Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
I recently caught the 2016 action-comedy Keeping Up With The Jonses on a flight, and it turns out, it is the perfect plane movie. According to my very precise research, it meets all necessary criteria for sky-high viewing. Congrats to you, Keeping Up With the Jonses.
But one more very important thing about this movie is that it perfectly showcases why we need to rip Mr. Jon Hamm right out of those period pieces and keep him in the modern day. Don’t get back in the time machine, Jon. You are suited for this world.
And speaking of suits, the wardrobe has so much to do with it. In Jonses, Hamm dons dark, fitted sweaters and tees when he’s in spy mode, and light, flowy button-downs when he’s vacationing in Europe or throwing a casual backyard BBQ. YES. This is what we want to see him wearing. Shove those Don Draper suits in the back of the closet. There’s no need for them right now.
Because that’s what it’s all about: Hamm should be focusing on current day roles. We got seven whole seasons of Mad Men, and 92 episodes worth of Don Draper. We know that Hamm can be an ad dude with a big secret and a bunch of sidepieces in the ’60s and ’70s. He was great, but we get it. Oh, and you are not escaping fault on this one either, A Young Doctor’s Notebook.
As much as it pains me to say this, his role as Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt puts his character in 1998 for many scenes, which in this context, makes it a bit of a period role for him. Perhaps it is the fact that he’s a complete and total creep, and not just the 1998 part that takes away from the freshness, but please, Jon, join us in 2017. In fact, credit where credit is due to Tina Fey, it is because of his role as the handsome (wait, is that implied for all roles?) Dr. Drew Baird on 30 Rock that we learned just how magical Hamm can be in transitioning from Mad Men to modern man. Even though his character was dumb as rocks, it was great to see him live in the current era. So yes, for a moment, it felt nice to pass over a smart man of the 60s for a total dumbass of the 2000’s.
I’m not Jon Hamm’s agent, but I’d bet a few dollars that once Mad Men was off and running, there was no shortage of period pieces floating his way. Hey, the man can pull it off. Which is why we’re taking this moment to be even more grateful that Hamm learned to be all “Nah.” It’s what makes his roles in films like The Town, Bridesmaids, Friends With Kids, and Million Dollar Arm that much more interesting. These projects gave him a chance to be funny, to be romantic, to be a bit of an action star. His acting proves that he’s not just one thing or one guy from one time. This is a man that can span eras with his acting, and it feels so good to see, and be reminded, this man is actually of our time. Hell, even when he is playing a total douchebag, we as viewers know, yes — that is how douchebags totally act these days.
And what a time it is! With several films coming down the pipeline this year, including Marjorie Prime, which premiered at Sundance this year, and Edgar Wright’s highly anticipated Baby Driver, which hits theaters this summer, it’s great to see Hamm in more contemporary roles, and how he brings that classic sense about him to the screen. But you know, thankfully, with an up to date haircut.
