as he finds footing.

Unfortunately, his three sisters' (Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel and Emily Mortimer) lives are slowly unraveling - not the most convenient time for a dim-witted housemate.

We've seen Rudd as the reigning champ of improvisational one-liners ("Anchorman," "Knocked Up") and as a charming straight man ("I Love You, Man," Dinner for Schmucks"), but "My Idiot Brother" shakes the two up and pours the perfect cinematic cocktail.

Indiewire hones in on why the movie transcends the run-of-the-mill studio comedies, saying, "If 'My Idiot Brother' were just funny people being funny, it would be a far lesser film. But it’s about people being people—making mistakes, getting it wrong, trying to put it right." UGO enjoys the sophisticated humor: "The laugh out loud moments in My Idiot Brother, and they are constant, are all borne from these particular and peculiar characters; there are no gross-out jokes, and little slapstick."

Hollywood Reporter couldn't disagree more. "The script doesn't play to anyone's strengths, in fact, requiring each member of this top-flight cast to play a part slightly (sometimes more than slightly) duller and less likeable than his usual fare."

While the ladies of the film have little time to complicate their characters, Rudd is the star of the show. Collider boils it down: "'My Idiot Brother' is a light film and the broad comedy, while hilarious, won’t really stay with you."

Universal

Oh, that devious Judd Apatow.

Remember way back when it was announced that Russell Brand would be reprising his role as rocker Aldous Snow in a new movie, only it turned out to be "Get Him to the Greek" instead of, you know, "Forgetting Sarah Marshall 2?" Well, now he's announced the details of his latest project and it seems to be a sequel to "Knocked Up."

Or is it?

That's the question everyone in Hollywood is asking thanks to a Total Film report indicating that Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann are set to reprise their roles as Pete and Debbie, the perpetually arguing married couple from "Knocked Up," in Apatow's next film.

But will this actually be "Knocked Up 2?" Or is this going to be a spin-off like "Get Him to the Greek" was?

Here's a quick refresher for those of you who haven't seen "Knocked Up" in awhile: Debbie (Mann) was the sister of main character and knockee Alison (Katherine Heigl, whose participation in the new movie seems to be up in the air). Debbie's problem? Her husband, Pete (Rudd), is spending more time playing fantasy baseball than working on their marriage. The two later reconcile their differences -- but do they end up living happily ever after?

That seems to be the question Apatow is aiming to answer with his new movie. Frankly, we think it's a cool idea of Apatow to do these spinoffs rather than go with more obvious sequel ideas. We don't really need a movie about the hilarity of Heigl and co-star Seth Rogen dealing with a toddler, do we? That's what "Little Fockers" is for, after all.

Still, details remain sketchy at this point, so who knows exactly what Apatow is thinking. Will Heigl and Rogen have roles in the new film? Or is Apatow going to take the characters in a while new direction? Only one person knows for sure and so far, he's not talking.

Like we said, Judd Apatow is a devious, devious man.

DreamWorks

During the summer of 1995, "Clueless" became a hit and launched Paul Rudd on his journey to becoming an A-list comedic actor. The role of Cher's (Alicia Silverstone) older stepbrother, Josh, called for an actor both sarcastic and likeable. Was it destiny for the young, wry Rudd?

Let's just say the "How Do You Know" star is very lucky his other movie that year didn't become a mega-success. If "Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers," the series' sixth installment, had been a box-office smash, Rudd would be working alongside Rob Zombie these days rather than starring opposite Reese Witherspoon and Jack Nicholson in a James L. Brooks feature.

The 25-year-old actor must have been stoked to land the role of a grown-up Tommy Doyle, the child Laurie Strode babysat in the original "Halloween." Before that, he'd been relegated to DJing Bat Mitzvahs, appearing in Nintendo commercials and being a series regular in the extremely short-lived TV show, "Wild Oats."

However, Rudd also landed "Clueless" and must have immediately regretted signing on for the Michael Myers' ride. Besides Johnny Depp, few great actors begin in horror films. That must be why Rudd insisted on being credited as Paul Stephen Rudd, the only time he's used his middle name in credit before or since.

We wonder if Rudd remembers the experience as Tommy Doyle fondly? After all, it may be the only time he plays a brave hero, standing toe-to-to with a murderous madman. Now he only plays hapless husbands, jerks, fancy boys and quirky cameos.

Warner Bros.

Is "The Muppets" the coolest project in Hollywood?

With everyone and their puppet jumping on board, it's hard to argue otherwise.

Production Weekly reports Paul Rudd will join the cast not as a celebrity cameo, but as a new Muppet named Walter. As a main character, he'll be sharing screen time with stars Jason Segel and Amy Adams.

But that's not the only bit of casting news for this furry film...

Segel is responsible for "The Muppets" return to the big screen. Having co-written the script with Nicholas Stoller ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall"), he's been a vocal advocate for the film to become a reality, and it appears that hard work has paid off.

The Wrap confirms Danny Trejo and Donald Glover have joined the list of confirmed talent, along with Chris Cooper and Rashida Jones.

Jane Lynch, Jack Black and Zach Galifianakis remain on the "unconfirmed, but likely" list.

And -- believe it or not -- Lady Gaga and her entourage consisting of John Krasinski, Ed Helms and Eric Stonestreet (who recently won an Emmy for "Modern Family") make up the "We'll believe it when we see it" list, as Production Weekly couldn't confirm their appearance in the film beyond being a rumor.

"The Muppets" will be directed by James Bobin ("Flight of the Concords") and released December 25, 2011. Production begins soon, so if you have any plans to be part of the coolest film of the next few years, you'd better become famous really quick. Or be a puppet.